UCD spin-out PEARlabs wins 'Viewers’ Choice Award' at Enterprise Ireland’s 2021 Big Ideas
Posted 12 November 2021
UCD spin-out (opens in a new window)PEARlabs has won the 'Viewers’ Choice Award' at Enterprise Ireland’s (opens in a new window)2021 Big Ideas Showcase.
PEARlabs, which currently is taking part in the UCD VentureLaunch Accelerator Programme run by NovaUCD, has a developed a novel photonic chip that has the potential to transform the understanding of processes such as cell signalling and cell proliferation in cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
This patented technology enables ultra-high spatial resolution at video rates in optical microscopy far beyond the diffraction limit of visible light.
The company was founded by (opens in a new window)Professor Dominic Zerulla as a spin-out from the UCD School of Physics, and was pitched at the Big Ideas event by Jürgen Osing, who recently joined PEARlabs as a commercialistion expert.
“Having spun-out of UCD we are positioning PEARlabs as a leading global provider of super resolution imaging solutions and we are now seeking to raise seed funding. Winning this Award, and participating in the Big Ideas event, will enable PEARlabs to gain access to a network of investors and organisations that can contribute to and accelerate our global growth ambitions,” he said.
The aim of Big Ideas, which this year took place virtually and included 12 start-up pitches, is to empower the front runners in Irish research to take centre stage and pitch their technology solutions and business propositions, to an audience comprised of the Irish research and investment communities.
Big Ideas, an annual showcase event, provides investor ready start-ups with a bespoke pathway to success, support with growing their business and creating jobs in Ireland.
“The Big Ideas event is an excellent example of the collaborative nature of business in Ireland,” said Leo Clancy, CEO of Enterprise Ireland.
“The interaction between investors, higher education institutes and Enterprise Ireland provides these 12 ambitious founders with an opportunity to take their businesses to the next level.
Adding: “The commercialisation of companies that were born as a result of a research idea is an imperative for Enterprise Ireland and the State as their success will change our collective future for the better.”
Two other UCD start-ups supported by NovaUCD, EpiCapture and IlluminAi Tech, also pitched at this year’s Big Ideas Event.
EpiCapture emerged from research carried out in the UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science; developing a novel urine DNA test for aggressive prostate cancer.
The members of the EpiCapture team are Associate Professor Antoinette Perry, UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science and Edward Simons.
IlluminAi Tech has developed a desktop light/stress therapy lamp which replicates the continuum changes of natural light while connecting a user to the outside world with immersive scenes of nature.
The company was founded by Morteza Matkan and Dr Sadegh Panahi Azar as a spin-out from the UCD School of Architecture, Planning and Environment Policy and the UCD School of Psychology.
By: Staff Writers
