Posted 24 February 2012
Five new spin-out companies established at UCD during 2011
UCD’s commercialisation results for 2011 show that 5 new spin-out companies were established to commercialise the output of University College Dublin research programmes during the year.
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 [New Lambda Technologies]; pharmaceutical processing technologies [APC]; and specialist construction risk assessment and management [BRAM].
Pictured far right: Pictured are members of Wattics Ltd, one of the five UCD spin-out companies established during 2011, (l-r) management team, Seamus Porter, Sales Director, Dr Antonio Ruzzelli, CEO, Anthony Schoofs, CTO and Alex Sintoni, Head of Engineering
“Developing a sustainable smart economy in Ireland needs a strong flow of innovative ideas and high-tech start-up companies,” said Professor Peter Clinch, Vice-President for Innovation at UCD.
“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 and will generate highly-skilled job opportunities.”
2011 also saw forty-four (44) new inventions generated by researchers at the university.
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 which opened at the end of 2003.(Produced by UCD University Relations)
