NovaUCD the innovation and technology transfer centre is showcasing the latest early stage high-tech and knowledge-intensive ventures emerging at UCD at an event next week.

The NovaUCD 2008 Campus Company Development Programme Awards Evening is taking place next Thursday, 20 November at 6 pm in the William Jefferson Clinton Auditorium, UCD, Belfield, Dublin 4.

At the Awards Evening each of the 11 new ventures participating on this year’s Programme will deliver a short ‘elevator pitch’ presentation. Three short-listed ventures, selected by an independent evaluation panel, will then present their new business propositions in more detail to an invited audience which will include members of Ireland’s venture capital and business communities.

The overall winner, selected by the evaluation panel will be presented with the NovaUCD 2008 CCDP Award and a cheque for €5,000. The other two ventures will receive runner-up awards and prizes of €3,000 and €2,000 respectively.

The aim of the NovaUCD CCDP, which has run annually since 1996 and which is supported by Enterprise Ireland, is to assist entrepreneurs in bringing their innovative ideas from intellectual concepts to fully developed and sound commercial business enterprises.

The new ventures completing this year’s CCDP are following in the footsteps of former participants such as ChangingWorlds. It was announced last week that ChangingWorlds is being acquired for $60 million by the US-quoted technology company Amdocs. ChangingWorlds which was co-founded by Professor Barry Smyth and Paul Cotter as a spin-out from UCD’s School of Computer Science and Informatics participated on the 1999 CCDP and was that year’s overall winner.

A total of 130 companies and 190 individuals have so far completed this NovaUCD Programme and former participants now collectively employ 700 people. Other previous participants include BiancaMed, Celtic Catalysts, CRDS, Haptica, Locumotion and TopChem.

Bernie Cullinan who has been involved in the software sector for a number of years in both executive and non-executive director roles with companies including SteelTrace and Performix Technologies will be the guest speaker at the Awards Evening. Bernie is currently CEO of Clarigen which provides companies with a dynamic solution for employee transaction management and is the immediate past Chair of the Irish Software Association.

Click here for further event nformation.

ENDS

12 November 2008

For further information contact:

Micéal Whelan, NovaUCD, tel: (01) 716 3712, email: miceal.whelan@ucd.ie.

Editors Notes

Participating New Ventures
ASimil8 is developing a product to provide immersive education for languages and other subjects by enabling learning to take place through virtual world and gaming technologies.  Paul Groarke and Garrett Hussey are the promoters of ASimil8, a NovaUCD client company.

ASTRA-Research is a data management solution venture focusing on health-related research and will provide advice, research support, training and analysis. Dr Mary Codd, UCD School Public Health and Population Science is the promoter of ASTRA-Research.

Bioplastech is commercialising a process to convert waste materials to a value-added, environmentally friendly (i.e. biodegradable) plastic. Dr Kevin O'Connor, UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Sciences is the lead promoter.

Biosystems Engineering is commercialising two projects on this year’s CCDP. One is developing a thermal process validation services for the Irish food industry while the second is developing a canine biometric identification system. The promoters are Dr Feargal Tansey and Dr Alexis Pacquit. Biosystems Engineering, a NovaUCD client company has spun-out from the UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine.

DESTinE is developing a specialist software tool enabling schools to assess and profile the strengths and interests of students with special educational needs. Stephanie Fitzgerald, an educational psychologist is the promoter.

eBioTech has developed innovative technologies to remotely diagnose and monitor diseases such as Asthma. eBioTech has emerged from research undertaken in UCD’s School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering and the lead promoters are Professor Richard Reilly and Isabelle Killane.

ElectroSim is developing software to significantly accelerate electrostatics in molecular simulations. Dr Niall English, UCD School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering is the lead promoter.

ERG Consulting is being established to provide energy and environmental services to the Irish and European building industries. Professor Owen J. Lewis, UCD School of Architecture, Landscape and Civil Engineering is the lead promoter.

EUV Source Solutions is examining the provision of extreme ultra violet light sources and optics to the semiconductor industry. Dr Kenneth Fahy, Dr Fergal O'Reilly and Dr Paul Sheridan, UCD School of Physics are the promoters.

Exergaming Solutions is utilising computer games to aid specific therapeutic exercises to improve the quality and outcomes of rehabilitation interventions. Dr Brian Caulfield and Diarmaid Fitzgerald, UCD School of Physiotherapy and Performance Science and Professor Barry Smyth, UCD School of Computer Science and Informatics are the promoters.

Flexitimers has developed an internet platform for flexible work and projects.  Flexitimers matching technology provides employers with direct access to professionals corresponding to their requirements. Dervla Cunningham is the promoter of Flexitimers, a NovaUCD client company.

NovaUCD Campus Company Development Programme (CCDP)
The CCDP is a nine-month, part-time programme designed to suit the busy timetable of researchers and academics. It offers a mix of monthly workshops, mentoring and one-to-one consultancy and is delivered by NovaUCD staff, with support from the NovaUCD sponsors, Enterprise Ireland, as well as other outside experts.

It is designed to assist entrepreneurs in the establishment and development of knowledge-intensive enterprises by providing the skills necessary to transform ideas into commercially feasible ventures via the development of a business plan. Participants on the programme have the opportunity to access NovaUCD’s desk space and incubation facilities and associated services. The programme culminates with a high profile Awards Evening held in November.

NovaUCD
NovaUCD, which officially opened in October 2003, is University College Dublin’s €11 million Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre. NovaUCD is responsible for the implementation of UCD policies relating to the commercialisation of intellectual property arising from UCD’s research programmes.

NovaUCD also provides entrepreneurs and knowledge-based start-up companies with incubation facilities and a comprehensive business support programme. NovaUCD is also the main point of contact for companies seeking partners for collaborative research and advice on licensing and other commercial opportunities. Twenty-four knowledge-intensive companies are currently located in NovaUCD.

NovaUCD has been funded through a unique public-private partnership that includes AIB Bank, Arthur Cox, Deloitte, Enterprise Ireland, Ericsson, Goodbody Stockbrokers, UCD and Xilinx.