FitFone, which has designed, developed and patented platform technology which when embedded into a mobile phone facilitates remote health and fitness assessment to assist in increasing an individual’s life expectancy, has been declared the overall winner of the 11th NovaUCD Campus Company Development Programme (CCDP). The aim of the NovaUCD CCDP, which is sponsored and supported by BT Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, is to assist academic entrepreneurs in the establishment and development of new business ventures to commercialise the output of their research.

Dr Conor O'Brien, founder, FitFone

The FitFone Exercise Physiology System, grounded in detailed medical and physiological science, is a health and fitness assessment application containing a Global Positioning System embedded into a mobile phone. The System measures an individual’s fitness level on the basis of personal statistics (e.g. age, weight and height) combined with the time taken for an individual to complete an exercise such as walking a certain distance. Until now this critical information was not available to the population at large.

This fitness measurement which is available instantaneously via the mobile phone, can be used by the individual and his/her fitness instructor/doctor/coach to design and implement programmes of exercise to improve the individual’s fitness. The FitFone device can then be used to monitor the improvements in the individual’s fitness levels over time which can result in improved health outcomes and increased life expectancy.

The founder of FitFone is Dr Conor O’Brien, a consultant neurophysiologist and physician in sports and exercise medicine and a lecturer in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. He was chairman of the Anti-doping Committee of the Irish Sports Council (1999-2005) and is Chairman of the Irish Heart Foundation Council for Exercise and a former Irish Olympic Team doctor.

Speaking at the awards ceremony Leo O'Leary, General Manager Indirect Channels, Business Enterprise, BT Ireland said, “High-tech ventures are making an increasing contribution to sustaining Irish economic development. It is recognised that many of the most innovative new ventures originate in university research and NovaUCD’s CCDP is an important support mechanism in the development of such ventures.” He added, “BT Ireland is delighted to continue its involvement with this Programme and I would like to congratulate the award winners and all this year’s participants.”

In the last eleven years over 125 projects and 175 individuals have completed the NovaUCD CCDP. Previous winners include AV Edge, BiancaMed, ChangingWorlds, ProfExcel and Vocal Health Screen.

Dr Pat Frain, Director, NovaUCD, said, “NovaUCD supports entrepreneurship and the establishment and development of new knowledge-intensive ventures. The CCDP is our main enterprise support programme designed specifically to assist academic entrepreneurs in developing start-up companies to commercialise university research.” He added, “These new and innovative enterprises which have completed this year’s Programme are critical for the sustained development and growth of Ireland’s knowledge-based economy.”

Congratulating all the participants on this year's NovaUCD CCDP Kevin Sherry, Divisional Manager, High Potential Start-Ups, Enterprise Ireland said, "Enterprise Ireland is delighted to continue to work in partnership with NovaUCD to assist academic researchers establish new market led businesses which capitalise on innovative technology developed within the university environment." He added, "Such companies are an essential element of realising the full commercial potential of the significant investment in research and development being made by the Irish Government. Enterprise Ireland looks forward to working with this year's participants into the future to assist them commercialise their business ideas.”

Two other projects participating in this year’s Programme, Biontrack and Nanogrind were short-listed for this year’s event and received runner-up awards.

Biontrack delivers software solutions to support protein researchers in industry and academia. Biontrack has developed a software platform called Proline which reduces the complexity involved in and accelerates proteomics’ research. The software is very flexible and can be customised to meet each researcher’s needs.

Dr Matt Sullivan and Andreas de Stefani

Biontrack’s promoters are Dr Matt Sullivan and Andreas de Stefani who are based in UCD’s Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research. The developed software arose from research funded by Science Foundation Ireland and Siemens in collaboration with UCD. Biontrack is continuing to collaborate further with both Siemens and UCD.

Nanogrind has developed a novel manufacturing processing technology which uses microwave heating as a processing tool for the fabrication of metal (nickel)–diamond composites. These composites have enhanced mechanical performance which can facilitate the fabrication of sub mm-micro tooling for which there is a growing demand in bone drilling and micro-component manufacture in the aeronautical and automobile industries.

Dr Denis Dowling

The founder of Nanogrind is Dr Denis Dowling, Director of the Surface Engineering Group in UCD’s School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering.

ENDS

22 November 2006

For further information contact: Micéal Whelan, NovaUCD, Tel: (01) 716 3712, e-mail: miceal.whelan@ucd.ie.

Editor’s Notes

NovaUCD is University College Dublin’s €11 million Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre. 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 over 40 incubation units, including bio-incubation units, and provides innovators and entrepreneurs with the necessary support and knowledge to take their ideas from proof of principle to commercial success. Twenty-four knowledge-intensive companies are currently located in NovaUCD. 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.

The NovaUCD CCDP is a 9-month, part-time enterprise support initiative designed to suit the timetable of busy researchers and academics. It comprises a mix of practical training and consultancy support including 10 half-day workshops, one-to-one advice and consultancy meetings and a series of networking events. Participants on the Programme have use of desk space facilities and guided access to financial support and information sources. On completion of the CCDP, participants will have developed an investor-ready business plan and presentation and a detailed business strategy. They will also have an opportunity to access the incubation facilities and associated services of NovaUCD.

The NovaUCD Campus Company Development Programme Award Trophy has been designed by Colm Brennan, Sculptor of CAST Bronze Foundry. The award consists of a black Kilkenny limestone arrow-head form pierced by three metal bars, which radiate upwards from an imagined core. The bars carry the colour register analogous to 'gold’, 'silver and 'bronze'. The upward direction of the stone arrow-head is analogous with the drive or direction of a company while the three bars can be interpreted as flashes or streams brought to bear on a developing company.

BT operates across Ireland, north and south. With over 3,000 employees, the company is headquartered in Dublin and Belfast, with offices in Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford.

BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in 170 countries. Its principal activities include networked IT services, local, national and international telecommunications services, and higher-value broadband and internet products and services.