Invent DCU Showcases Breakthrough Research in ICT - 8^th June 2009

The government wants third level institutions to do more to commercialise academic research and Dublin City University has been paying attention. Invent, DCU’s technology transfer office, has made it its mission to engage with companies and recently showcased some of DCU’s leading edge ICT research at an event supported by the ISA (Irish Software Association) at the IBEC (Irish Business and Employers Federation) offices in Dublin on 8^th June 2009.  The event was a great success with well over 70 companies participating.  The evening was organized around a series of presentations from the leading researchers and some inspiring keynote speakers including Sean Baker (ex-CTO of Iona).  This was then followed by a networking event where researchers provided live demos of their technologies and were on hand to answer questions.

Among the DCU speakers at the seminar was Professor Alan Smeaton. The focus of his work is in multimedia technologies.  An illustration of the research in this area is a project entitled Fischlar, a television analysis solution similar to Sky Plus, which was developed more than two years before the Sky commercial product was launched.  His team continue to work on new ideas including software that allows the camera on your mobile phone to recognize hand gestures as an alternative to a touch screen.  This one day might be commonplace on phones, PCs and gaming consoles.

Another DCU speaker, Professor Niall Moyna talked about his work in health and human performance research.  He discussed a novel online solution that he has developed to effectively manage the health and well being of sports teams.  The system is currently being used by the Dublin Gaelic football team.  His researchers are also looking at smart ways to gather sensor data from athletes (heart rate, respiration date, location, speed etc.) to improve performance. 

One entrepreneur who has benefitted by linking with Invent is Pat Brazel, Chief Executive of Zignals. The firm has developed web-based stock alerts and stock charts for smaller investors.  Zignals has successfully engaged researchers in DCU to analyze information on web blogs as a way to help customers make better investment decisions.  Brazel stressed the importance of tapping into novel campus technologies early before someone else gets there first.

Invent is very keen to work with companies to find ways to use leading edge research to solve real-life problems, and to create new market opportunities for Irish industry.  The showcase was just one very successful forum to engage local companies and to foster strong industry links.  If you are interested in seeing what’s available and finding out where DCU’s research can help your business, please contact Paddy O’Boyle paddy.oboyle@invent.dcu.ie or log on to www.dcu.ie/invent.

Pictured above attending the joint DCU INVENT / Irish Software event "Supporting Industry-University Collaboration" held in the IBEC premises, Dublin on 8th June were: L to R Paddy O'Boyle DCU-INVENT, Gearoid Mooney Enterprise Ireland, Richard Stokes DCU-INVENT, Alan Smeaton DCU-CLARITY and Noel O'Connor DCU-CLARITY.