Major innovation and research for Irish region.

Connecting with industry for research and collaboration.

Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) has launched a transformative €13.6 million initiative, ARISE – Amplifying Research and Innovation Supporting Enterprise, which aims to revolutionise the way Irish industry and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) access research, innovation, and expert support. Funded by the European Union and the Government of Ireland, ARISE is designed to catalyse economic growth and competitiveness in the Eastern and Midlands Region by bridging the gap between academic research and real-world industry challenges.

The programme offers industry access to TU Dublin’s cutting-edge facilities, Ireland’s largest concentration of academic researchers in a technological university, and a team of innovation specialists who will help businesses improve processes, develop new products, and build resilient, future-proof operations. ARISE focuses on five key sectors that are crucial to Ireland’s innovation economy:

• 
  Biopharma, Life Sciences and Medical Technologies
• Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering
• Food, Agritech and the Bioeconomy
• ICT and Financial Services
• Audio-Visual, Creative and Cultural Industries.

ARISE will play a critical role in promoting regional economic resilience, especially in the Eastern and Midlands Region, which has a diverse mix of urban hubs and rural communities. By embedding innovation support in these regions, TU Dublin is helping to level the playing field for industry, particularly SMEs outside traditional tech clusters.

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@WeAreTUDublin #Research #Innovation

Virtual reality health and safety training.

Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) and BioPharmaChem Skillnet, one of 70 Skillnet Business Networks nationwide, have launched an exciting new Virtual Reality (VR) programme designed specifically for workplace health and safety training.

Ireland is the third largest exporter of complex pharmaceutical goods and medicines and the second largest exporter of vaccines in Europe, with over €100bn in annual exports, 84,000 people directly and indirectly employed, and a further 10,000 jobs to be created over the next five years. The use of innovative technologies such as VR, increases engagement and knowledge retention while decreasing training time, and engages learners in real-world scenarios that teach important skills and concepts.

Dr Paul Maguire, Head of Innovation and Knowledge Transfer, TU Dublin acknowledged the importance of the ongoing collaboration between the research partners: "We are delighted that TU Dublin is continuing our involvement with BioPharmaChem Skillnet, an organisation that is supporting one of the largest and most important sectors in Ireland providing thousands of jobs. This partnership highlights the world-leading research capabilities of Brian and this team in the VR/AR space and their ability and desire to solve immediate industry challenges. It also spotlights the excellent working relationship that TU Dublin has with BioPharmaChem Skillnet, facilitated by David Gardiner in TU Dublin Innovation via our Open Labs R&D outreach initiative."

The programme is the third course co-developed by the Skillnet Business Network and TU Dublin, which harnesses the power of VR and offers an innovative approach to mixed reality training for diverse industries. The VR technology provides a seamless interface with existing simulations in a modular framework to train staff across many sectors in Ireland. It follows on from the success of the previous two VR programmes ‘Aseptic Techniques for Biomanufacturing,’ and ‘Power Handling’, both of which were nominated for multiple innovation and industry awards.

The new programme was developed in collaboration with Dr Brian Vaughan, Founder and Director of the Virtual Interaction Research Lab (VIRal) at TU Dublin. VIRal is a cutting edge virtual, and augmented, reality research and development environment, in a large, dedicated space.

BioPharmaChem Skillnet provides upskilling to businesses of all sizes in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, medical device, and chemical supply sectors. The network’s mission is to further advance Ireland’s position as a world leader in health innovation through leading-edge talent development solutions.

“This is our third time working with BioPharmaChem Skillnet and we have always found them to be an insightful forward-thinking organisation pushing the boundaries of training in the industry. It's always great to work with them to co-create Mixed Reality training applications that incorporate cutting-edge technologies with robust pedagogical principles and methods,” said Founder & Director VIRal, Dr Brian Vaughn.

"As the BioPharmaChem sector continues to embrace immersive technologies, we identified the potential for virtual reality to address some of the known key challenges in health and safety that are high risk and time consuming," said Susan Costello, Network Director, BioPharmaChem Skillnet. "VIRal at TU Dublin was able to provide the expertise required to transform the concept of a VR programme into a reality. Dr Brian Vaughan and the team in TU Dublin ensured that the process ran seamlessly and were able to advise, adapt and reinvent when required. The programme would not have been possible without their expertise and the support of Skillnet Ireland, BioPharmaChem Ireland along with the expertise and time that industry members gave to articulate the needs around this training for the sector."

Pictured at the launch are (l-r): Siobhan Broughan (Skillnet), David Gardiner (TUD), Susan Costello and Brendan Kellet (BioPharmaChem), Dr. Brian Vaughn and Jazheel Luna (TUD VIRaL), Sinead Keogh (IBEC), and Dr. Paul Maguire (TUD).

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@WeAreTUDublin @BPCSkillnet #PAuto #HandS #Safety

Collaboration announced in technical education.

Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) and ESB (Electricity Supply Board-Ireland) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a framework of strategic collaboration that will include three key areas - Research and Development, Talent Promotion and Diversity and Inclusion. TU Dublin President, Professor David FitzPatrick, and ESB Deputy Chief Executive, Jerry O’Sullivan announced the partnership at a celebratory event hosted by Ireland’s newest University in Grangegorman.

Jerry O'Sullivan & Professor Fitzpatrick
at TU Dublin Campus

Speaking at the MoU launch event in Grangegorman, University President, Professor David FitzPatrick outlined the value of the strategic partnership with ESB. “TU Dublin welcomes this new opportunity to work with ESB on a range of innovative projects delivering quality research outputs, nurturing a pipeline of new talent in the key areas of Engineering and related disciplines, and encouraging a diverse and inclusive student population and working environment. To date, our close working relationship with ESB has been very fruitful. One example would be the introduction of the very successful Access to Apprenticeship - a 12-week taster programme for young people who may find it difficult to access an apprenticeship due to social and economic barriers, and we are pleased to see our relationship strengthen further with today’s announcement.”

ESB and TU Dublin will explore areas of mutual interest under each of the headings covered by the MoU. For example, under Research and Development, discussions will take place around the development and operation of Electric Vehicle Fast Charging infrastructure across Ireland, real-time wind generation, and energy market modelling and battery storage.

Both parties will also focus on talent development activities, including the development of new academic programmes in power plant technology and an examination of professional roles and employability of future engineers. They will also investigate potential co-operative initiatives aimed at encouraging Diversity and Inclusion in STEM education and the workplace, building on current programmes such as TU Dublin’s ESTEeM - a mentoring programme for young women studying STEM subjects.

Jerry O’Sullivan, Deputy Chief Executive of ESB, said: “ESB is once again proud to collaborate with Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) to support the delivery of important programmes and research projects, as well as nurturing the next generation of innovators and creators. This collaboration underpins our commitment to leading the transition to a low-carbon future as we support the vital research and development work in renewable solutions such as battery storage, electromobility and electricity generation. The focus on STEAM initiatives also aligns with our own commitment to empowering young people to reach their potential and power their collective brighter future. We look forward to working with TU Dublin and the benefits this collaboration will bring to all.”

Pics: Maxwell Photography

 @WeAreTUDublin #STEM @ESBGroup

5 Year partnership for talent development!

Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) has announced a five-year strategic partnership with Intel Ireland as part of a far-reaching programme of collaboration in future talent development, research and engagement. The partnership is in support of the TU Dublin capital campaign Transforming Tomorrow.

Eamonn Sinnott,Intel Ireland, and Vice President, Technology & Manufacturing Group, Professor David FitzPatrick, TU Dublin President and Gabriela Nisizaki, plaque designer and a Masters student at the TU Dublin School of Creative Arts.

The announcement was made at a ‘Celebration of Creativity, Technology and Talent’ on the Grangegorman Campus which was attended by Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe T.D. and Minister of State for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. The programme included the inaugural lecture in the ‘Intel Thought Leadership Series’ which was delivered by Éamonn Sinnott, General Manager, Intel Ireland, and Vice President, Technology & Manufacturing Group.

Building on a Memorandum of Understanding signed in September 2017; the multi-year partnership will focus on a number of elements including the opening of the Intel Auditorium – a 250-seater lecture theatre located in the Central Quad in the TU Dublin flagship campus at Grangegorman – in September 2020. The partnership will also fund talent development activities such as the Intel Awards Programme which provides scholarships to TU Dublin students in the disciplines of Mechanical, Design, Electrical and Electronic Engineering. In addition, the Intel ‘Women in Technology’ Scholarship is awarded to a female TU Dublin student ambassador who will work to encourage younger women to pursue a career in Science and Technology.

Concluding the event, Margaret Loughman, Engineering Manager at Intel, presented the Intel Ireland Scholarship recipients with their awards. The awardees were as follows: Electrical and Electronic Engineering Scholars: David Hurley Muharram Bensaad Viswanada Kaniappa Naicken Mechanical and Design Engineering Scholars: Bryan Whelan Mark Marca Sally Al Mashadani Women in Technology Scholar: Emma Murphy

In celebration of the partnership, Éamonn Sinnott’s lecture aimed to inspire a new generation of leaders and innovators. Speaking to an audience of TU Dublin students and staff, and Intel staff including TU Dublin alumni, Mr. Sinnott said, “We are excited to embark upon this new strategic relationship and are proud to be among the first industry partners of the newly established TU Dublin. This year Intel celebrates 30 years of operations in Ireland and central to our continued success has been a vibrant education system that has produced world-class graduates.

The nature of the advanced manufacturing that we do here in Ireland means that we rely upon a diverse range of skillsets that encompass the whole breadth of third level programmes from Level 6 onwards. Through this partnership with TU Dublin, we can explore ways to work across that spectrum of learning, all under one academic roof. In particular, the focus of technological universities on science and technology programmes that deliver practical, industry-orientated experiences is vitally important.

“I look forward to this new chapter between our two organisations and to exploring a number of ways in which we can collaborate together into the future”.

Welcoming the announcement, TU Dublin President, Professor David FitzPatrick said, “The formation of TU Dublin on January 1st not only represents a once in a generation change in the provision of Higher Education in Ireland but also paves the way for a radical shift in how we engage with enterprise and industry. Just as Intel has grown in Ireland over the last 30 years, so also has technological education flourished, preparing students for exciting careers in businesses across the globe. TU Dublin, as Ireland’s first Technological University, is proud to partner with Intel, which not only employs many of our graduates but also values our ethos of practice-based education and the many pathways to graduation we offer, from Apprenticeship to PhD.”

Continuing Professor FitzPatrick said, “We are delighted to see our relationship with Intel strengthen and look forward to working on many exciting collaborations and, in particular, exploring new avenues of education for careers in the high-tech manufacturing sector.”

Paschal Donohoe T.D., Finance Minister, receives a printmaking lesson from Peter Jones and a student from the TU Dublin School of Creative Arts

@WeAreTUDublin #Education @Intel_IRL

Head of Innovation and Enterprise.

Dr Paul Maguire has been appointed as Head of Innovation and Enterprise at Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) – City Campus*.

Dr Paul Maguire

Paul Maguire has extensive experience of the commercial start-up environment. He was CEO of med-tech company Arann Healthcare from 2010 to 2013. Prior that role, he led Lexas Research, a start­up and technology company providing process control and diagnostic systems to the semiconductor industry and was part of the negotiation team involved in the trade­sale of the technical assets to a US company in February 2010. Paul joined DIT Hothouse in 2013 where he launched 13 spin­ outs, negotiated and executed 30+ licences and assignments, and secured over €4.5m in commercial research funding.

In 2017, Paul was named as the Knowledge Transfer Ireland Achiever of the Year. Paul has a PhD. in Optical Communications from DCU and an MSc. in Technology Management and Innovation from the Smurfit Business School, UCD.

As Head of Innovation and Enterprise, Paul will provide strategic and managerial leadership for knowledge transfer, innovation and enterprise support across TU Dublin (City Campus) and the partnership comprising the Dublin Region Innovation Consortium. He will lead a high-performance team of professionals that delivers best-in-class innovation and enterprise supports to academics, students and industry, with a keen focus on knowledge transfer, industry partnerships and entrepreneurship, all leading to real, measurable, impacts within Dublin and nationally.

* TU Dublin, Ireland’s first Technological University, is where career-focused students, dedicated staff and academic excellence in science, the arts, business, engineering and technology converge to create the leaders of tomorrow. We offer an inclusive and open learning experience with pathways to graduation, from Apprenticeship to PhD. Our 28,500 students learn in a practice-based environment informed by the latest research and enabled by technological advances.

TU Dublin hosts a thriving research community engaged in applying innovation and technology to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. We are deeply committed to collaborating with our national and international academic partners and our many networks in industry and civic society to create new learning experiences and develop impactful research.

TU Dublin is an exciting new milestone in Irish Higher Education. With campuses in Dublin City, Tallaght and Blanchardstown, it spans the largest population centres of Ireland’s capital city. Building on the rich heritage of its founding organisations - DIT, IT Blanchardstown and IT Tallaght – TU Dublin will be inclusive and adaptable, creating educational opportunities for students at all stages. TU Dublin students will be socially responsible, open-minded global thinkers who are ambitious to change the world for the better. As graduates, they will be enterprising and daring in all their endeavours, ready to play their part in transforming the future.

@WeAreTUDublin #Ireland