- BT launches 2011 Business of Science and Technology Programme with new partner NovaUCD

An intensive business mentoring programme kicks off today to give secondary school students the commercialisation skills they will need to convert their innovative ideas into commercial opportunities. 

Devised by BT, and delivered by NovaUCD, the BT Business of Science & Technology Programme will involve 33 students who were chosen from the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition which took place in January. The programme was established by BT to help bridge the gap between education and business, and give students an early insight into how to progress from the classroom to the boardroom.

Emily Goode, Caroline Gill, NovaUCD, Ernesta Venslovaite, Colm O'Neill, Managing Director, Business, BT Ireland and Lisa Byrne.

Emily, Ernesta & Lisa from St Joseph's School in Lucan were award winners at the 2011 BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition for their ‘Neem Sock’ which they developed to help diabetic sufferers fight foot infections using a herbal anti-bacterial oil.

At NovaUCD, the Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre in UCD, the students will learn from leading figures from a wide range of emerging and established organisations including: Aristo; Equinome; Bord Gais; Enterprise Ireland; IDA; HEA; Select Strategies; UCD and University of Ulster.

Over the course of four days the students will focus on developing a number of projects that stood out for their commercial potential at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in January, including: a flexible, waterproof, inflatable flood barrier for domestic and commercial use; the potential of waste materials from hedgerow cuttings as a feasible biomass fuel; and DIY Wind Power – portable community generators for the Third World.

Colm O'Neill, Managing Director, Business, BT Ireland said, “Companies and countries alike can fail without the right skills to innovate and compete.  There is amazing talent on display each year at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, and we are well placed to work with leading business leaders to pass on our business know-how and skills to the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.  Working together, we can build a better future for Ireland.”

Dr Pat Frain, Director, NovaUCD, added, “NovaUCD is delighted to be partnering with BT on this exciting and valuable programme. The development of an entrepreneurial and innovation culture, and embedding an ethos of innovation and entrepreneurship among second level students, is critically important for Ireland’s future economic growth and development.”

Each student will receive a certificate of achievement on completing the programme.  The Higher Education Authority (HEA) will award the best individual and best group with one week summer placements at University of Limerick (UL)/National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG).

ENDS

28 February 2011

For media enquiries, please contact: Michelle Toner, Fleishman-Hillard, t: 01 6188 420 or m: 085 725 9809, Priscilla O’Regan, Head of PR, BT, t: 01 432 5162 or m: 086 633 5398 or Micéal Whelan, NovaUCD, Communications, t: 01 716 3712 or e: miceal.whelan@ucd.ie.

Editors Notes

BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in more than 170 countries.  Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to our customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services.  BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale. In the year ended 31 March 2010, BT Group’s revenue was £20,911 million. BT plc is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.

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 new technology 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.