Knowledge Transfer Ireland, the first business innovation resource of its kind in Europe was launched by Richard Bruton T.D. Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation and Dr. Alison Campbell, Director of KTI on 28th May 2014. Based in Enterprise Ireland, Knowledge Transfer Ireland gives companies access to expertise and knowledge in Irish Higher Education Institutes to grow their business.
Knowledge Transfer Ireland (KTI) – the first resource of its kind in Europe – is the State-funded central technology transfer office, located in Enterprise Ireland and operated collaboratively by Enterprise Ireland and the Irish Universities Association.
The purpose of the resource is to make it easier to commercialise, and ultimately create viable businesses and jobs, from publicly-funded research from all third-level institutes across the country.
The key service offered is a web-portal that enables companies to identify experts, research centres and technology-licensing opportunities to benefit their business including
o A comprehensive overview of the research capabilities of all Irish Universities, Institutes of Technologies and specialist research centres in one place
o Searchable databases of research expertise and talent
o Details of over 160 pre-commercial technologies developed research performing institutions which are available to license
o Access to all patents filed by Ireland’s publicly-funded research institutions
The establishment of KTI advances the Government’s plan to strengthen and standardise the Irish knowledge transfer infrastructure in which it has already invested €30 million through Enterprise Ireland, working in co-operation with the Technology Transfer Offices in Irish Higher Education Institutes. A further €22million, up to end 2016, has been committed by the Government to increase the capacity of the knowledge transfer infrastructure.
For more information visit www.knowledgetransferireland.com
Pictured above Richard Bruton T.D. Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation and Dr. Alison Campbell, Director of KTI.
Dr. Mark Southern, University of Limerick wins Knowledge Transfer Ireland - Research2Business Award
Dr. Mark Southern, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Limerick was presented with the inaugural Knowledge Transfer Ireland Research2Business Award at the launch of Knowledge Transfer Ireland on 28th May 2014.
Dr Southern, a Senior Research Fellow within the Enterprise Research Centre at the University of Limerick and his team are considered one of Ireland’s leading groups in enabling manufacturing change; boosting productivity, output and profit. Mark has received research funding of over €4.6 million of which 23% has been from industry. His group helps manufacturing companies through applying their cutting edge research and expertise to matching companies’ technical issues and challenges. The group are able to provide state-of-the-art solutions in manufacturing measurement, simulation, software and statistical know-how.
Mark has supported a substantial number of research collaborations with companies across a range of different sectors. For example, with companies such as Vistakon (J&J), Stryker, Aerogen, Oglesby & Butler, Ceramix Ireland, Shannon Coil Springs. These collaborations have led to the creation of over 100 new high-end manufacturing jobs in Ireland, in addition to sustaining core employment in these companies and enabling the companies to secure tens of millions of Euro in new export sales.
Seán Sherlock T.D., Minister for Research & Innovation and Dr. Alison Campbell, Director KTI presenting Dr. Mark Southern, UL (centre) with the inaugural Knowledge Transfer Ireland Research2Business Award