University College Dublin (UCD) today announced that 5 new spin-out companies were established in 2011 to commercialise the output of UCD research programmes. This brings to 19 the total number of UCD spin-outs incorporated in the last 5-years.
The 5 new spin-outs are involved in diverse activities including; energy management [Belfield Technologies and Wattics]; ultra-violet light sources and optics for the semi-conductor industry [NewLambda Technologies]; pharmaceutical processing technologies [APC]; and specialist construction risk assessment and management [BRAM].
Professor Brian Glennon and Dr Mark Barrett, co-founders, APC Ltd
The 5 spin-out companies plan to employ in excess of 50 people by the end of 2013.
Forty-four (44) new inventions were also generated by UCD researchers during 2011 bringing to 295 the number of inventions disclosed since 2007.
Commenting on the announcement of UCD’s commercialisation results for 2011, Professor Peter Clinch, Vice-President for Innovation, UCD said, “Developing a sustainable smart economy in Ireland needs a strong flow of innovative ideas and high-tech start-up companies. 2011 was an excellent year for the establishment of new high-tech start-ups at the University. These start-ups will grow and develop in the coming years which will generate highly-skilled job opportunities.”
Professor Peter Clinch, UCD Vice-President for Innovation
UCD filed 36 patent applications, including 18 priority, 8 PCT (patent co-operation treaty) and 10 national/regional applications during 2011. These patents were filed for intellectual property arising from research taking place across the University’s Colleges, Schools and Institutes. A total of 91 priority patent applications have now been filed by UCD in the last 5-years.
In addition 17 licence agreements were concluded by UCD in 2011 with a range of indigenous and international companies bringing to over 50 the number of licences concluded since 2007.
NovaUCD, the Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre, is responsible for the commercialisation of intellectual property arising from UCD research programmes and for nurturing high-tech and knowledge-intensive enterprises.
The 5 new spin-out companies have all completed the NovaUCD Campus Company Development Programme. This enterprise support programme assists UCD academic and research entrepreneurs in bringing their innovative ideas from intellectual concepts to fully-developed and sound commercial business enterprises. 187 new ventures and 289 individuals have now completed this programme which has run annually since 1996.
37 high-tech and knowledge-intensive companies, employing over 200 people, are currently based at NovaUCD. Since NovaUCD opened at the end of 2003 an additional 25 companies have also graduated from NovaUCD.
ENDS
21 February 2012
For further information contact Micéal Whelan, University College Dublin, Communications Manager (Innovation), e: miceal.whelan@ucd.ie, t: + 353 1 716 3712.
Editors Notes
Profile of UCD’s 2011 Spin-out Companies
APC Ltd provides pharmaceutical processing technologies and customised solutions to global pharmaceutical companies that require the delivery of their medicines to the global market in a lean, reliable and robust manner. APC was founded by Professor Brian Glennon and Dr Mark Barrett as a spin-out from UCD’s School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering.
APC has already hired 5 permanent PhD qualified engineers and chemists and is currently recruiting highly-skilled staff for its technology divisions.
Belfield Technologies Ltd has developed the HIDLightSaverTM which helps organisations to reduce their energy costs and associated carbon footprint for street light, floodlit arenas, motorways and retail outlets. Belfield Technologies was founded by Dr Ger Devlin, Dr Kevin McDonnell and David Meagan as a spin-out from UCD’s School of Biosystems Engineering.
Building Risk Assessment & Management (BRAM) Consulting Engineers Ltd provides risk assessment and risk management services for existing buildings during adjacent construction or industrial activities. It is also developing associated software for converting remote sensing data into reconstructed building models. BRAM was founded by Dr Debra Laefer, Dr Linh Truong-Hong and Julie Clarke, as a spin-out from UCD’s School of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering.
NewLambda Technologies Ltd is examining the provision of extreme ultra violet light sources and optics to the semiconductor industry for next generation chips. New Lambda Technologies was founded by Dr Kenneth Fahy, Dr Fergal O’Reilly, Paul Sheridan and Professor Padraig Dunne as a spin-out from UCD’s School of Physics.
Wattics Ltd has developed an innovative ‘smarter metering’ system for businesses. It utilises a software solution to manage their energy consumption via a single metering sensor ‘clipped’ onto a main electricity switchboard. The system provides businesses with insights into their energy usage down to an individual appliance or machine level.Wattics was founded by Dr Antonio Ruzzelli, Anthony Schoofs and Alex Sintoni as a spin-out company from UCD’s School of Computer Science and Informatics and the CLARITY Centre for Sensor Web Technologies.
NovaUCD, the Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre, is the hub of innovation and knowledge transfer activities at University College Dublin. NovaUCD is responsible for the commercialisation of intellectual property arising from UCD research and for the development of co-operation with industry and business. NovaUCD as a purpose-built centre also nurtures high-tech and knowledge-intensive enterprises. 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.