inventions & innovations - enterprise ireland...inventions & innovations the positive impact...
TRANSCRIPT
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CONTENTS
Foreword 3
Introduction 4
Creatingclevercompaniesfromground-breakingresearch 6
Spinoutsfrompublicly-fundedresearch 7
IntroducingIrishindustrytoinventionsfromresearch 11
PositiveImpact:Storiesfromresearchersand 1�companiesengagedintechnologytransfer.
SmarterSport 1�
Acloserlookatdisease 14
Enablingthelifescienceindustry 16
Tacklinginfectioncontrol 18
Tomorrow’streatments �1
Gettingmorefromfoodproduction �3
Towardsagreenerworld �5
Makinglifebetterforpatients �8
informationonthemove 3�
Supportingindustry 35
Bringinginformationtolife 37
Galwaymaterialstechnologyflieshigh 39
Readyforyourcloseup? 40
Guitarzerotohero 40
Anearlypredictionofpre-eclampsiariskinpregnancy 41
Acknowledgments 4�
technology transfer contents
3technology transfer contents
FOREWORD
ThispublicationisacleardemonstrationofthesuccessofIreland’snationaltechnologytransfersystem,featuringresearchteamsfromalloverIreland.ItisatestamenttothevaluableongoingworkbyEnterpriseIrelandandtheTechnologyTransferOffices.ItalsodemonstratesthetypeofcommercialpossibilitiesthatexistinthelaboratoriesandresearchfacilitiesofourUniversitiesandInstitutesofTechnology.
TheDepartmentofJobs,Enterprise&InnovationiscommittedtofacilitatingthetransferofideasandknowledgefromthegreatmindsinourHigherEducationInstitutionsintoIrishindustry,forthebenefitofoureconomyandsociety.
WiththeMinisterforResearchandInnovationSeanSherlockTD,Irecentlyannouncednewstructurestomakeiteasiertocommercialise-andultimatelycreatejobs-fromideasdevelopedthroughpublicly-fundedresearch,whichcurrentlyreceivestotalfundingofover¤800millionperyear.
ThelaunchofthisnewIntellectualPropertyProtocolrepresentsthedeliveryofakeycommitmentintheProgrammeforGovernmentandtheActionPlanforJobs2012.
Itwillimprovethepartnershipbetweenindustryandpublicly-fundedresearchbymakingiteasiertocommercialisetheresultsofpublicly-fundedresearch.
Itwillcreateanewworld-classsystemthatwillmakeiteasierandfasterforentrepreneursandcompaniestonegotiateacommercialarrangementwithresearchers.ItwillprovideasignificantimprovementtoIreland’sinternationalofferingandencouragemorecompaniestolocatehere.ItwillencouragemoremultinationalsandindigenouscompaniestousetheintellectualpropertygeneratedbyIrishresearchtocreateproductsandservicesandultimately,createmorejobs.
Thenewpoliciessetoutintheprotocolwillalsosupportthebuildingofrelationshipsbetweenindustryandthepublicresearchsectorthatwillsupportasustainableflowofcommercialisation
activitiesandbuildnetworksoflongtermknowledgesharing.Itisourambitionthatthesemeasureswillincreasethequalityandquantityofcommerciallyvaluableintellectualpropertyemergingfrompublicly-fundedresearch.
IwouldliketocommendEnterpriseIrelandandtheTechnologyTransferOfficesfortheireffortsinbringingthetechnologiesfeaturedinthispublicationtothemarket.IlookforwardtoseeinganincreaseinthelevelandqualityoftechnologytransferasthemeasuresintroducedintheIntellectualPropertyProtocoloutlinedabovecomeintopractice.
AkeypartoftheGovernment’splanforjobsandgrowthisensuringthatwecreatemoreproducts,servicesandultimatelyjobsfromIreland’shighqualityscientificresearchsystem.ThequalityofourR&Dplaysamajorpartinthesuccessofourmultinationalandindigenouscompanies–butwemustdomore.
Richard Bruton tDMinister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation
July 2012
4
ToillustratetheeconomicandsocialimpactofIreland’snationaltechnologytransfersystem,EnterpriseIrelandandtheTechnologyTransferOfficeshavepublishedthesestoriesaboutresearchprojectsbeingdevelopedintovaluableinnovationsforindustry.
Theyincludetechnologieswhichwillhelpuscreateagreenerenvironment,newproductstoimprovefoodproductionandtohelppeoplegetmoreoutoftourism,sportsandleisureandclevernewwaystodeliverhealthcaretoimprovethequalityofourlives.ThesestorieswillgiveyouaglimpseoftherangeofinnovationswhicharecomingoutofresearchgroupsinIreland’sHigherEducationInstitutions
andillustratehowEnterpriseIrelandisworkinghardtogettheeconomicreturnfromtheGovernment’sinvestmentinresearch.
Where has this come from?EnterpriseIrelandhasprovided¤30MtodevelopIreland’snationaltechnologytransfersystembetween2007and2012.ThisfundingisundertheTechnologyTransferStrengtheningInitiative(TTSI)whichinvolvestenTechnologyTransferOfficesaroundIreland.
TheaimoftheTTSIwastoincreasethelevelandqualityofIntellectualProperty(IP)fromresearch,andhelpcreateeffectivesystemstotransferthisvaluableknowledgeintocompaniesin
Ireland.Thistransferoftechnologytocompaniesresultsinthecreationofnewproducts,processesandserviceswhichcanbescaled-upforexport.
EveryHigherEducationInstitutioninIrelandhasbeensupportedthroughtheinitiative,withsignificantsupportgiventothetenTechnologyTransferOfficesphysicallylocatedinDublinCityUniversity,DublinInstituteofTechnology,NUIGalway,NUIMaynooth,UniversityCollegeCork,UniversityCollegeDublin,RoyalCollegeofSurgeonsIreland,TrinityCollegeDublin,UniversityofLimerickandWaterfordInstituteofTechnology.
How has it progressed?A2009TechnologyTransfersystemreportfoundthat“…the system that has been developed and supported through Enterprise Ireland has
made enormous progress in a short period of time and there is now in place a system staffed with an impressive set of skills.”
Themostrelevantindicatorsofcommercialisationperformanceinthesystemaretherateofspin-outcompanyformationandthenumberoftechnologieslicensedtoindustry.SincetheinceptionofEnterpriseIreland’ssupportsin2007therehasbeenanalmostfour-foldincreaseinthenumberofspinoutsgenerated.Technologieslicensedtoindustryhaveincreasedten-fold,from12in2005,beforeEnterpriseIrelandsupportexisted,to121in2011.
Othermetrics,suchasinventiondisclosuresandpatents,aremeasuresoftheproductionof“raw”technologyandhelptoprovidesomeinsightintothepipelineproductivityoftheoverallsystem.
Thispublicationprovidesaglimpseoftheexcitingnewproducts,servicesandtechnologiesemergingfromresearchteamsinIrishHigherEducationInstitutions.
EnterpriseIrelandworksinpartnershipwithTechnologyTransferOfficesinHigherEducationInstitutions(HEIs)totranslateresearchfromthelabtothemarketplace.
INTRODuCTION
2005 2006 2007 2008
Technology Transfer Strengthening
Initiative Introduced.
2009 2010 20110
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
Licences Spin outs
FIg 1. TECHNOLOgy TRaNSFER PERFORmaNCE 2005-2011
technology transfer introduction
5technology transfer introduction
In2011,86percentofthetechnologylicenceswenttocompaniesbasedinIreland,continuingatrendsetinpreviousyears.
ComparisonswithinternationalstatisticsfortechnologytransfershowthatIrelandiscurrentlygenerating20percentmorelicencesand2-4timesasmanyspinoutsfortheamountofexpenditureonresearchwhencomparedwithmorematuretechnologytransfersystemsworldwide.
How do we ensure this continues?Toensureapipelineofnewideasfromresearch,EnterpriseIreland’sCommercialisationFundsupportsacademicresearcherstoscopeoutanddevelopthecommercialfeasibilityandmarketopportunityfortheirresearchwhileitisstillatanearlystage.
Theprogrammefundsthedevelopmentoftechnologiesatallstagesofthecommercialpipelinetoapointwherethetechnologyisreadytobecommercialised.
Since2010,EnterpriseIrelandhasinvested¤25Min126technologydevelopmentprojectsthroughtheCommercialisationFund.Theseprojects,manyofwhicharefeaturedinthispublication,aredevelopingnewtechnologiesfortomorrow’sworld.
EnterpriseIreland’sdedicatedteamofcommercialisationspecialistsworkcloselywithresearchgroupstodevelopproposals.
EnterpriseIrelandhasbeensupportingtheTechnologyTransferOfficesacrossthecollegesinrecentyearstobringaboutaradicalchangeintheprofessionalismwithwhichthesystem
managesitsintellectualproperty.Asthefirstphaseisduetoconcludeattheendof2012,EnterpriseIrelandlaunchedacallforproposalstothenewprogrammeattheendof2011.
Buildingontheinvestmenttodate,theoverallobjectivesofphase2oftheTechnologyTransferStrengtheningInitiativeare;todeveloptheIrishtechnologytransfersystemsuchthatitwillrespondquicklyandflexiblytoindustry,wherethelicensingoftechnologywillbringdirecteconomicbenefits,andtoradicallyenhancethecultureofcommercialisationamongresearchersintheIrishHEIsector.
EnterpriseIreland’spartnershipwiththeHigherEducationInstitutionsisgoingtocontinueanddevelop.Buildingonthehighqualityresourcesthat
arenowinplace,wearecreatingconsortiaofcollegestomakebetteruseoftheexpertiseavailableandgreatervalueformoney.Thisworkrepresentsakeypartoftheprocessofunlockingthecreativepotentialofourresearcherstosupportinnovationinindustry,leadingtojobsandeconomicgrowth.
ThestoriesinthispublicationgiveasenseoftheenormousimpactoftheTechnologyTransferStrengtheningInitiativeonthequalityandimpactofIrishresearch.Whilethenumbersofspinoutsandlicencedealsarevaluableandmustbemeasured,theaimofthispublicationistohighlightother,insomecases,moremeaningfuloutcomessuchasimprovementstoourhealthandqualityoflife.
2008 2009 2010 2011
ei clients 73 50 59 59
mncs based in ireland 4 29 11 9
irish companies not ei clients
10 9 17 18
companies outside ireland
13 12 13 14
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20110
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
Technology Transfer
Strengthening Initiative Introduced.
Disclosures Patents
FIg �. NumbER OF INvENTION DISCLOSuRES aND PRIORITy
PaTENT aPPLICaTIONS 2005 TO 2011 taBle �. DESTINaTION OF LICENCES (%) – 2008 TO 2011
6 technology transfer creating clever companies from ground-breaking research
Thelistthatfollowsidentifiesthe117companiesthatemergedfromHigherEducationInstitutionsinIrelandfrom2007toyearend2011.
Eachofthe117spin-outsisatadifferentstageofdevelopment,butitispossibletogrouptheminto3broadcategories;
Category 1:Incorporatedentity,builtonintellectualpropertyfromaHigherEducationInstitution.
Category 2:Licenceconcluded,workingwithEnterpriseIrelandand/orBusinessPartnertoexpand.Typicallyemploying2-3people.
Category 3:Haswoninvestment/sales,andisanEnterpriseIrelandhigh-potentialstartupclient.Typicallyemploying5-10people.
Currently,thereare64companiesincategory1,20incategory2,and33incategory3.
Althoughonlyestablishedforashorttime–afewmonthsinsomecases–the33companiesincategory3,or‘highpotentialstartupcompanies’whichhavetheiroriginsinpublicly-fundedresearchcurrentlyemploymorethan135peopleinIrelandbetweenthem.Itisexpectedthatthisfigurewillgrowasthecompaniesmature.
Buildingonthissuccesstodate,EnterpriseIrelandisaimingtodeliver30spin-outcompaniesfromresearchin2012.UndertheGovernment’sActionPlanforJobs2012,atargetofconverting14oftheseintohighpotentialstart-upclientsofEnterpriseIrelandthisyear,and15in2013hasbeenset.
Deliveringonthesetargetswillnotonlyproducenewcompanieswithsubstantialemploymentprospects,butwillbringinnovativesolutionsforsocietalchallengestothefore.
SinceEnterpriseIrelandinitiatedthe¤30millionTechnologyTransferStrengtheningInitiativein2007tobetterresourcetheTechnologyTransferOffices,therehasbeenafour-foldincreaseinthenumberofspin-outcompaniescreatedfromintellectualpropertyproducedoncampus.
CREATINGCLEvERCOMPANIESFROm gROuND-bREakINg RESEaRCH
7technology transfer spinouts
SPINOUTSFROm PubLICLy-FuNDED RESEaRCH
2011 Emerged From Category
AeriaqFiltrationLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 2
ALRInnovations UniversityofLimerick 2
AppliedProcessConsulting UniversityCollegeDublin 2
BelfieldTechnologiesLtd UniversityCollegeDublin 1
EcovolveLimited DublinCityUniversity 1
Glanta TrinityCollegeDublin 3
infiniLEDLimited UniversityCollegeCork 3
ISAAT NationalUniversityofIreland,Maynooth 1
MitamedLtd UniversityCollegeCork 2
NeuropathLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 2
NewLambdaTechnologiesLtd UniversityCollegeDublin 2
PBOCLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 1
PilotPhotonicsLimited DublinCityUniversity 3
PixelPuffinLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 1
PolyPicoTechnologiesLtd UniversityofLimerick 1
ProFectorLifeSciences NationalUniversityofIreland,Maynooth 3
RadicalCoatingsLtd. DublinInstituteofTechnology 1
RelationalFrameTraining NationalUniversityofIreland,Maynooth 1
ScientiaSportsLimited DublinCityUniversity 1
ScreamTechnologiesLtd UniversityCollegeDublin 1
SEEvLLtd NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 1
SindiceLtd NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 1
SonicLadderLtd DublinInstituteofTechnology 1
SonexMetrologyLimited DublinCityUniversity 3
TrimodTherapeuticsLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 3
UssherExecutiveEducationLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 1
vornia NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 1
WatticsLtd UniversityCollegeDublin 2
XceleratorMachineTranslationLtd DublinCityUniversity 1
8 technology transfer spinouts
2010 Emerged From Category
3PROEnergyWatchLimited UniversityCollegeCork 1
ALSEWasteLtd NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 1
AlternativeSustainableEnergyResourcesLtd NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 3
AniScan NationalUniversityofIreland,Maynooth 1
AstryneLtd DublinCityUniversity 3
AzotosAnalytics UniversityofLimerick 1
BofinnDiagnosticsLtd UniversityCollegeDublin 1
CareergroLtd UniversityCollegeDublin 3
CereBeo NationalUniversityofIreland,Maynooth 2
CityAnalyticsLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 1
ClinicalSupportInformationSystemsLtd UniversityCollegeCork 3
CodexOncology TrinityCollegeDublin 3
CropResearchLtd UniversityCollegeDublin 1
CurrencyTradersLtd DublinInstituteofTechnology 1
CuttingEdgeMedicalDevicesLtd NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 2
DRIvEINTELLLtd NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 1
FeedHenry WaterfordInstituteofTechnology 3
GreenEgg DublinCityUniversity 1
JalicoLtd DublinCityUniversity 2
JlizardLtd UniversityCollegeDublin 1
LearnoptLtd UniversityofLimerick 2
MoletestLtd. DublinInstituteofTechnology 1
Mutebutton NationalUniversityofIreland,Maynooth 3
NicheProteinLimited InstituteofTechnologyTralee 1
PeractonLtd NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 1
SurgacolltechnologiesLtd RoyalCollegeofSurgeonsIreland 3
SynergyFlow TrinityCollegeDublin 1
TethraGeoLtd. NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 1
ThinksmartTechnologies UniversityCollegeCork 1
TolerantNetworksLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 1
TrinityClinicalAppsLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 1
xceleritComputingLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 1
ZolkC WaterfordInstituteofTechnology 3
SPINOUTSFROm PubLICLy-FuNDED RESEaRCH
9technology transfer spinouts
2009 Emerged From Category
AnalyzeIQLtd NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 1
AnamatesLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 1
AremonLtd UniversityCollegeDublin 1
BearnaMedical UniversityofLimerick 2
BeckmanCoulterBiomedicalLtd NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 1
BeemuneLimited NationalUniversityofIreland,Maynooth 3
BioCroiLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 3
BioPlastechLtd UniversityCollegeDublin 3
BlueBoxSensors NationalUniversityofIreland,Maynooth 3
BrimBrothers DublinInstituteofTechnology 2
CapstanHealthcareLtd UniversityCollegeDublin 1
CauwillTechnologies UniversityofLimerick 2
DariusMedicalLtd UniversityCollegeDublin 2
EagledgeLtd NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 1
Equinome UniversityCollegeDublin 3
FairviewAnalytics DublinCityUniversity 1
FutureBuildingsConsultingLtd. UniversityCollegeDublin 1
GoFerICTLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 1
GourmetMarine UniversityCollegeCork 3
HMEMZLtd UniversityCollegeCork 1
iGeoTechTechnologiesLimited NationalUniversityofIreland,Maynooth 1
KeelvarSystemsLtd UniveristyCollegeCork 2
KinometricsLtd-SurewashLtd. TrinityCollegeDublin 1
KnowledgeHives NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 1
LeeOncology UniversityCollegeCork 1
LexasResearch DublinCityUniversity 3
MiravexLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 3
NubiqTechnologyltd WaterfordInstituteofTechnology 2
Pro-cureLtd NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 2
QpercomLtd NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 1
Recitell TrinityCollegeDublin 1
ShareNavigator TrinityCollegeDublin 1
SolvotrinTherapeuticsLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 3
TagCrumbsLtd NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 1
Trezur DublinInstituteofTechnology 3
10 technology transfer spinouts
2008 Emerged From Category
BreakoutGamingConcepts DublinInstituteofTechnology 1
EmpowerTheUserLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 1
Headway WaterfordInstituteofTechnology 1
HeyStaksTechnologies UniversityCollegeDublin 2
NewGame TrinityCollegeDublin 1
Socowave NationalUniversityofIreland,Maynooth 3
TreochtLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 3
2007 Emerged From Category
AdvancedDiagnosticsLaboratory UniversityCollegeDublin 1
APEnveon UniversityCollegeDublin 1
Biontrack UniversityCollegeDublin 1
EirzymeLtd NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 3
Hash6 WaterfordInstituteofTechnology 3
NeuroResearchServicesLtd RoyalCollegeofSurgeonsIreland 1
Oncomark UniversityCollegeDublin 2
Phive DublinCityUniversity 1
SeraScientific DublinCityUniversity 1
SonitusSystemsLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 3
StokesBio UniversityofLimerick 3
ThetaChemicals NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 3
Triskel NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 1
total 117 spinouts
SPINOUTSFROm PubLICLy-FuNDED RESEaRCH
11technology transfer introducing irish industry to new inventions from research
INTRODUCINGIRISHINDUSTRyTO NEW INvENTIONS FROm RESEaRCH
121licencedealswereconcludedin2011,bringinginnovativenewideasfromresearcherstothemarketplacetothebenefitofthecompaniesinvolved.
Examplesofhowtheselicencedealsimpactedontheperformanceofthecompaniesthatlicensedthetechnologiesfollowinthispublication.
Inaddition,EnterpriseIrelandprovidedfundingforarangeofotherprogrammeswhichlinkindustryinIrelandwithresearchteamsandallowformutually-beneficialcollaborationtotakeplace.
In2011alone,1,965companiesinIrelandbenefitedfromthesecollaborativeprogrammes.Thetableidentifiesthemainprogrammesandhowmanycompaniesbenefitedfromeach.
Therehasbeenaten-foldincreaseinthenumberoftechnologieslicensedtoindustryfromHigherEducationInstitutionssinceEnterpriseIrelandprovided¤30MundertheTechnologyTransferStrengtheningInitiativein2007.
Support provided by Enterprise Ireland
No. of Companies benefited
TechnologyCentresandAppliedResearchcentres
399
Innovationvouchers&InnovationPartnerships
852
R&DFundandnon-financialsupport
236
AccesstointernationalR&Dprogrammes
76
Start-upslocatedinEnterpriseIrelandfundedcampusincubators
327
Companiesfacilitatedtoreceivecompanytocompanylicences
20
Companiesfacilitatedtoreceivedlicencesfromthirdlevelresearch
55
total 1,965
numBeR oF companIes ReceIvIng InnovatIon suppoRt
FRom enteRpRIse IRelanD In �011
1� technology transfer case studies
boosting performance with innovation
WhenDublin’sseniorGAAfootballerssecuredvictoryintheAll-Irelandfinalin2011,the‘Blues’celebratedforweeks.
ButtherewasatleastoneCorkmanwhowashappywiththeresulttoo.
“IwasprobablyoneofthefewCorkmencheeringforDublininCrokeParkinthefinalthatday,”recallsJamesCarroll,CEOofScientiaSports.Why?BecausetheteamhadbeenusingProvue,ane-diarybeingdevelopedbyScientiaSportsthatletsathletesandcoachesrecordandanalyseinformationabouttrainingandperformance.
TheDublinteamputthesystemthroughitspacesintherunuptothefinal,saysCarroll,whodescribeshowtheonlinediaryworks.
“Athletesgoonlineandfilloutinformationabouthowtheyaredoingaftertraining.ThatmeansthatDublinmanagerPatGilroycanpulluptherelevantplayerinformationonthesquadimmediatelyinsteadofhavingtomake60phonecallseverymorning.”
Gilroysaysthee-diaryisinvaluableasatooltomonitorplayers’multi-
commitmentsandcanbeusedasacentralplatformtosharevideoanddietaryinformation.“Intoday’sworlditisahighlyefficientwaytomanagefatigueandhealthissues,”hesays.
Thesystemalsoallowsathletestoseehowtheyaredoing,explainsCarroll.
“Theycanlookattheirsprintandexercisetimes,anditworksasatypeofmotivationtool-theycanseehowtheyaredoingagainsttheirpeers.”
ThetechnologybehindProvuecomesfromDublinCityUniversity,whereitwasdevelopedbyexpertsinhealthandhumanperformanceledbyProfNiallMoynaandDrMarkRoantree.IthasbeenlicensedtoScientiaSportsthroughtheEnterpriseIreland-supportedInventCentreatDCU.
“WefoundthepeopleatInventverypracticalandgo-aheadintermsoftryingtoworkwithentrepreneurstocommercialisewhattheyhadintheblackbox,”saysCarroll.
ScientiaSportshasbeenintroducingthesystemtosportsorganisationsandteamsinEuropeandAustralia.MeanwhilerugbycoachMattWilliams,whoisdirectorofsportinthecompany,hasbeenusingProvue
SMARTERSPORTPOSITIvEIMPACT:
STORIES FROm RESEaRCHERS aND COmPaNIES ENgagED IN technology transfer.
13technology transfer case studies
withhisteamsinFrance.
AndCarrollseesmorevaluebeingaddedtothesoftwareinthefuture:suchaslinkinginsensorsthatcanmonitorphysicalmetricsofperformancelikeaerobiccapacityandlactateintheblood,andofferingasportservicebehindthesystem.
Theareaofconnectedhealthholdsevenmorepromisefortheplatform,hedescribes.“Thatiswhereitcouldcreatealotofjobs-fordiabetesinparticular,wherepeoplecouldusethee-diaryaftertheyhavebeendiagnosedandphysicianscouldmonitortheirsymptomsandmanagement.”
Anotherapproachtogatheringusefuldataaboutsportsperformancecamewheninspirationstrucktwoengineercyclists,orcyclingengineers.Themusevisitedastheyrodeoutwiththeirclub
inSouthDublin.
Theystartedthinkingaboutadevicecalleda‘powermeter’thatattachestoabiketomeasureperformance.“Someonehadapowermeterontheirbikebutwedidn’tlikethewayitwasdesigned,”recallsDrBarryRedmond,alectureratDublinInstituteofTechnology.
“Westartedtalkingabouthowwecoulddesignabetterone,sittingonthebikesatthebackofthebunchonaSundaymorningandourideasevolvedalittle.”
Whatifyoucouldputthepowermeterontoyourshoeinsteadofthebikeandmeasuretheforcesasthecyclistpressedonthepedal,theythought:thatwayifyouswitchbikesyoustillhaveyourpowermeterattached.
Theideamightsoundsimple-putadevice
ontheshoeratherthanthebike-butinpracticeittooksomecraftyresearch,developmentandengineering.
Thefledglingcompany,calledBrimBrothers,wentthroughtheDublinInstituteofTechnologyHothouseventureProgramme,anEnterpriseIreland-supportedinitiativethatofferstrainingandspacetostart-ups.
“I’vebeeninvolvedincompaniesbefore,soinitiallythoughtIdidn’tneedHothouse,butIwaspersuadedandI’mextremelygladIwentthroughit,”saysRedmond,whoisnowCEOofBrimBrothers.
“youarewithabunchofotherpeoplewhoaregoingthroughsimilarproblemsandchallenges,eventhoughttheirbusinessesareindifferentareas.yougettotalktopeopleinanopenwayandeveryonehastheirownperspective.”
Gettingtheshoe-basedpowermeterreadyforthemarkethasencounteredafewbumpsalongtheway:Redmondexplainsthattheyhadtocomeupwithnewsolutionsaroundmakingthesensorssmallandaffordable-buthearguesthatithasstrengthenedtheirhardwareandsoftwaretechnology.
And,nostrangerstoboutsofadverseweatherandless-than-pristineterrainsonthebike,BrimBrothersalsohadtomakesurethepowermeterscouldwithstandtherideinthisnew,lowdownposition.
“Whensomethingisonyourshoewhenyouarecycling,ithastoputupwithdirt,beingimmersedinwater,andbeingwallopedaroundinmanyways,”explainsDrRedmond.“Therobustnessisachallenge,andwehavetokeepthecostsdown.”Cyclistsarenowlininguptotrialandpre-orderthepowermeters,whichwillbeassembledandcalibratedbyengineersandtechniciansinDublin,accordingtoDrRedmond.
AndbecauseBrimBrothershasalreadyputthelegworkintodesignanddevelopment,professionalandamateurcyclistsalikeshouldfinditaconvenientadditiontotheirsport.
“Thewholeideaofthisisthatsomebodywilljustputitonanduseit,there’snospecialtreatment,thattakesalotofengineeringanddesign,”saysRedmond.
“Theeasierwewanttomakeitforanendusertouse,theharderitisforustodevelop.Wedothehardwork,notthem.”
14 technology transfer case studies
getting a better view of cancer
Whenyouputcellsfromthebodyunderamicroscopeandtakeacloselook,youcantellalotaboutthem.Including,insomecases,whetherornottheyarecancerous.Suchmicroscope-basedtestsareamainstayforscreeningcervicalsmearsamplesfrompatients.
Cervicalcancer-orcancerattheneckofthewomb-isthesecondmostcommonfemale
cancerinEurope,butittendstodevelopslowly.Manycountries,includingIreland,runscreeningprogrammeswherewomengivecervicalsamplestobecheckedforsignsofcellschanging.
Atthemoment,thesamplesaretypicallystainedwithspecialdyesandanalyseddownthemicroscopebycytologistsorpathologists,wholookattheshapesandothercharacteristicsofthecellstojudgewhethertheremightbeaproblem.
Butwhilehumanexpertiseiscrucialtodiagnosis,technologycanlendahandtoo.
OneapproachbeingdevelopedatatDublinInstituteofTechnologyislookingtoscreenhighvolumesofcervicalsmearsamplesinanewway.
TheDITtechnology,calledCervassist,wantstoautomatethereadingofthesamplesunderthemicroscopebyshiningalaseronthemandmeasuringaparticulartypeoflightcalled‘Ramanscatter’thatisreflectedback.
Thisreadingprovidesinformationaboutthemolecularstructuresinthecell,offeringabiochemicalfingerprintthatsoftwarecanthenanalyseforwarningsignalsofcancer,explainsresearcherDrFionaLyng,whomanagestheDITCentreforRadiationandEnvironmentalScience.
“WehavebeenshowingthatRamanspectroscopyisverygoodatdiscriminatingbetweennormalandabnormalcellspurelybasedonacell’sbiochemicalcontent,”shesays.
“Wearealsoworkingonacellrecognitionalgorithm,whichisawayofautomaticallyfindingthecellsinasampleandthenautomaticallyrecordingtheirRamanspectra.”
TheCervassistteamhasbeenworkingcloselywithHothouseatDITtocommercialisethesystem,andhavelicensedtechnologytopartnercompanyRamanDiagnostics.
ThepotentialbenefitsoftheRamanapproachincludebettersensitivityofscreening,explainsDrLyng,whoreceivedtheEnterpriseIreland‘OnetoWatch’awardin2011.
“Incurrentpractice,inaverygoodlabthesensitivityofscreeningcervicalsmearswouldbeabout70percent,”shesays.“ButinourinitialtestsusingRamanspectroscopy,theaccuracywasgreaterthan98percent.”
TheCervassistteamiscontinuingtodeveloptechnologywithfundingfromEnterpriseIrelandandthroughacollaborationwithTheCoombeHospitalinDublin,andtheyhavealreadystartedtodevelopRamanspectroscopyforanalysinghumanpapillomavirus(HPv)infectionincervicalcells,whichislinkedtoanincreasedriskofcervicalcancer.
DrLyngexplainsthattheautomatedapproachcouldbeusedtoassistscreeningprogrammesbyidentifyingthenormalsmears,andflaggingthesamplesthatneedtheexperteyesofcytologists
ACLOSERLOOKaT DISEaSE
15technology transfer case studies
orpathologiststoexaminemorecloselyforpotentialproblems.
IrishcompanyOncoMarkisalsousingsmarttechnologytocaptureinformationaboutcancersfrompatienttissuesamples.Theirhigh-throughputimage-analysissystemcanautomaticallyrecognisethefeaturesoftumourcellsandcanquantifylevelsofimportantbiomarkers(moleculesofclinicalinterest)inmanydifferenttypesofcancer.
“Welookatbiomarkerexpressionintumourtissue,”explainsProfWilliamGallagher,co-founderandCSOofOncoMarkLtd,whichisaspin-outfromUniversityCollegeDublin.
“Wewanttobeabletopredictdiseaseoutcomeofcancerpatients.Ofparticularinteresttousispredictionofresponsetotherapies.Thisimportantlysupportscancerdrugdevelopment.”
OncoMark’sIHC-Marksoftwarecan‘learn’howtoautomaticallyrecognisetumourcellsinatissuesamplethatcontainbiomarkersofinterest,explainsProfGallagher.HestartedtodeveloptheapproachasasolutiontoaproblemthatwascroppingupinhisresearchatUCD.
“Weweredoingalotof
workwithtissues,andwewouldhavehundredsofspecimensonasingleslide,”herecalls.“Therewasahugebottleneckwhenitcametogettingdataandinterpretingthosesamples.”
ProfGallagherworkedonthebasicscienceunderpinningthehigh-throughputanalysistechnologyinhislabatUCD,andEnterpriseIrelandtookupthebatonandfundedfurtherdevelopmentandvalidation.
“Wevalidatedthetechnologywithtissuefrommorethan1,000breastcancerpatientsand3,000prostatecancerpatients,”herecalls.“Thatreallyincreasedthevalueofthiscoreplatformtechnology.”
OncoMarkhasnowin-licensedIHC-MarkandProfGallagherdescribesthatcombiningthehigh-throughputapproachofrecognisingtumourcellcharacteristicswiththeabilitytoquantifybiomarkersinthecellswouldbeofinterestincancerdrugdevelopment.
“AspartofourBiomarkerInterpretationWorkflow,IHC-Markisnowbecomingpartofthecancerdrugdevelopmentprocesscarriedoutbypharmaceuticalcompaniestoidentifypatientswhowillbenefitfromsuchdrugs,helprecoverdrugsthathavepreviouslyfailedinthedevelopmentprocessandsimplyinformwhethersuchdrugsarehittingtheirintendedtargets.”
ThecompanyisitselfusingIHC-Marktolookfornewbiomarkersincancerand,inthelongerterm,thehopeisthattheapproachwillalsohelptoinformdoctorssotheycantailortherapiesforindividualpatientsbasedonthecharacteristicsoftheirtumourtissue.
OncoMark,whichisnowgrowingitsworkforceatNovaUCD,hasgenerated¤3.5millioninEUfundingcoveringthenextthreetofouryears,andislookingtobuildupitsproductpipeline,asProfGallagherdescribes:“WearelookingatavarietyoftechnologiescomingfromIrishuniversitiesandinternationallywithaviewtolicensingin.OncoMarkiswellpositionedtobethego-toportalforcancerbiomarkercommercialisation.”
16 technology transfer case studies
Cutting costs in drug discovery by keeping cells happy
Ifyouareinthebusinessofdrugdiscovery,findingthatspecificmoleculewhichcanhitthetargetisthekeytosuccess.
Onewaytodoitistoscreenmillionsofindividualcells,watchingwhatcandidatemoleculesdotoeachone.Butit’sanexpensiveandtime-consumingprocess.Sohowcanwemakeiteasier?
IrishcompanyBioCroihashitonawaytolightentheloadinthoseheavy-dutyscreeningstages.
Thetypicalapproachtakeninindustryistogrowthecellsinsmallholes,orwells,ona
plasticplate,thenroboticsystemscananalysethemandgatherthedataforanalysis.
“Thesecell-basedassaysareperformedunderhighspeedusingautomatedmicroscopes,”explainsPeadarMacGabhann,ManagingDirectorofBioCroi.“Butthere’salotofnoiseassociatedwiththeresults-sotheyhavetodolotsofexperimentstogetoverthatproblem.”
Whatifyoucouldreducethatnoise,byprotectingthecellsinthewellsfromtheoutsideenvironmentalittlebetter?
That’stheideadevelopedbyinventorDrAnthonyDavies,whodirectstheIrishNationalCentreforHighContentScreeningandAnalysisatTrinity.Hecameupwithagel-basedbufferingsystemwhich
surroundsthewellsofeachindividualculture.
“Itinsulatesthecellsagainstchangesintemperatureandalsocreatesavapourcloudoverthewellwhichpreventsevaporation,”saysMacGabhann.
Withthatmorestableenvironmentcomeslessnoiseandbetterreadings.Theapproachalsomeansthatthevolumesofthecellculturescouldbemadeordersofmagnitudesmallerandstillgiveaccurateresults.
“Whereassaysarecurrentlydoneusing100microlitreswearedoingawellof100nanolitres,”explainsMacGabhann.“Thiscutsdownvastlyontheamountofmaterialsyouhavetouse,soitcutsdownoncost.”
Whiletheideaofbufferingthewellstokeepthecellshappyandthenoisedownsoundssimple,itwasn’tthatstraightforwardinpractice,explainsMacGabhann,whopartneredwiththegroupjustbeforethecompanyspunoutin2009.
“Alotoftheseassaysareverysophisticatedandtheyaredevelopedinlabsoveraperiodofyears,”hesays.“Ithasn’tbeenthateasy.”
ButthecompanyhasbeengoingfromstrengthtostrengthwiththetechnologyandMacGabhanncreditstheTrinityCollegeDublinTechTransferOfficeforfacilitatingtheinitialpartnershipandspin-out.
“PeoplelikeJamesCallaghanandGordonElliottcameintoTrinityandtheytransformedthatwholeprocessofspinningoutcompanies,”hesays.
“InordertogetIPoutpreviouslyyouhadenormousadministrativestructurestogothrough,buttheycutthroughalotoftheredtape.”
In2011BioCroireceived¤800,000inseedinvestmentfromtheMedTechAcceleratorFundmanagedbyKernelCapital,including¤300,000fromEnterpriseIrelandandprivateinvestors.
Andasthecompanynowexpandsandmovesintodevelopingplatesandbetatesting,MacGabhannreckonsthefactthatindustryisnowusing‘smarter’robotsmeanstheirsystemshouldbewellaccommodated.
“Therobotshavegottenclever,theycanworkwithlotsofdifferentformats,andthatisgoodforus,”hesays.
ENABLINGTHE LIFE SCIENCE INDuSTRy
17technology transfer case studies
a new window on brain activity
Asyoureadthis,biochemicalreactionsaretakingplaceinyourbrainthatallowyoutoregisterandunderstandit.Andasyouliveyourlifedayandnight,whenpartsofyourbrainbecomeactive,theystarttoneedmoreglucoseandoxygentofueltheirwork.
Gettingahandleontheimportantchemicalchangesthathappeninthebrainisachallenge,andatthemomenttechnologiestendtobequiteimpractical,particularlyifyouwanttogetinformationinrealtimeandoverthelongerterm.
FunctionalMRIcantrackhowbloodflowchangesinthebrain,whichsuggestsunderlyingchangesinchemistry,butitisanexpensive,cumbersomeapproachandthebrainhastobestill,there’snomovingaround.
Therearealsowaystomeasurehowlevelsofchemicalsthemselveschange,buttheytendtobeinvasivebecausetheyextractfluidsamples.Alsotheyprovideasnapshotofinformationforjustonepointintime.
ButnewtechnologydevelopedinIrelandisopeninganewwindowforresearchintobrainchemistry.Theapproach,
whichimplantstinysensorsintothebrain,gathersdatainsituinrealtime,andmeansthatresearcherscanmonitorbrainchemistryandbehaviouroverthecourseofmonthsinanimalsthatareawakeandmoving.
“Researcherswanttoknowhowthechemistryofthebrainischangingasaresultofinteractionwiththeoutsideworldorwithpotentialdrugcompounds-itcouldn’tbedonebeforeandnowitcanbewiththesesensors,”explainsRoryGeoghegan,CEOandco-founderofBlueBoxSensors.
Theimplantablesensors,whichweredevelopedbyProfJohnLowryandhisgroupatNUIMaynooth,areineffecttinywireswithsomecleverchemistryonthetips.
Theycanbeimplantedsurgicallyintospecificregionsofthebrainandleftthere,whereeachsensorcanmeasurechangesinvarious‘analytes’,includingoxygen,glucoseandnitricoxideaswellassignallingchemicalsthattellbraincellstofire.
Thescopeforsuchtechnologyinlifesciencesresearchandindustryissubstantial:ultimatelythesensorswouldbeofparticularinterestfordrugdiscoveryandtesting,particularlyinthefield
ofcentralnervoussystemdiseases,wherebetteranimalmodelsareneededtoprogresspromisingtherapeuticcompoundsfrompreclinicalstudiestoclinicaltrialsinhumans.
BlueBox,whichspunoutofNUIMaynoothin2009haslicensedsensortechnologyfromtheuniversity,andiscurrentlyintroducingthetetheredsensorsolutionintolargeresearchlabsandpharmaceuticalcompanies.Thecompanyisalsodevelopingawirelessversionofthesensorsanditislookingtorecord
changesaboutmultiplechemicalsinrealtime.“Webelievethattheimplantablesensortechnologywillallowquickerresultswithfeweranimals,”saysGeoghegan.
EnterpriseIrelandinvestedalmost¤1millionintheresearchthatwascarriedoutbeforeBlueBoxlicensedthetechnology,andGeoghegancommendsthepracticalandefficientwayinwhichtheCommercialisationOfficeatNUIMaynoothmanagedthecompany’sspin-out.
18 technology transfer case studies
The bug stops here
It’sacruelirony,buthospitalsandclinics-whicharetheretohelppeoplerecoverfromillnessandinjury-canalsobeasourceofnewinfection.
Theagentsofthose‘healthcare-acquiredinfections’orHCAIscanbeviruses,bacteriaorfungiwhichmightbeharmlesstohealthypeoplebutcancauseproblemsforpeoplewithcompromisedimmunesystems.Andsomebacteriahaveevendevelopedwaystosurviveconventionaltreatmentssuchasfrontlineantibiotics,sotheycanbeespeciallydangerous.
InEuropealone,it’sestimatedthatmorethan4millionpeoplecontractaHCAIeachyear,andaround140,000peopledieasadirectresult.Andquiteapartfromthehumansufferingofindividualsandtheirlovedones,HCAIsarealsocostlytohealthcareprovidersbecausetheycanresultinextendedhospitalstaysduetocomplications.ItisestimatedthattheannualcostofHCAI’stoEuropeanhealthservicesisover¤30billion.
Thepushisontodeveloptechnologies
TACKLING INFECTION CONTROL
19technology transfer case studies
thatcanstopthosepathogensintheirtracks.Anditcouldbeassimpleasclinicalstaffwashingtheirhandseffectively.
IrishcompanyGlantaisweighinginwithamobiletrainingsystemthatgetsstaffuptospeedwithhand-washingtechniquesthatremoveorkillpathogensandreducetheriskofcross-infectingpatients.
TheirSureWashtrainingsystemallowsindividualstopracticetheirhand-washingskills,intheirowntimeandwithouttheneedforatrainerbeingpresent.Thesystemcanidentifyerrorsintechniqueandoffersolutions.
“Handwashingisaphysicalactivity,andpeoplearebesttrainedinphysicalactivitythroughrepetition,”explainsSeanBay,CEOofGlanta,whichspunoutofTrinityCollegeDublinin2010.
“Oursystemfacilitates‘ontheward’training,staffcantraininshortburstswhentheyhaveacoupleofminuteshereandthere.Theycanberesponsiblefortheirowntraining.”
ThemobileSureWashsystemcanbebroughttoawardanduserscanpracticehandwashingwhilesoftwareimage-analysistrackstheirefforts.Theycan
practiceanonymouslyorelseputintheirIDandbuilduparecordoftheirskills.
“It’sliketyingyourshoelace-ifyoutrainenoughthenyoucandoitwithyoureyesclosed,”saysBay.“Thisiswhatwewantwithhandhygiene-everyonewillwashtheirhandsorusegelcorrectlywithoutthinkingaboutit.”
TheideafortheinnovativetechnologycamewheninventorDrGerardLaceywasinhiscar,listeningtoareportontheradioaboutSARSandhowwashinghandscanhelpreducethespreadofthevirus.HisownworkonvisualgraphicsinTrinitywaslookingathowvideotechnologycanrecognisehandmovements.
HeputtwoandtwotogetherandcameupwiththeSureWashtechnology,explainsentrepreneurBay,whopairedwiththeteam,andtheyspunoutGlanta.
Gettingthevideo-recognitionsoftwareto‘understand’thewholepictureofhandwashingrequireddevelopmentandexpertise,saysBay.
“It’snotjustviewingwhatyousee,it’sunderstandingwhatyoudon’tseeaswell,”heexplains.“Sowhenthehandsinteract,whatis
happeningbetweenthetendigitsandthepalmspaceandthearm.”
Thetrainingtechnology,whichispatentedinEuropeandtheUS,hasundergonetrialsinhospitalsintheUKandIreland,whichsawhand-washingcomplianceratesincreasebymorethan200percent.
ThesystemisnowinuseinhospitalsinIrelandandSwitzerland,andithasbeenwelcomedwithopenhands-astheexperienceinDublin’sMaterPrivateHospitaldemonstrates.
“WebroughttheSureWashTrainingintothehospitalonaFridayeveningandthenurseinchargepositioneditonthecardiologyward,turneditonandtoldthestaffhere’sanewdevice,”recallsBay.“WhenshecameinonMondaymorning,61staffhadalreadygonethroughthetrainingprocess.”
Glantahasnowsecuredprivateinvestment-whichwasmadesmootherbythegoodworkingrelationshipswithEnterpriseIrelandandTrinityCollegeDublin,accordingtoBay-andisnowrollingouttheproductinEuropeandAustralia.Meanwhile,operationsinIrelandaresettogrowindevelopment,manufacturingandsupport.
“Wehavespecialisedsoftwareengineersandarelookingtodevelopourcustomerserviceandsupportareas,”saysBay.“WecaneffectivelyruntheinternationalsupportfromhereanduseIrelandasahubforglobalactivity-wearewellplacedfortimezones.”
Andaswellasgivingindividualhospitalsfeedbackonhand-washingeffectiveness,morewidelythetrainingtechnologycouldhelpeconomiessavetensofmillionsofEuroeachyearbyreducingHCAIlevels,accordingtoBay.“Themoneysavedcouldbefedbackintothehealthservice-andthat’sallwithoutlosingasinglejob.”
Ultimately,reducinglevelsofHCAIswillresultinbetterpatientoutcomes,quickerrecoveryandsavedlives.“Patientsarethebeneficiaryofthistechnology,”hesays.
Andit’snotjusthands,potentiallydisease-causingmicrobescanalsohitcharideontextilestomovearoundahealthcaresetting.
Whilestaffcanwashtheirhandsbetweenpatients,cleaninguniformshappenslessfrequently-sohowcanyouhelpkeepbugsfromlivingonclothes?
�0 technology transfer case studies
TACKLING INFECTION CONTROL
AEuropeanprojectledbytheUniversityofLimerickhascomeupwithNanoplast,whichisawaytoincorporatenanoparticlesontotheoutersurfaceoftextilesthat,whenactivatedbylight,cankilloffbacteria.Sobysimplyexposingthematerialtolight-indoorsorbetteryetgoingforaquickwalkinsunlight-hitchhikingbugscanbekilled.
Thetechnologyputstheseverysmallparticlescallednanoparticlesintotextilematerial,”explainsDrTofailSyedfromtheMaterialsandSurfaceSciencesInstituteatUL,whowasaleaderontheEU-fundedBioElectricSurfaceconsortium.“Thenwhentheyreactwithpartofthesunlighttheybecomeantimicrobial.”
Theapproachfacedafewchallenges,particularlybecausethetextilesandnanoparticlesweresodifferentfromeachother.
“Themaindifficultytherewasthattheseparticlesarehardlikesand,whilethetextileisverycompliantandsoft-sohowdoyoumixsomethingthatissohardintosomethingthatissosoft,”recallsDrSyed.
Theconsortiumcameupwithafinishingprocessthatwouldapplythenanoparticlestothesynthetictextileattheendoftheproductionline.Itusesthepropertiesofthematerialitself,ratherthanneedingchemicalbinders.
Nextstepwastoseehowwelltheystuck,sointothelaundrythetextileswent.“Wehadwashingmachinesgoingdaysandnightstotestthem,”saysDrSyed.“Wetestedthemforupto40washesinaconditionthatwouldbesimilartoindustrialscalewashing.”
Testsshowedthatthenanoparticlesstuckwelltothetextiles:butdidtheykilloffthebugswhentheywereinsitu?yes,accordingtothetests,whichwerecarriedoutwithcolleaguesinWroclawUniversityofTechnology
andWroclawMedicalUniversity,Poland.
Light-activatedtitaniumnanoparticlesonthetextileswereactiveagainstMRSA,whilesilver-dopedtitaniumnanoparticlesappliedbythetechnologycouldseeoffE.coliwhenexposedtolight.
DrSyedcreditsEnterpriseIreland’ssupportandexpertiseinUL’sinitialsuccessfulinvolvementwiththeEuropeanproject,andtheextensivehelpprovidedtotheprojectbySeamusBrowneofUL’sTechnologyTransferOffice,bothinsurveyingthemarketandinofferinghands-onsupport.
EnterpriseIrelandiscontinuingtosupportNanoplastthroughaCommercialisationFundTechnologyDevelopmentaward.
Andwhiletheapproachisstillbeingdevelopedandtested,DrSyedisconfidentitwillworkonothersynthetictextilesandsyntheticblends.
“Clothesareapotentialsourceofcontamination,butbecauseourtechnologyismakingthetextilephoto-sterilisable,itmeansifyougoforawalkinthesunyouwillbecleansingthem.”
�1technology transfer case studies
using the immune system to fight cancer
Cancerisoneoftheworld’smajorkillers:in2008,itaccountedforabout13percentofalldeathsworldwide,accordingtotheWorldHealthOrganisation.FiguresforEuropealonesuggestthatnearly1.3millionpeoplewilldiefromthediseasethrough2012.
Medicaltreatmentforcancerisadvancing,butwhataboutrecruitingthebody’sownweaponsagainsttumourcells?
IrishcompanyTriModTherapeuticsLtdisdevelopingawaytohelpharnessaperson’simmunesysteminthefightagainstcancer.
Ithaslongbeenknownthattheimmunesystemcantargetcancerinthebody,butrampingupaperson’simmunedefencesisn’taseasyasitsounds,explainsDrJeremySkillington,CEOandco-founderofTriMod.
“Theimmunesystemhasmanymechanismstoputthebrakesonitself,”hesays.“Ifyourampuptheimmunesystemit’sverygoodatshuttingitselfbackdown.”
Butwhatifyoucouldtakethosebrakesoff?
ScienceFoundationIreland-fundedresearchbyTriModco-founderProfKingstonMillsatTrinityCollegeDublinhasfoundaroutetoinhibitthebiochemicalpathwaysthatapplythebrakes-withthe
neteffectsofboostingimportantimmunecells.
TriModhassecuredseedfundingof¤750,000fromEnterpriseIreland,OpsonaTherapeuticsandOysterTechnologyInvestmentsLtdtohelpbringthetechnologyoutofthelabandtowardstheclinic.
EnterpriseIrelandwasparticularlyhelpfulinthecriticalassessmentofTriMod’sbusinessplan,andwereabletorespondrapidlytothecompany’sneeds,accordingtoDrSkillington:“TheysawthevalueTriModcouldprovidetobothmedicineandIrelandandtheydidaterrificjobtohelpsecurethefinancing,”hesays.
Sowhatisnextforthecompany?Theimmune-boostingapproachhas
workedwellinpreclinicalmodelsofcancer,andTriModisnowlinkingwithbiotechandpharmacompaniestodevelopfurtherapproachesthatexposetumourstoanampedupimmunesystemandmovetowardsclinicaltrials.
“Wewanttoopenawindowfortheimmunesystemtorecognisethetumour,thentheimmunesystemcanstartitswork,”saysDrSkillington.
“Onpaperthecancerisverysmartatevadingtheimmunesystem.ButifyoucanfindanAchilles’heeltoexposeitagain,theimmunesystemispowerfulenoughtowinthatbattle.”
TOMORROW’S TREaTmENTS
�� technology transfer case studies
a novel ‘no-flush’ niacin for better cholesterol control
Niacin,orvitaminB3,iswellestablishedasahighlyeffectiveagentfortreatingcholesterolproblems.ItcanimprovetheprofileoflipidsinthebloodsuchashighLDL(“badcholesterol”)andlowHDL(“goodcholesterol”).Butmorethanoneintwopatientsstoptakingniacinduetotheside-effectofskinflushing.
Thankstosomecleverchemistry,anewniacinprodrugcouldhelpovercomethatproblem:byengineeringthecompoundtoreleaseaspirininthebloodstream,whereitinhibitsthechemicalsthatcauseflushing,andthenreleasingniacinwithadistributionprofilethatresultsingreaterefficacy.
Thenewchemicalentity,whichwasengineeredbyDrJohnGilmeratTrinityCollegeDublin,isnowbeingdevelopedbypharmaceuticalcompanySolvotrinTherapeuticsLtd,whichspunoutin2009.
CEOandco-founderPatO’FlynnbecameinvolvedwhenhemettheTrinityteamthroughtheEnterpriseIrelandBusinessPartnersProgramme.
Cork-headquarteredSolvotrinsecuredinitialfundingof¤1.2millionfromthefoundersandEnterpriseIreland,andisnowdevelopingthenew,chemicallymodifiedniacincompound.
Thecompoundhasalreadyshownapositiveeffectonbloodlipidsinpreclinicalproof-of-conceptstudies.Thisisontopofitsbenefits
demonstratedasa“noflush”niacin,explainsO’Flynn.
“HavingIrelandrecognisedinternationallyfordevelopinganewchemicalentitywouldbeagreatthing,”hesays.
Solvotrinwonthe2010-2011EnterpriseIrelandLife-science&FoodCommercialisationAward.
TOMORROW’S TREaTmENTS
�3technology transfer case studies
Foodproductionisoneofthemostcriticalsectorsforhumansurvival:aglobalpopulationofmorethansevenbillionmeansenormousinvestment-andopportunities-intechnologytoimprovefarming.
Happy,healthyanimalstendtobemoreproductive,andIrishcompanyReprodochasdevelopedtechnologytomonitorthereproductivewellbeingofbeefanddairycattle.
NowanEnterpriseIreland-supportedprojectwithDublinCityUniversityislookingtogoglobalwiththeapproach.
“WeprovidereproductivemanagementservicestothedairyandbeefindustrythroughoutIrelandandourobjectiveistoimprovethewholewellbeingofanimals,”explainsDanRyan,founderofReprodoc.
Tomonitorthecattle,heusesultra-sonographytocaptureinformationabouteachcow’sreproductivesystematvariouspointsintheproductioncycle.
“Iftheanimalishappyintheenvironmentsheisin,thereproductivetractoftheanimalwillshowusimageswhichareconcurrentwithananimalthatishappy,”heexplains.“Butifthe
animalisinanadverseenvironment,wherethehousingornutritionisnotconcurrentwithherproperwelfare,thereproductiveimageswillshowthattheuterineenvironmentishostilesoshewillnotgobackincalf.”
RyanisnostrangertothehighwaysandbywaysofIreland,visitingaround3,000farmseachyear.
Butwhilethetechnologycangivetheanswers,thedifficultbithasbeentophysicallyprocesstheinformationfromtheultrasoundequipment.
ThankstoanEnterpriseIrelandInnovationPartnershipgrant,thecompanyhasbeenworkingwithimageanalysisexpertsattheCentreforImageProcessing&AnalysisinDCUtocomeupwithasolution.
Thetechnologytheyaredevelopingwouldmeanthatatechniciancouldmonitortheanimal,thentheinformationgetsrelayedtothecompanyforautomaticanalysisontheherd.
“Bybeingabletoautomatethetechnologywecanprovideservicesworldwide,”saysRyan.“Thiswillallowusscaleupfromourmarketstoaglobalnetwork.”
GETTINGMOREFROm FOOD PRODuCTION
�4 technology transfer case studies
a helping hand for food producers
BeefanddairymightbefamiliarstaplesonIrishmenus,butgloballythere’salsoanenormousappetiteforseaurchinroe,andIrishcompanyGourmetMarinehasdevelopedanew,efficientwaytofarmtheanimals.
ItspatentedUrchinPlatter™systemusesspeciallydesignedmodularcagesandtanksthatallowthesea
urchinstogrowhappily.Andthecompanyisstartingtotapintotheglobalmarketforseaurchinfarming,whichisworthabout¤800mperyear,accordingtofounderDrGerryMouzakitis.
GourmetMarinespunoutfromUniversityCollegeCorkin2008.WithfundingfromEnterpriseIrelandandprivateinvestorsithascompletedsuccessfulacademicandindustryvalidationoftheseaurchinfarmingsystem,includingmajortrialsin
Chile,whichisoneoftheworld’smajorproducers.“ItworksverywellwiththeChileanseaurchin,whichisimportantasitaccountsforabout45percentofworldproduction,”saysDrMouzakitis.“Wecanshowwecanmakehighqualityroeusingafeedofonlyseaweed-youarenotgivingitanyartificialflavoursorcolours,youaregivingitwhatiteatsinthewild.”
GourmetMarineisnowexpandingglobalsalesandoffersequipment,trainingandconsultancy
toseafoodproducers.ButMouzakitisisadamantthatwhilethefocusisworldwide,productionanddesignoftheproductwillremaininIreland.
“Thatisreallyimportantforme,”hesays.“IcangoonadaytripfromCorktoGalwayandsitwiththedesigner.IfthedesignwasoutsideofIrelandthatwouldbeverydifficult.”
GETTINGMOREFROm FOOD PRODuCTION
�5technology transfer case studies
Hot water that doesn’t cost the Earth
Hotwaterissomethingweprobablytakeforgranted-whetherweareathomedoingthedishesorhavingashower,orinindustryforcleaningandhandhygiene.
Butheatingwatercanbeanexpensivebusiness,particularlyduringthedaywhenelectricitytariffstendtohehigher.Nottomentionthewiderenvironmentalimpactofusingelectricitytoheatthetank.
DrMickMcKeeveratDublinInstituteofTechnologyhascomeupwithaneatsolutiontohelpkeephotwaterontapduringthedaywithoutincurringextracost.
Hisinvention,theWarmerWedge,sitsattheoutersideofthetankandstoresenergyfromtheheat.Thenitreleasestheenergyslowlybacktothewaterinthetankovertime.
Thatmeanssavvyconsumerscanheatwaterduringthenightwhenelectricityischeap,andgetthebenefitsduringthedaywhentheyneedhotwater.
DrMcKeever,alecturerinengineering,gottheideawhileworkingonsolutionsforhot-watercylindertanksthat
involvephase-changematerials,whichmeltastheyabsorbenergyandthengivetheenergybackastheysolidify.
Puttingphase-changematerialinsidethetankwasoneoption,butitwouldmeanbuildinganewtankfromscratch,andeventhenthecostswouldbeprohibitivelyhighforhomeconsumers.
DrMcKeeverdevisedamorepracticalsolution:modular‘wedges’containingthephase-changematerialthatcanbeclippedtotheoutsideofanexistingtankinstead.
Inpractice,thatmeanswhenthetankgets
hotitheatsthephase-changematerialinthewedges,thentheyreleasetheenergybacktothetanklater.
“Itisamodularsystemsoyoucanbuyupto10ofthemdependingonthesizeofyourtank,”heexplains.
“Ifyouheatthewateratnighttime,whenthecostofelectricityischeaper,theWarmerWedgewillallowyoutohavemorecapacitysoyoucangetthroughthenextday,ratherthanneedingtoheatthetankagaintowashthedishes.Sotherearecostsavings.”
Whenhewasworkingonthenow-patentedtechnology,hecalled
DIT’stechnologytransferstaffaboutthecommercialpotentialandgota“morethanhelpful”response.
TheyadvisedhimaboutfundingoptionsandbroughthimthroughtheprocedurestosecurecommercialisationfundingfromEnterpriseIreland.
ThatfundingisallowingDrMcKeevertodevelopprototypesandaddressissuessuchaspackaging,andheisnowlookingatroutestobringingtheWarmerWedgetomarketandtalkingtointerestedcompaniesandretailoutlets.
TOWARDSAgREENER WORLD
�6 technology transfer case studies
Environmental testing - the smart way
Thequalityofwateriscriticalforlifeandhealth.Pollutioncanmeanthatplantsandanimalsdie,orthatentireregionsneedtoboiltheirdrinkingwater.
ButatechnologybeingdevelopedinIrelandaimstoenableautomaticmonitoringofwaterinthefield,soproblemscanbedetectedearlyandwithouttheneedforpeopletovisitremotesitesoften.
Carlow-basedcompanyT.E.LaboratorieshasbeenlinkinginwithDublinCityUniversitytorealisethisgoal.
“Wehaveavisionthatcertainamountsofenvironmentaltestingcanbedoneinthefieldratherthanthelaboratory,”explainsMarkBowkett,CEOofT.E.Laboratories.
Onewayofdetectingpollutionremotelyistodeploysensorsinthefieldandmonitorthemovertime.Tolookintotheapproach,TELaboratorieswenttoDCUforexpertise-theresearchersmet
throughanorganisationcalledQUESTOR,whichlinkscompanieswithacademicexpertsforenvironmentalinnovation.
Sincethen,throughanEnterpriseIrelandInnovationPartnershipAwardgrant,T.E.LaboratorieshasbeencollaboratingwithProfDermotDiamond’slabattheNationalCentreforSensorResearchinDCU.
Theiremergingsensortechnologyusesmicrofluidichardwareandcustomisedchemicalstodetectchangesinwaterquality,thentheinformationisrelayedtoanonline
monitoringsystem.
“It’sanearlywarningpollutiondevice,”explainsBowkett.“Wecanputthisintoariverandifthere’samaterialchangeintheriverthatcanindicatepollution,thisdevicewillissueawarningandasampleofthewateriscapturedforanalysis.”
Asidefromtheenvironmentalandsocietalbenefitsofbeingabletodetectpollutionearly,thehopeisthatmanufacturingandmonitoringthesensorswillalsosupportfurtheremploymentinIreland.
TOWARDSAgREENER WORLD
�7technology transfer case studies
Exploring more efficient waste-water treatment
AtechnologycalledOxyMemisbeingdevelopedatUniversityCollegeDublin,tomakewastewatertreatmentmoreefficient.
“Currentlywastewatertreatmentplantsuseair-spargingtosupplybacteriawithoxygenforbreakingdownpollutants,”explainsDrEoinCasey,aseniorlectureratUCD.
Butcurrentprocessesarewasteful-around70percentofoxygenbubbledintowastewatergoesunusedbythebacteria,andthiscontributestoenormouselectricitybillschalkedupbywastewaterplants.
DrCasey’steamhasbeenworkingonadifferentwayofintroducingoxygen,anditdoesn’tusebubbles.“Insteadofusingbubblesweareusingtubularmembranes-airoroxygenflowsontheinsideandtheoxygendiffuses-withoutbubbles-throughthemembraneintotheliquid,”explainsDrCasey.“Theonlyoxygenyouprovideistheoxygenthattheorganismsneedsothere’snowaste.”
TheOxyMemsystemallowsmicrobestogrowinbiofilmsonthemembranesthat
aredenselypacked,whichimprovestheproductivityofthewastewatertreatmentplant.
Butitcanalsomonitorwhenbiofilmsarebecomingaproblemandarelikelytocauseclogging.“Ourinventionallowsustomonitorquiteeasilywhatisgoingonandtoknowwhentoapplyacontrolstrategythatunclogsthesystem,”explainsDrCasey.
“Theideaisthatthewholeprocesscouldberetrofittedintoexistingwastewatertreatmentplantsandrunautomaticallywithminimalintervention.”
AnEnterpriseIrelandcommercialisationgranthasallowedthegroupatUCDtobuildalarge-scalepilotsysteminthelab,whereitcanbecloselyevaluatedbythedevelopmentteam.
Andoneofthehighlightsofbringingtheresearchtowardscommercialisationhasbeentheinvolvementofanindustrialadvisoryboard,accordingtoDrCasey.“Severalcompaniesareprovidinguswithreallygoodfeedback,”hesays.
Ultimately,thetechnologycouldoffertheenvironmentaldouble-whammyofpurifyingwaterwhilereducingenergyconsumption,
explainsDrCasey.
“IfsomeonewhoisoperatingawastewatertreatmentplantcouldimplementthisOxyMemtechnology,theycouldsavedramaticallyonenergyusage,whilstachievingincreaseddischargestandards.”
�8 technology transfer case studies
The Irish medical device revolution
Adevicethattrainsthebraintomutetheimaginarysoundsoftinnitus.Animplantablescaffoldtohelpbonestohealafterinjury.Amonitorthathelpspeoplewithasthmalearntousetheirinhalersproperly.
ThosearejustsomeoftheEnterpriseIreland-supportedmedicaltechnologiesthatareemergingfromresearchinIreland.
Medicaltechnologyor‘medtech’isoneofthegreatsuccessstoriesinIrelandinrecentyears.Thesectoremploysaround25,000peopledirectlyinIrelandandhadexportsinexcessof¤7.2bnin2010–up14percenton2008levels.
ThismeansIrelandhasbecomethesecondlargestexporterofmedtechproductsinEurope,behindonlyGermany.
Historically,largemulti-nationalmedtechcompanieshaveinvestedinIreland,andtodaymostoftheworld’stopnamesintheindustryhaveapresencehere.
Butindigenousmedtechhasbeenthrivingtoo,andEnterpriseIrelandstronglysupportsIrishcompaniesindevelopinginnovativenewdevicesandtechnologiestohelpcliniciansdelivercareandtoimprovethequalityofpatients’lives.
MAKINGLIFE bETTER FOR PaTIENTS
�9technology transfer case studies
Silencing tinnitus
Imagineifyoucouldhearringing,whistling,buzzingorhissinginyourears,eventhoughtherewasnoexternalsourceofthenoise.Nowimaginethatnoisewouldn’tgoaway,youjusthadtolivewithit.Welcometotinnitus.
Around40millionpeopleworldwidearethoughttohavethecondition,whichinseverecasescanimpairthequalityoflife.
MuteButton,amedicaldevicecompanythatspunoutoftheHamiltonInstituteatNUIMaynoothin2010,isworkingonanewwaytohelpsilencethatillusorynoise.
Thetechnology,whichwasdevelopedatNUIMaynoothbyDrRossO’Neill,DrPaulO’GradyandProfBarakPearlmutter,aimstotrainthebraintoidentifythephantomnoiseandknowwhattotuneout.
Todothis,theMuteButtondeviceplaysmusictostimulatethesenseofhearing,andatthesametimestimulatesthesenseoftouchbydeliveringtheinformationtosensorsplacedonthetongue.
Inthiswaytheapproachtargetspartsofthenervoussystemthatintegratesoundandtouch.Thenbycomparingtheinputs,theperson’sbraincan
learntodistinguishtherealsound,whichmatcheswiththetactileinputfromthetongue,fromtheillusorysoundthat’sheardintinnitus.
In2010DrO’NeillwonEnterpriseIreland’s‘OnetoWatch’award,whichwasacatalystforinvestmentintothecompany.“ItgotMuteButtontheperfectlevelofmediaexposure,”hesays.“Wegotanumberofinvestorswhoapproachedusandoneoftheminvested.”
EnterpriseIrelandhasalsoinvestedinMuteButtonasittrialsthetechnologyclinicallyandmovestoseekregulatoryapprovaltomarketitforuseinthetreatmentoftinnitus.
AndDrO’Neillhasplanstogomuchfurther:MuteButtonisalsolookingtodevelopotherapplicationsthatallowbrainactivitytobemodulatednon-invasively.Heexplainsthatprocedureswhichcurrentlyuseneuromodulation,suchasthephysicaldeep-brainstimulationthatcanhelpalleviatethesymptomsofParkinson’sdisease,ofteninvolvebrainsurgery,whichisanexpensiveandinvasiveapproach.
SoMuteButtonisnowexploringlessinvasiveoptionsthatstimulateperipheralnervesin
otherpartsofthebody,effectivelyusingthemaschannelsintothebraintoaffectactivitiesthatarelinkedtosymptomsofdisease.Andforthepatient,itcouldinvolvelittlemorethanadevicebeingplacedontheirskin.“WhatIwantfromMuteButtonistobuildonthefirstgenerationofsuccessthathasbeen
achievedbyotherswithinvasiveneuromodulationdevices,”saysDrO’Neill.“Wewanttobuildasecondgenerationofnon-invasivedevicesthatachievethesameresultthroughnon-surgicalmeans.”
30 technology transfer case studies
making inhalers count
Inhalerdeviceslikethehand-held‘puffers’usedbypeoplewithasthmaofferadirectrouteforgettingmedicinesintotheairwaysquickly-butdopatientsalwaysusethemproperly?
Learningthecorrecttechniqueandstickingtoitarekeytogettingthebenefitsofaninhaler,andmonitoringtechnologydevelopedatTrinityCollegeDublinoffersawaytokeeptrackofhowapatientisusingthedevice.
“Complianceisthebiggestproblemwithinhalers,”saysFrankKeane,generalmanagerofvitalographIreland,anEnnis-basedcompanythatspecialisesinrespiratorytechnology.
Whenapatientdoesn’tuseaninhaler
correctly,theresultcanbethatthetreatmentislesseffectiveandmedicationsarewasted,heexplains.Butifthepatientcanmasterinhalertechnique,drugscanbedeliveredmoreaccuratelyandthepersonmayneedfewertripstothedoctor.
TheInhalerComplianceMonitorusestechnologydevelopedbyrespiratoryconsultantProfRichardCostelloatBeaumontHospitalandProfRichardReillyatTrinityCollegeDublininaprojectsupportedbyEnterpriseIrelandthroughitsCommercialisationFund.
“Thesystemhelpsphysiciansorcliniciansorhealthcareprofessionalstomakesurethatapatientisusinganinhalerasprescribed,andthattheyareusingitcorrectly,”saysKeane.
Sohowdoesitwork?Asmalldeviceclipsontothedrypowderormetereddoseinhalerand
itssensor
technologyrecordsacousticdetailsaboutthebreathandwhenandhowtheinhalerisbeingused.
Differenttypesofinhalersrequirepeopletousedifferenttechniquestodelivertheappropriatedosage,andthesystemcanpickupwhetherapersonisusingtheirinhalertherightway.“Itcanchecktheyinhaleforthecorrectamountoftimeandthattheyholdtheirbreathforthecorrectamountoftimeandthenexhale,”explainsKeane.
Theinformationcanbeuploadedtoaweb-basedsysteminaclinicorpharmacy,whereahealthcareprofessionalcanlookattheperson’spatternsofuseandtechnique.Algorithmscanalsoautomaticallyhighlightpotentialproblemswithpatterns.
vitalographiscurrentlyusingthesystemwithpartnersinclinicaltrials,wheredevicemanufacturersaredevelopinganinhalerandwanttotrackitsuse,explainsKeane.
Buteventuallyheseesthetechnologymovingintodoctor’sclinicsforthebenefitofpatientsandbudgetsalike:“Ithinkdowntheroadfortheprimaryandsecondarycaremarketthistechnologywillmeanbigsavingsforhealthcare.”
MAKINGLIFE bETTER FOR PaTIENTS
31technology transfer case studies
Lending natural support to bones
It’seasytothinkofthebonesinourskeletonsasbeingstatic,justthereforsupport.Butboneisaliving,dynamictissue,andwhenitgetsdamagedthere’softenscopetofixit.
Ifboneisbadlydamagedordiseased,asurgeonmightopttouseagraft,whereapieceofthepatient’sownbonefromelsewhereinthebody,apieceofdonatedorbovineboneorelsea
syntheticscaffoldgetsimplantedtohelpfillthegap.
“Bonegraftingisthesecond-mostnumeroussurgicalprocedureperformed,secondonlytobloodtransfusion,”saysDanPhilpott,CEOofIrishcompanySurgaColl.
There’sagrowingmarketforsyntheticbonegraftsubstitutes,andSurgaColl’sfirstofferingfromitsportfoliooftechnologiesisaimedatmeetingthatneed.ItsHydroxyCollproductcontainstwosubstances
naturallyfoundinthebody-hydroxyapatiteandcollagen-renderedinawaythatencouragesbonetissuetoregrow.
ThetechnologygrewfromScienceFoundationIreland-fundedresearchbyProfFergalO’Brien’sgroupattheRoyalCollegeofSurgeonsinIreland.
Since2007EnterpriseIrelandhasprovidedproof-of-conceptandcommercialisationfundingtohelpSurgaColltogetofftheground,andtodayEnterprise
IrelandcontinuestosupportthecompanyasaHighPotentialStart-Up.
Pre-clinicaltrialsshowthatHydroxyCollcanspeeduphealingindamagedbonetissue,andthetechnologyisbeingbroughttowardsclinicaltrialsandmarketapproval,explainsPhilpott:“Ultimatelyweexpectanoverallrecoveryexperienceinpatientsthatisfasterandbetter.”
3� technology transfer case studies
making the move to mobile
Nexttimeyouareinapublicplacehaveaquicklookaround:howmanypeopleareusingasmartphoneortabletdevice?Theymightbesearchingfor
information,checkingtheirbankbalanceorevendoingupapresentationforwork.
Mobileappsarenowapartofeverydaylife,and
technologiesdevelopedinIrelandareseekingtomakeiteasierforusersandbusinessesaliketoharnessthepowerofinformationonthemove.
INFORMATIONON THE mOvE
33technology transfer case studies
Search goes mobile, and social
OneofthegreatadvantagesoftheInternetisbeingabletosearchforrelevantinformation,whetherforworkorplay.
NowIrishcompanyHeyStaks,isopeningupnewformsofmobile‘socialsearching’usingtechnologythatcombinestwopowerfuldriversofInternetuse:searchandthesocialweb.
Theirapproachallowsfriendstoformsearchcommunitiesasawaytocollaborateandshareastheysearch.
“Wewanttohelppeoplesearchmoreeffectivelyonline,”explainsHeyStaksco-founderandchiefscientistProfBarrySmyth.
“Whenpeoplesearchtheyareoftenlookingforthingsthattheirfriendsortheircolleaguesareinterestedinto,sopeopletheytrustmayhavealreadyfoundinformation.Wouldn’titbegreatifwecouldconnectthatup?”
ThetechnologygrewfromscientificresearchattheScienceFoundationIreland-fundedCLARITyCentreforSensorWebTechnologies,a
partnershipbetweenUniversityCollegeDublin,DublinCityUniversityandTyndallNationalInstitutethatProfSmythdirects.
“Inonesensethehardsciencewastheeasybit,nowit’sabouthowyoumarrythatwithagreatuserexperienceandreallytransformitintoabrilliantproduct,”hesays.
TheHeystaksapproachwasinitiallydevelopedforusewithaweb-browser,andnowthemovetoamobileappisopeningupnewopportunitiesforthetechnology,includingpresentingresultsinamagazine-likelayout.
“Whenwestartedlookingatit,especiallyinthemobilephoneandtabletarea,werealisedthatpeoplehadn’tstartedtothinkaboutoptimisingsearchfortouchandtablet,”saysProfSmyth,whoisprofessorofcomputerscienceatUCD.
“Wetookafreshlookatsearchandstartedfiguringoutifthereisabetterwaytodeliversearchresultsnomatterwhatdeviceyouweresearchingon.Andbecausewehaveanappandwearenotrestrictedtoworkingwithinthebrowser,wecandomuchmoreinterestingthings.”
Ultimatelybymaking
searchmoreeffective,HeyStakshopestoboostproductivityintheworkplaceandtobringeconomicbenefittoIrelandintheformofjobs.
Thespin-out,whichisbasedinSanFranciscoandatNovaUCD,raiseditsfirstroundofseedfundingin2010-securinginvestmentof¤1millioninequityfundingfromtheUlsterBankDiageoventureFund,managedbyNCBventures-andthecompanyisnowlookingtoraiseitsnextround.
“Allofthatisgoingtohelptosupportthe
growthofthecompanyandthatultimatelymeansmorejobs-weareestimatingcreatingintheregionofcreating40newjobsovercomingyears,”saysProfSmyth.
And,poisedattheintersectionsbetweensearch,socialnetworkingandmobileapps,heseesplentyofpotentialfortheStaksmodel.
“ThethingtorememberisthatGooglehasproventhatifyoucanattractpeopletoyoursearchengineyoucanmakemoney,”hesays.“Andwouldn’titbegreatifanIrishcompanycoulddisruptGoogle?”
34 technology transfer case studies
Developing and managing mobile apps made easy
Mobileappsmakelifealittleeasierforusers.Ratherthanbeingtiedtoanofficeoracomputerathome,appsletpeopleaccessandcreatecontentondeviceslikesmartphonesortablets.
Butwhomakesiteasierforthecompaniesthatarelookingtobringthoseappstotheircustomers?Waterford-basedcompanyFeedHenrydoes-itstechnologytakesalotofthehardworkandunknownsoutofbuildingandmanaginganappinthecloud.
“Wehavewhatwecallacloud-basedmobileapplicationplatform,”explainsCEOCathalMcGloin.“Itessentiallyallowsanybody,adeveloper,abusiness,asmallbusiness,tobuildmobileappsolutionsinthecloudthatwillrunonallsmartphonesandtabletdevicesfromasinglebuild.”
Inpractice,someoneusingFeedHenry’splatformcanbuildtheappusingwebtechnologyratherthandeepcode,thentheplatformallowsthemtohandletherequestsandconnectionsandtointegratetheapps
securelyintotheirexistingbusinesssystems,allthroughthecloud.
Theapproachhasattractedsomeofindustry’stopnames,andFeedHenrynowhaspartnershipswithvMWare,securitycompanyRSAandTelefónicaamongothers,andseveralmorelargecompanieseithertriallingorlookingtopartnerwithFeedHenry,accordingtoMcGloin.
Why are they interested?“Therearemanytoolsouttheretohelpdevelopappsthatwillrunonallphones,”hesays.“Buttherearefewertoolsouttherethatwilldothataswellasprovidingthebackend-as-a-servicetointegratewithbusinesssystems.There’snootherplatforminthemarketplacetodaythatenablesthecompletecycleofbuildingapps,integratingthemwiththebackend,managingthemwithdeploymenttodifferentclouds.Thatiswherewearedifferent.”
ThetechnologywasinitiallydevelopedattheTelecommunicationsSoftware&SystemsGroupatWaterfordInstituteofTechnology–butwheredidthenameFeedHenrycomefrom?
Oneoftheinitialdeveloperswho
wasworkingonthetechnologyforusewithfeedscamefromKilkenny,whichisanarch-rivalofWaterfordinhurling,explainsMcGloin.“SohenameditafterHenryShefflin,captainoftheKilkennyhurlingteam.”
McGloinhimselfcametoknowofFeedHenrythroughcontactsatEnterpriseIreland.Hesawthepotentialtouseittoallowbusinessestodevelopandhostappsinthecloud.
“Wetookthetechnologyandrepositionedittosolveamorecompellingproblem:theissueofmobileappsinenterprise.”
Angelandseedcapitalfunding,includingacontributionfromEnterpriseIreland,allowedthecompanytospinoutfromTSSGandgetofftheground.
“Wehadenoughinitialcapitaltotakein13stafffromWIT,totakeovertheIPandtohireanother10staff,”saysMcGloin.
“AndEnterpriseIrelandisnowworkingwithustoputotherprogrammesandgrantsandinvestmentsinplacetogrowthatuptoabout40to45staffbytheendofthisyear.”
Thecompanyisnowideallypositionedbytheintersectionof
twodisruptivetrends:mobileappsandcloudtechnology,explainsMcGloin.
“Mobileappshavecompletelychangedthesoftwareindustry,”hesays.“TheyhavesolvedoneoftheproblemsforsmallIrishsoftwarecompanies,whichishowdoyougetyourproducttothemarketplace.Mobileappshavesolvedthatbyallowingdistributionthroughappstores-anysmalldeveloperinMayoorCorkorKerrycanbuildsoftwareandreachinternationalmarketsquicklythroughtheappstores.”
Meanwhile,IrelandisbuildinganameforitselfasahubincloudtechnologyforEurope,headds.
“FeedHenrysitsattheintersection-weenablemobileappstobeservicedfromthecloud.SowecanpotentiallyhelpIrelandbecomealeadingcentreofcloudandwecanalsoprovidesmalldevelopersandsoftwarecompaniesinIrelandwiththeopportunitytobuildworldclassproducts.”
INFORMATIONON THE mOvE
35technology transfer case studies
making light work for industry
Sometimesinnovationcanlieinaseeminglysimplechange.ForateaminTyndallNationalInstituteatUniversityCollegeCork,thatchangewasalteringtheshapeofalight-emittingdiode,orLED.
WearefamiliarwithLEDsasthelong-lastinglightsourcesinindicatorlightsorbicyclelamps,whichcansendoutbrightlightforlongperiodswithoutdrainingthebattery.
ButchangingtheshapeofthesemiconductormaterialthatemitslightintheLEDcanmakeahugedifferenceandleadtomoreinnovativeusesforthetechnology.
InaprojectsupportedbyEnterpriseIreland,theTyndallteamturnedthenormallyflatsemiconductorintoabowl-shapedparabolatomakeminiature‘microLEDs’thatcanfocusorredirecttheemittedlightwithouttheneedforadditionaloptics.
Andbecauseoftheirsmallsize,theycanbearrangedintoarraysormatrices,openingupnewpossibilitiesforuse.
“ThetechnologyisasmallerandmoreefficienttypeofLED,”explainsJoeO’Keeffe,
CEOofinfiniLED,acompanythatspunoutofTyndallandhaslicensedthemicroLEDtechnology.
EntrepreneurO’KeeffeinitiallyevaluatedthemicroLEDtechnologyforcommercialpotentialthroughtheEnterpriseIrelandBusinessPartnerProgramme,andthenco-foundedinfiniLEDwithDrBillHenryfromTyndall.
ThemicroLEDtechnologynowstandstosupportarangeofmanufacturersacrossmanysectors,includingmedicaldevicesandelectronics.
“LEDsareusedinvariousapplicationsandthesamewouldapplytoours,”saysO’Keeffe.
Hecitesexampleswheretheabilitytominiaturise,saveenergyandfocusthelightcouldhelpbringdowncostsandinsomecasesenablelessinvasivetechnologies.
“InonecasethemicroLEDtechnologyisbeingappliedtodevelopablood-monitoringsensorforaverycommonailment.Thissensorwouldeliminatetheneedforpatientstopricktheirfingersseveraltimesadaytomonitortheirblood,”hesays.“Anotherapplicationisinanewwayofmanufacturingprintedcircuitboardsthatsignificantlysimplifies
theprocessandlowersthecostoftheequipmentneeded.”
ThemicroLEDtechnologystandstodelivercheaperproductsforconsumers,andforacompanyitcanmeangreaterflexibilityformanufacturing,headds.AndforIreland,infiniLEDplanstoenrichtheeconomythroughmanufacturingathomeandmainlyexportingproductsglobally.
“Themainbenefitto
IrelandisthatinfiniLEDisahigh-technologyexportingcompany,”saysO’Keeffe.“Andexportsarelikelytobetheengineoftherecovery.”
InfiniLED,recentlysecuredaninvestmentof¤1.6millionfromILInvestmentGroupfromQuebec,CanadaandEnterpriseIreland.Itwillimmediatelyresultintheformationofeightnewhigh-techpositionsatInfiniLEDwithupto16stafftargetedbeforetheendof2013.
SUPPORTING INDuSTRy
36 technology transfer case studies
a sound way to ‘see’ faults
Whenyouaremanufacturingsomethingasvaluableasasiliconwafercontainingthousandsofdollars’worthofcomputerchips,itpaystoavoiddefectscroppingupthatcouldrendertheentirewaferuseless.
Buthowcanyou‘see’suchdefects?AclevertechnologydevelopedatDublinCityUniversityshinespulsesoflightonthematerialandmeasurestheacousticsignalthatcomesback.
Detectingthiswithahigh-technologymicro-phoneallowsfaultsinthematerial’ssurfaceorsub-surfacelayerstobepickedupandclassifiedascriticalortolerable.Themethodbywhichthelightisdeliveredandtheacousticsmonitoredandanalysedisprotect-edIP.
ThetechnologyarosefrombreakthroughresearchattheNanomaterialsProcessingLaboratoryheadedbyProfPatrickMcNallyinDCU,anditisnowbeingdevelopedforindustrybyspin-outSonexMetrologyLtd.
Theapproachcouldbeusedinafailureanalysisoryieldimprovementsettingtounderstandhowdefectsariseinmaterialsandhowto
avoidthem,explainsMikeCunningham,CEOandco-founderofSonex.
Andbecausethetechnologyisnon-invasive,itcouldalsobeusedtomonitormaterialsastheyarebeingprocessedformanufacturing.Thiswouldgivereal-timeinformationaboutpotentialproblemsandsohelptoimproveoverallyield.
SonexrecentlysecuredfundingthroughEnterpriseIreland,privatevCbankinginstitutionsandangelinvestors,andthecapitalwillallowthecompanytoworkwithindustryanddevelopmoresophisticatedprototypes.
“It’sanexcitingtimewherewewilllooktovalidateinanobjectivewaythatourscienceworksinrealliveexamples,”saysCunningham,notingthateventually,thetechnologycouldalsobeappliedtomanufacturersacrossvarioussectors.
“Whatwearedesigninghereisapieceofstate-of-the-artmetrology,andlikeanymetrologywhetherit’samicroscopeorasimple12-inchruler,itcanbeappliedinmanyfields.Thepotentialopportunitiesforitsapplicationarevast,”hesays.
“Thebeautyofthisscienceisthatyouareabletolookatdefectsonorbelowasurface,eventhroughopticallyopaquelayers.Wearedoingthefirstroundofproductsbasedonsiliconapplicationsbutitcouldbeusedinotherfields:pharmaceuticals,foods,anywherethatyouneedaqualitycontrolmeasuretobefinanciallycompetitive,reliable,non-destructiveandaboveallverymanufacturingcompatible.Therearemanyapplicationsforitinthefuture.”
TheenvironmentinIrelandhasbeenfavourableforthetechnologytodevelop,accordingtoCunningham.
“Ineverygoodchemicalequationyouneeddifferentingredientsandyouneedtheclimatetoberightforthingstohappen.Wehaveabodyofworld-classscientistsworkinginthelabsinuniversitiesinthiscountry,andwecouldneverhavedonethishadProfMcNallyandhisDCUteamnotbeenworkingonthisforthepasteightyears.Thatisacriticalingredient,”hesays.
“WehavesomeofthebestandbrightestoftechnicaltalentintheworldhereinIrelandacrossabroadrangeoftechnologies.Manyoftheworld’sgreatand
innovativecompaniesarealsolocatedhereandtheyareallwellintegratedwiththiscreativegenepoolcreatedbyourschoolsanduniversities.”
ThepoliciesinIrelandthatfavourbusinessandinnovationhavealsosetthescene,accordingtoCunningham.
“TheaccessthattheuniversitiesandIrishentrepreneurshavetoEnterpriseIrelandforexampleisakeyassetwehaveandneedstobesupportedandnurturedevenmoresointhesedifficultfinancialtimes,”hesays.
“Productinnovation,technicalleadershipandexportorientedbusinesswillplayacriticalroleinourfutureasanation.Thisrequiresacloseworkingpartnershipbetweenoureducationfacilities,privatebusiness,financialinstitutionsandGovernmententerprisebodiessuchEnterpriseIreland/SFIandIDA.Weareveryluckythatthispartnershipexistsandkeepingthisstrongandhealthyiskeytoourfuture.”
SUPPORTING INDuSTRy
37technology transfer case studies
a guide in the palm of your hand
ForentrepreneurTrevorWinckworth,achanceconversationonaflightsparkedanideathathasledtoabusinesswithglobalappeal.
Afellowpassengershowedhimabasicaudiodevicethatplayedpersonalmotivationmessages,andWinckworth’sbackgroundinhealthcaresethimthinking:couldthisapproachbespruceduptechnicallyandusedtohelppatientstosticktolong-termtreatmentregimens,ortopromotehealthybehaviours?
WinckworthcontactedtheNimbus/TechnologiesforEmbeddedComputing(TEC)CentreatCIT,andthankstoanInnovationvoucherof¤5,000fromEnterpriseIreland,theysetaboutbuildingacost-efficientandsmallMP3playerthatcanbepre-loadedforcustomerswiththerelevantaudiocontent.
Andgrowingfromthatcollaboration,Cork-basedInHandGuides,ofwhichWinckworthisfounderandmanagingdirector,nowsuppliestheplayerswithaudiocontentandbrandingartworktoclientsaroundtheworld.
Applicationsincludehealthcare,wheretheplayersareusedindiabeteseducationandanti-smokingprogrammes,andpublicadvocacyasameanstoinformpeopleoftheirrights.
Thenthere’stourism,wherethesmallplayercanreplaceunwieldyrentalaudiounits,whichcanbeexpensivetoinstallandmaintain.
InHandGuidescurrentlysuppliestouristattractionsinIrelandandinternationally,whereratherthanrentingaunitthevisitorsimplybuysthesmallplayerandlistenstotheaudiocontenttogetmorefromtheirvisit.
Thecustomisedartworkonthedevicemeansitisanattractivesouvenirofthetripthattheycantakehomewiththemtoo.
WiththesupportofanotherEnterpriseIrelandInnovationvoucher,thecompanyhasrecentlyworkedwiththeNimbus/TECCentretoaddevenmorevaluebyincorporatingaticketintotheMP3player.
Inpractice,thismeansthatavisitortoanattractionorsite-liketheBookofKellsinTrinityCollegeDublin,wheretheticket-enableddeviceshavebeenfieldtrialled-hastheoptiontobuythedeviceas
theirentrancepass,thentheyhavetherelevantaudiocontentattheirfingertips.
InHandGuidesisnowsettotakethetechnologytothenextlevel:workingwithanIrishcompanytheyaredevelopinga‘smart’versionthatplaysaudioonthebasisoflocation.“youcouldwalkaroundacityoragroupofattractionsandtheaudiowilltriggerautomatically,”explainsWinckworth.
InHandGuidesexpectstoexpanditsworkforceinIrelandto10by2013andintendsto
collaboratefurtherondevelopmentoftheproductwithCIT,andWinckworthcreditsthesuccessofthetechnologytothegoodworkingrelationshiphehaswiththeexpertsattheNimbus/TECCentreandtothesupportofEnterpriseIreland.
“Itwouldn’thavebeenpossiblewithoutstartingwiththeInnovationvouchersandbuildingitup,”hesays.“Ourturnoverin2011wasjustunder¤300,000andfor2012wearesettingatargetof¤1m-thatisallbasedon¤10,000-worthofInnovationvouchers.”
BRINGINGINFORMATIONTO LIFE
38 technology transfer case studies
Pictureit:youarevisitingacityandtakinginoneofitsattractions,maybeazoooranartgallery.Asyouwalkaround,anapplicationonyoursmartphoneautomaticallydeliversappropriatemedia:whetherit’sthesoundofroaringlionsasyouwalkintotheAfricansection,orharpsichordmusicasyouapproachaportraitofHenryvIII.
Orperhapsyouhavejustarrivedatatradeshowandyouaretryingtofindyourwayaround.Whatifanappcouldbeyourguidetohelpyoufindwhatyouneedfromwhereveryouareinthecavernoushall?
MobiSurround,aninteractiveHDmediaengineforlocation-basedservices,isbeingdevelopedatDublinInstituteofTechnologytodeliverrelevantinformationtousers.
“Wearelookingathowtousetheenginetodeliverextensiverichmediathattargetsusersandenvironments,”explainsDrCharlieCullenfromtheMultimodalInteractionGroupatDIT.“There’salotofopportunityforthingslikeblendedlearning,particularlyinmuseumsandexhibitionspaces-deliveringeffectiveinformationtotheuserisacomplextask.”
TheMobiSurroundaudiointerfaceenginemovesbeyondmerelypinpointingwhereauserisandbringstheirexperienceofthatlocationmoretolife.
“It’sabitlikewhenyouseeamapandithasalittlereddotonitsaying‘youarehere’-it’samazingtheamountoftimesyoustilldon’tknowwhereyouareandwhereyouwanttogo,”saysDrCullen.“Insteadit’sthemodelofinformationaroundtheplacethatisinterestingtotheuser.”
TheteambehindMobiSurround,whichreceivessupportthroughEnterpriseIreland’sCommercialisationFund,workscloselywithtechnologytransferexpertsinHotHouseatDIT.
“WeliaisewithHotHousealot,”saysDrCullen.“TheyarehelpingustopositiontheMobiSurroundtechnology,tolookatitindifferentwaysandtoseenewvaluepropositions.”
BRINGINGINFORMATIONTO LIFE
you are Here - adding to a user’s experience of their environment
39technology transfer case studies
NexttimeyouareboardinganAerLingusplaneforaEuropeanflight,havealookoverattheengine.It’squitelikelythatitcontainspartsmadebyÉireCompositesTeoinGalway.
Andtheindigenouscompany’ssuccessissettoclimbevenhigherastheyworkonthenextgenerationofrocketlaunchers.
Thecompany,whichisaspin-outfromNUIGalwayandissupportedbyÚdarásnaGaeltachta,manufacturesanddevelopscompositematerialsforaircraftandwindturbines-itsupplieswell-knownaerospacecustomerssuchasBombardierandAirbusandalsomanufacturesaround2,000bladeseachyearformicroturbinestoharvestwindenergy.
Aswellasmanufacturingandprovidingtestingservicesforcompositematerials,ÉireCompositesisalsodevelopingnewtechnologytomakematerialsforplanesandlaunchersthatarestrongbutlight.
Theaerospaceindustrywantsthisbecauseitcanreapsavingsonfuelusage,explainsR&DDirectoratÉireCompositesDrConchúrÓBrádaigh.
Andsince2003,theGalwayoperationhas
beenworkingwiththeEuropeanSpaceAgencyontechnologyforbuildingrocketlaunchers.
DrÓBrádaighcreditsTonyMcDonaldandBryanRodgersbasedatEnterpriseIrelandfortheirworkinhelpingIrishcompaniestobidforESAcontracts:sofar,ÉireCompositeshaswonESAcontractstothetuneofalmost¤2million,particularlyontheArianelauncherproject.
Theoverallgoalistoreplacethealuminiumfueltankofthelauncherwithamaterialthatdoesn’tweighsoheavilyonthepocket,explainsDrÓBrádaigh,whoisalsoaseniorlecturerinmechanicalandbiomedicalengineeringatNUIGalway.
“Inthespaceindustry,thepushisonreducingtheweightoflaunchers-iftheyreduceonekiloofastructure’sweighttheycanearnbackabout30,000dollars,”hesays.“Sotheyarelookingatreplacingthemetalstructurewithcost-competitivecomposites.”
Butwhetheryouaremakinganaircraftoraspacecraft,processingcompositematerialsforsuchlargestructurescanbecostly,notesDrÓBrádaigh.
“Alotofthecompositesweseeflyingonnewaircraftareprocessedinbigpressurecookers
calledautoclaves,andit’squiteexpensivetodothatwhenyougetuptobiggerstructuresoffiveorsixmetres,”hesays.“Sowhatwehavebeenworkingonsince2003isamethodofproducingthesetypesofstructureswithoutanautoclave:weareaimingtowardsamobileheatsourcewhichmovesupanddownthestructureandlaysthematerialon.”
Thespace-relatedtechnologybeingdevelopedthrough
ESAcontractscouldalsoeventuallybeofbenefitforcivilianaircraftandwindenergy,andÉireCompositeshasparalleltechnologydevelopmentprogrammestoexploretheseapplications.
“Notonlydoesitprovidedirectemployment,”saysDrÓBrádaigh.“Itpositionsthecompanytoenterintonotonlythespacemarketbutalsodevelopitsinterestandofferingsintoaerospaceandwindenergy.”
GALWAyMATERIALSTECHNOLOGyFLIES HIgH
40 technology transfer case studies
Takinganextremelyclose-uplookatwrinkles,blemishesandscarscanhelpaestheticdoctors,dermatologistsandplasticsurgeonstoassessaperson’sskinandtrackhowtreatmentsworkovertime.
Ahandheldopticaldevice,theAntera3D,developedbyTrinityCollegeDublinspin-outMiravexbouncesvisiblelightfromLEDsontotheskinandthencollectsvisualandspectroscopicdata.
Thisproducesbothtwo-andthree-dimensionalimagesandmeasureslevelsofpigmentationandotherfeatures.
Thenon-invasivetechnologywas
developedbyProfIgorShvets,DrRomanKantorandDrGuidoMariottowithsupportfromEnterpriseIreland’sCommercialisationFund.
In2009thetrioco-foundedMiravex,whichhasestablishedthedeviceinclinicandresearchcentresinEuropeandisnowenteringmarketsglobally.
“It’saverycompactandportabledevice-youcaneasilycarryitinasmallbriefcase,”explainsDrMariotto.“youcanuseittolookatskinproblemseverywhereonthefaceorbody,whichmakesiteasyfordoctorstoassessconditionssuchaswrinkles,birthmarks,threadveins,stretchmarksandcellulite.”
READyFORyOURCLOSE uP?
IfyoufancyyourselfasthenextEricClaptonorEddievanHalen,butyoustillneedabitofpractice,thensoftwaredevelopedbyDublin-basedSonicLaddercouldbejustwhatyouneed.
TheirRiffstationsoftwaretakesmusicfromyourMP3playerandshowsyouwhattheguitarchordsareinrealtime.Italsoletsyouchangethingsaroundtosuityourself:youcanslowdownthatsolobySlashtolearnit,youcansilencetheguitaronatrackforaspotofyourown‘guitar-eoke’andyoucanevencreatealoopforajamby‘telling’Metallicawhattoplay.
ThetechnologyisthebrainchildofguitarplayersDanBarry,MartinGallagherandMikelGainza,whoalsohappentobeexpertsindigitalsignalprocessing.
In2010theyspunSonicLadderoutofDublinInstituteofTechnology,wheretheyhadbeenresearchinganddevelopingaudiotechnologythatattractedclientssuchasSony.
SonicLadderandRiffstationallowedthemtoexploreevenmoreinterests.
“Itwasanareawecouldtackleasalabourofloveandatthesametimeaddressmarketopportunity,”saysBarry.
Riffstationisnowavailableforcustomerstodownload.
“It’sanexcitingtimeforus,”saysBarry.“There’sagreatsatisfactionwhenyouknowthatpeopleareusingyourtechnologyeveryday.”
GUITARZEROTO HERO
41technology transfer case studies
Pre-eclampsiaisapotentiallylife-threateningcomplicationofpregnancythatcanrestrictbloodflowtothewombandputbothmothersandbabiesatrisk.
It’sthoughttoberesponsibleforaround70,000maternaldeathsandhalfamillioninfantdeathsworldwideeachyear.
“It’soneoftheleadingcausesofmaternaldeath,”saysProfLouiseKenny,Professorof
ObstetricsatUniversityCollegeCorkandaConsultantObstetricianandGynaecologistatCorkUniversityMaternityHospital.“Therearesomepreventativestrategiesbutyouhavetostartthemearly.”
Butthereiscurrentlynowaytoeasilypredictinearlypregnancytheriskofawomandevelopingpre-eclampsialateron.
However,apromisingnewfindinginvolvingProfKenny’steamatUniversityCollegeCork
couldchangethat.
AspartoftheinternationalSCOPE(ScreeningforPregnancyEndpoints)study,morethan3,000womengavebloodsamples15weeksintotheirpregnancies.Thestudytrackedwhowentontodeveloppre-eclampsiaandusedthedatatopinpointasuiteofmetabolitesinthebloodinearlypregnancythatcouldpredictrisk.Thebenefitwouldbetoscreenandidentifywomenwhoareinneed
ofclosermonitoringorpreventivetreatmentforthecondition.
Trust,theHealthResearchBoardandScienceFoundationIreland,andnowaCommercialisationPlusawardfromEnterpriseIrelandisallowingthefindingstobevalidatedandmovedtowardsclinicaluse.
UCCspin-outMetabolomicDiagnosticsisnowlookingtocommercialisethetechnology.
ANEARLyPREDICTIONOFPRE-ECLAMPSIARISKIN PREgNaNCy
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Thevarietyoftechnologies,thediversityoftheiroriginsandtheingenioususestowhichtheyhavebeenemployed,illustratesthatthetransferoftechnologyisbynomeansastandardprocess.
EnterpriseIreland,inpartnershipwiththeTechnologyTransferOffices,ensuresthateachtechnologyisevaluatedonitsownmeritsandatailoredpathtothemarket-placeisdevelopedinconsultationwiththeinventors.
WelookforwardtoreviewingtheimpactofthesecondphaseoftheTechnologyTransferStrengtheninginitiativeinthecomingyears.
ForinformationonIreland’sTechnologyTransfersystemandlinkstotheTechnologyTransferOfficesinIrishHigherEducationInstitutionsvisitwww.enterprise-ireland.com/technologytransfer
aCkNOWLEDgmENTS
EnterpriseIrelandwouldliketothankeveryonewhocontributedtothispublication.Inparticular,thoseinterviewedinthecasestudiesandthestaffintheTechnologyTransferOfficeswhonominatedthemforinclusioninthefirstinstance.
technology transfer acknowledgments