Posted: 08 May 2008
UCD inventions increase by 35%
Researchers at University College Dublin submitted 50 invention disclosures last year, according to the 2007 Annual Report of NovaUCD, the Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre at University College Dublin, which was published last week. This is an increase of 35% on 2006 figures and 120% on 2005 figures.
“The continuing growth in commercial activity at UCD, with increasing numbers of invention disclosures, is indicative of the growing commitment of UCD and its researchers to the commercialisation of UCD research-generated intellectual property for the benefit of the Irish economy and society,” said Dr Pat Frain, Director of NovaUCD, who launched the report.
Pictured far right: Dr Pat Frain, Director of NovaUCD at the
launch
of NovaUCD's 2007 Annual Report
In 2007, 26 patent applications including 9 priority patent applications, 9 PCT (patent co-operation treaty) applications and 8 national/regional patent applications were filed by UCD for intellectual property arising from research in life science, engineering and information and communication technology.
Eight licence agreements were also concluded with a range of indigenous and international companies and 4 new innovative spin-out companies were incorporated.
A total of 130 companies and 190 individuals have now completed NovaUCD’s Campus Company Development Programme which has run annually since 1996 and former participants now collectively employ over 675 people.
“Given the significant expansion of NovaUCD’s technology transfer team during the year with the support of Enterprise Ireland, this growth in commercial activity at UCD is likely to be accelerated in the years ahead.”
NovaUCD is responsible for the implementation of UCD policies relating to the commercialisation of intellectual property arising from UCD’s research programmes. It also provides entrepreneurs and knowledge-based start-up companies with incubation facilities and a comprehensive business support programme. NovaUCD is the main point of contact for companies seeking partners for collaborative research and advice on licensing and other commercial opportunities.
Twenty-three innovative new ventures, occupying 37 incubation units, or nearly 90% of the available incubation space, are currently located in NovaUCD. Nine companies have already graduated from NovaUCD and moved on to new premises. It is an important element of NovaUCD’s strategy to continuously refresh its community of entrepreneurs and to have the capacity at all times to take on new projects.
The NovaUCD 2007 Annual Report is available at:
www.ucd.ie/nova/novaucd_2007_report.html
NovaUCD
NovaUCD is University College Dublin’s €11 million Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre. 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.
