Entrepreneurs - Case Studies
We have a variety of companies based at the Invent Centre which range from software based companies, those involved in sensor and plasma technologies along with pharmaceutical companies. Here are some case studies of companies which have been involved in collaborative research and also emerged from DCU research.
Fairview Analytics was founded by Pat Flynn, an experienced technology entrepreneur and co-founder of mobile telecommunications software firm Openmind in 2003.
Fairview Analytics provides the InSPeCT (Integrated Surveillance for Port and City Traffic) road vehicle and container monitoring system which uses advanced video analysis techniques. The InSPeCT system provides seaport and harbour companies, police and customs authorities and urban authorities with the tools to record, alert and analyse vehicle and container transits of interest and consequently reduce operational costs and increase revenues.
This leading technology was developed in collaboration with researchers at DCU and received funding under Enterprise Ireland's Innovation Partnership initiative. Invent DCU facilitated this collaborative relationship which provided Fairview Analytics with direct access to research capabilities in computer vision techniques and specialisation in multimedia search and analysis.
The future of Fairview Analytics looks bright with the company focused on international markets going forward. Continued research and development is planned highlighting the company's commitment to innovation. The InSPeCT System has been successfully installed on a number of customer sites and integrated with existing management systems. For more information on Fairview Analytics you can visit the company's website or contact the company directly: info@fairview-analytics.com
http://www.fairview-analytics.com/index.html
BigDogg Technologies was founded in 2009 by John Quigley (Chief Executive Officer), Mark Scanlon (Operations Director) and Emmet Donnelly (Chief Technology Officer).
BigDogg's flagship product, SourceDogg, is easy to use, free to try, online software that gives buyers and groups of buyers the information and tools to find, evaluate, negotiate with and manage quality suppliers globally. SourceDogg has been developed with direct input from a team of Ireland's leading procurement professionals.
BigDogg entered Invent DCU in late 2009 locating initially at Invents Concept Desk area. Their early expansion necessitated the move to one of Invents larger office units in early 2010, after which a number of additional employment positions were created. Plans are in place for further expansion with the creation of additional employment positions expected in late 2010.
Collaboration with DCU provides BigDogg with direct access to significant research capabilities in procurement (DCU's MBS in Strategic Procurement is the first of its kind in Ireland) and technical expertise in IT design. Such research links will continue into the future with expected support from Enterprise Ireland's Innovation Voucher initiative. The growth of BigDogg Technologies looks set to continue as the final stages of product development approach.
In 2010 the company won the prestigious Dublin City Enterprise of the Year Award and also received the largest total funding amount to date under the Dublin City Enterprise Board's Priming Grant Scheme. The company has also recently been accepted onto the Dublin Business Innovation Centre's mentoring programme for HPSU's. Furthermore, BigDogg has been accepted into the final 10 of Enterprise Ireland's Propel Programme from over 200 applicant companies. BigDogg Technologies remains focused on establishing their next generation procurement technology in international markets. The company is actively seeking funding in order to achieve such growth.
For more information on BigDogg Technologies you can visit the company's website at
www.SourceDogg.com
Phive Plasma Technologies (Phive) was founded in 2006 as a spin out from DCU by Dr Bert Ellingboe and Mr. Bernard Hensey. Bert is an experienced industry and research physicist specializing in plasma sources currently based in Dublin City University, Ireland. Bernard is a serial entrepreneur with experience in a number of technology start-ups. Both have now started up the company which provides plasma sources for rapid deposition of silicon for the thin film PV solar market.
Phive plans to be the technology leader for PV solar in plasma source supply worldwide and will use its relationship with world leading research establishments to enhance this position. Phive’s present patented technology is a new plasma source that redefines the physics and removes some of the critical restrictions from the currently deployed plasma processing equipment.
Slidepath was founded in 2003 by Dr Donal O'Shea and Dr Sean Costello, academics in Dublin City University, out of a high quality research program in the Digital Slide domain. The company is dedicated to the delivery of world leading software for Digital Slide and Life Sciences Informatics Applications. Already, Digital Slidebox has become the pre-eminent software solution in the management of digital slide content for education and external quality assurance. Drs O'Shea and Costello continue to provide executive leadership for Slidepath and have rapidly developed the company into an international player in the global Digital Slide market. Their workforce has a strong research pedigree with over half possessing higher degrees in research. This allows them to facilitate ongoing innovation in the products and solutions they deliver. SlidePath has also recently been acquired by UK Genetix Group plc.
