Dr Kieran Brennan awarded SFI Industry Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) Fellowship

Dr Kieran Brennan is one of fifteen postdoctoral researchers to receive a SFI Industry Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) Fellowship Programme award announced on 17 June by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan TD. 

Dr Brennan will collaborate with industry partner, Beckman Coulter Life Sciences to understand and improve the detection of the small signalling particles that respond to cancer cells. Kieran works within the laboratory group of Associate Professor Margaret McGee.

Announcing the awards, Minister O’Donovan said: “I am delighted to announce the SFI Industry RD&I Fellowship Programme recipients, connecting academic researchers and industry partners to collaborate and mutually benefit from each other’s invaluable knowledge and expertise. Academic-Industry collaborations maximise the economic and societal impact of Irish State-funded research and resources and foster impactful innovation. I look forward to seeing the achievements that will shape the years ahead.”

The €1.4 million investment in 15 awards will support the temporary placement of academic researchers in 12 companies, to conduct research across a variety of areas including energy efficient communications networks, electrochemical sensors for rapid medical diagnostics, seaweed extract for use in cosmetics/health products, moorings for offshore wind platforms, and reducing cement’s carbon footprint using new generation low clinker cement technology.

The industry partners collaborating on these awards will provide co-funding with a total value exceeding €1 million. Industry partners will benefit from the expertise of the Fellow, while Fellows are provided with an opportunity to be immersed into industry and gain relevant business knowledge and experience.

Dr Siobhan Roche, Director, Science for the Economy at Science Foundation Ireland, said: “Science Foundation Ireland is really pleased to support these academia-industry connections. This funding supports colleagues in academia to bring their research knowledge and skills to an industry partner and work collaboratively on solutions to industry‐informed challenges. The SFI Industry RD&I Fellowship Programme provides a unique opportunity for researchers, drives research excellence through knowledge exchange, and enhances the industry partners’ competitive advantage.”

Other collaborating industry partners include: Analog Devices Inc (ADI), GlasPort Bio Ltd., Subsea Micropiles Ltd., ÉireComposites, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., Dublin Offshore Technology, Ecocem, Eblana Photonics, NEG8 Carbon, and Bantry Marine Research Station.

More information on the next funding call in this programme is available on the Science Foundation Ireland website: https://www.sfi.ie/research-news/news/SFI-Industry-RDI/