Minister Richard Bruton T.D. announced details of the €1 million initial research programme in the Technology Centre for Applied Data Analytics Research, CeADAR. An Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland initiative, the initial research phase of the Data Analytics Technology Centre will aim to make Ireland a world leader in this area.

Data Analytics is about the conversion of large amounts of raw data into valuable information through the use of statistical techniques and advanced software.

Data Analytics is a key target sector identified as a Disruptive Reform in the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs 2013, growing at 40% per annum worldwide and offering major potential to Ireland due to established advantages in this area. Establishing an industry led Data Analytics Technology Centre is one of the major actions contained in the plan aimed at realising this potential.

Top-tier multinational and Irish ICT companies will lead the research agenda at the technology centre. Industry partners include:  eBay, Accenture, Dell, Fidelity Investments, Adaptive Mobile, Climote, Cylon, GBR, HP, Moving Media, Nathean Technologies, Nucleus Venture Partners, and Qumas.  Research will be focused on developing ways of generating business, profit and ultimately jobs from the high-growth area of data analytics.

CeADAR will conduct initial research into technology challenges that have been identified by industry representatives. Led by University College Dublin, the research consortium which includes University College Cork, and Dublin Institute of Technology, will use the funding to work with a group of companies to accelerate the development, deployment and adoption of Data Analytics technology. This initial research programme is a significant step towards a Government funded 5 year investment in a Technology Centre for Data Analytics.

CeADAR’s lead team will be based at NexusUCD, the Industry Partnership Centre at University College Dublin.

According to Gearoid Mooney, Director of ICT Commercialisation at Enterprise Ireland, ‘Data is only as valuable as the information and insights we can extract from it. Industries across the world are looking for ways to extract information and insights that will help them make better decisions and create competitive edge. The focus of the researchers in UCD, UCC and DIT will be to create new technologies, usage models and commercial applications to address the short to medium term technology needs of the Irish based industry’.