Dr Jimmy Devins TD, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation today visited University College Dublin which included a visit to NovaUCD and the UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research.
The Minister was welcomed to UCD by Dr Padraic Conway, UCD Vice-President for University Relations. While at NovaUCD, the University’s Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre, Professor Mark Keane, UCD Vice-President for Innovation briefed the Minister on UCD’s planned Innovation Strategy (2009-2013). Dr Pat Frain, Director, NovaUCD provided Mr Devins with an overview of NovaUCD’s background, aims and successes to date. Following a tour of the NovaUCD facilities the Minister travelled to the UCD Conway Institute where he was met by Dr Hugh Brady, UCD President.
Dr Padraic Conway, Dr Pat Frain, Dr Jimmy Devins TD and Professor Mark Keane
While at the UCD Conway Institute, several UCD researchers gave brief presentations to the Minister on four key research areas stretching from ICT to biotechnology all of which involve a strong multidisciplinary flavour involving convergence of different disciplines.
Professor Barry Smyth, UCD School of Computer Science and Informatics presented on the recently announced €16.4 million CLARITY CSET, funded by Science Foundation Ireland, in collaboration with leading multinational firms and SMEs. This ground breaking research centre is focusing on the so-called ‘Sensor Web’, which captures the intersection between two important research areas, Adaptive Sensing and Information Discovery
Professor Paddy Nixon, UCD School of Computer Science and Informatics provided an overview of the TRIL Centre whose goal is to accelerate R&D of independent living technologies which help people to live in their homes of choice, even in the midst of age-related illnesses and injuries.
Professor Mike Gibney, UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine provided an overview of various functional food research projects currently taking place at UCD.
Professor Janet Allen, Director, UCD Conway Institute provided an overview of the Biopharmaceutical and Clinical Research which is currently ongoing in the UCD Conway Institute.
The Minister also toured the UCD Conway Institute facilities with President Hugh Brady and Professor Des Fitzgerald, UCD Vice-President for Research.
Following his visit to UCD Minister Devins said ''It is a fact that Ireland's overall economic performance remains healthy compared with many of our industrialised partners; however it must be recognised that Irish companies have been operating in an increasingly difficult global economic environment. To maintain our competitiveness in the face of these challenges, we must move our products and services up the value chain, by harnessing the outputs of our research investment in the last number of years.”
“This Government plays a vital role in this process of maintaining competitiveness. Investment in science and technology is now firmly embedded in Irish economic policy'', concluded Minister Devins.
ENDS
16 July 2008
For further information contact Micéal Whelan, NovaUCD, e-mail: miceal.whelan@ucd.ie, tel: (01) 716 3712.