Translational Research

Enterprise Engagement and Regional Development in Ireland: the research role of the Institutes of Technology

Dr Jim Murray, IOTI EURASHE Conference Lisbon 16 April 2015

1 SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN IRELAND

Irish Higher Education - almost exclusively a public system

7 Universities 102,000 F/T 5 Colleges of Education SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION17,800 P/T National College of Art and Design

14 Institutes of Technology 66,500 F/T 17,300 P/T

Small number of private providers 2 Institutes of Technology

• Athlone • Blanchardstown • Carlow • Cork • Dundalk • Dunlaoghaire • Galway - Mayo • Letterkenny • Limerick • Sligo • Tallaght • Tralee • Waterford

3 Institutes of Technology Mission: RTC Act 1992

‘The principal function of a college shall ... be to provide vocational and technical education and training for the economic, technological, scientific, commercial, industrial, social and cultural development of the State with particular reference to the region served by the college…’

4 Institutes of Technology: Philosophy

• Undergraduate and post graduate programmes with strong emphasis on the needs of the workplace and the individual • A research ethos that recognises the role research plays in the development of both society and the individual – Impact Focused, Strategically Oriented Research, Development and Innovation • Seamless access, transfer and progression • Recognise and credentialise prior learning • Curricula that supports IoT philosophy by making use of cooperative education, work based research projects, problem based learning, technology enhanced and blended learning • Graduates who are – skilled in the application of discipline knowledge, principles and concepts, – reflective practitioners in the totality of their lives – effective communicators – life-long learners – culturally and socially aware.

5 www.ioti.ie The Irish Institutes of Technology have evolved significantly over their lifetime...

Technological HE Designation as National Strategy for sector launched as Institutes of Higher Education sets Regional Technical Technology (IoTs). agenda up to 2030. Colleges (RTCs) PG and research gradually increase.

’1970’s 1980’s 1990’s 2000’s 2010’s

Widened access to Research grows as a 3rd level. Linked to priority. Enabled expansion of HE through greater sector through RTCs focus and coordination. This work has helped to build significant capability in RDI across IoTs...

• 46 specialist research groups; • 521 researchers and support staff (all actively engaged with research); • 871 postgraduate research students; • €218mn in research funding generated between 2006 and 2010 of which 66% is allocated toward research in ICT, Health and Biotechnology. • Increased proportion of funding drawn from European Programmes Funding for research has been deployed across 6 core areas with EU support making an increasing contribution...

Allocation of funding across 6 main areas of research, development & innovation

8% ICT 6% 28% 9% Health & Biotechnology

11% Energy & Environment

Physical & Chemical Sciences & Engineering 38% Humanities, Social Sciences & Digital Media Entrepreneurship

• Around two-thirds of funding from Enterprise Ireland and the Higher Education Authority with around 5% from Science Foundation Ireland • 11% from EU and remainder from other sources The pipeline of PhD and Masters research students provided real impetus for the development of specialist research capability...

• Sizeable base of annual external research funding secured by Institutes (currently around €40mn per annum) • After significant growth this has fallen in recent years due to fiscal constraints IOTI RDI Strategy - Context

IOTI RDI Strategy

11 IoT Strategy: Sustaining and Growing the Delivery of Strategically Oriented, Impact Focused RDI in IOTs

Students Infrastructure Developing postgraduate Providing support & student base to provide facilities to build pipeline of specialist specialist research expertise centres Developing RDI Capability in IoTs Researchers Partnership Deploying specialist Working with national research staff to deliver & international programmes & develop partners to enhance knowledge excellence IoT Research & Innovation Centres aligned with national research priority areas

Therapeutic Data Sustainable Digital Future Connected Synthesis, Smart Processing Innovation Analytics Food Marine Platforms, networks Health & Medical Formulation Food for Goods & Manufactg Technology in Services Managmt Diagnostics Production Renewable Content & & comms Independt Devices Processing Health Smart Technology & Novel & Business Security & & Energy Applicatns Living & Drug Cities Materials Processes Privacy Processing Delivery

Athlone Institute of MRI BRI Technology SRI (COMAND) MRI/APT

Institute of Technology GameCORE EnviroCORE DesignCORE Carlow

Cork Institute of CAPPA BIOEXPLORE(MEDIC) Technology NIMBUS (TEC)

Dundalk Institute of Technology STORC (CASALA) SMRC (ICBC) CREDIT

Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology GMedTech MFWRC CiSET

Institute of Technology Blanchardstown NSCFRG ITSG

Institute of Technology Tallaght RFTC CASH (CREATE, MICRA)

Institute of Technology MBRR Sustainability Sligo GRG

Limerick Institute of Shannon ABC/CELLS Technology REMEMBER

Letterkenny Institute of Technology WiSAR CAMBIO

Institute of Art, Design & CCTA CCTA CPC Technology

Institute of Technology CIDS Shannon ABC GOG/CIMMS/IMAR Tralee

Waterford Institute of TSSG(FAME/MSTG) PMBRC MCP/SEAM RIKON Technology The IoTs are now looking to EU and international collaboration to drive further development in key areas...

Athlone Institute of BRI Technology SRI (SUNAT) MRI

Institute of Technology GameCORE EnviroCORE DesignCORE Carlow

Cork Institute of CAPPA BIOEXPLORE(MEDIC) Technology NIMBUS (TEC)

Dundalk Institute of Technology STORC (CASALA) SMRC (ICBC) CREDIT

Galway-Mayo Institute GMedTech MFWRC CiSET of Technology Pharma, Institute of Technology ICTNSCFRG Food, ITSG Blanchardstown Medical Materials Institute of Technology networksRFTC CASH (CREATE, MICRA) marine Tallaght devices and green and and Institute of Technology and MBRR GRG Sustainability/technologyCforDI Sligo systems biotech Limerick Institute of diagnostics Shannon ABC/CELLS Technology REMEMBER

Letterkenny Institute of Technology WiSAR/Epicentre CAMBIO

Institute of Art, Design & CCTA CCTA CPC Technology

Institute of Technology CIDS Shannon ABC GOG/CIMMS Tralee DSP00084-0 splash screen 1-5-09.ppt Waterford Institute of TSSG(FAME/3CS) PMBRC MCP/SEAM Technology Industry partnerships – some examples

ICT networks, systems & software Pharmaceuticals & medical devices

Food marine & biotechnology Manufacturing, materials & green tech Strategic Positioning – RDI in IOTs Bridging the Open Innovation Gap

Risk High Low

Stage Research Develop Commercialise

Industry Sales Marketing

Operations Product Development

IoTs ‘Applied’ Research

‘Basic’ Commercialisation Focus Commercialisation Research

Technology / Market Readiness Strategic Positioning – RDI in IOTs Bridging the Open Innovation Gap

Risk High Low

Stage Research Develop Commercialise

Industry Sales (SMEs, etc) Marketing

Technology Operations Push Product Development Culture,Experience Timelines Objectives HEIs ‘Applied’ IPR Research Market Pull

‘Basic’ (market informed research Commercialisation Focus Commercialisation Research and innovation)

Technology / Market Readiness Bridging the Gap - Example Applied Research Enhancement / Technology Gateways

• Enterprise Ireland funded ‘Technology Gateways’ in IOTs

• Model that engages SMEs in collaborative RDI with IOTs • Builds capability • Deepens research partnerships

• Ave 40̴ % industry € contribution to projects Technology Gateway – Example @ Industry Engagement

• Pilot scale Injection Moulding, Blow Moulding, Thermoforming, Extrusion and Compounding lines. • Advanced Analytical Facilities for materials research, testing and troubleshooting • Product Design, Rapid Prototyping (3D Printing & Additive Manufacturing) and Micro- Moulding Capabilities Bridging the Gap Start-up supports via on-campus incubators • Incubation centres located on-campus at all IOTs nationally

• Provide business supports and access to IOT RDI expertise for many start-up companies:

– 233 companies currently

– 1,032 employees

– 26 with HPSU status

– 76 at pre-HPSU stage

– 226 spin-in’s, 7 spin-out’s • Ensures real market focus to our RDI activities

• Run ‘New Frontiers’ programme in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland, the largest start-up programme in Ireland Case Study – ‘spin-in’ model

Perch Dynamic Solutions Began on IoT enterprise start-up programme

Located in Rubicon Centre - CIT incubator

Company exports product to EU, expands to 10 people & relocates to larger premises Case Study – ‘spin-in’ model

Began on IoT enterprise start-up programme

Located in AIT MIRC incubator Case Study – ‘spin-out’ collaboration

Spin-out from Waterford Institute of Technology

Located in ArcLabs – WIT incubator

Company expands with base established in Canada and VC investment to facilitate move into North American market Case Study – strategic partnership for growth

Innovation Initial problem-solving around Voucher manufacturing process €5,000 IRC EPS €100,000

EI Feasibility Product Study development to take €15,000 solution to market Feasibility study on auto- Innovation washer re-design to Partnership reduce water, detergent & €160,000 FP7 energy consumption R4SMEs €1.6million

Development of a Next Generation Robotic Milking Parlour CONCLUSION • Traditional mission of Institutes of Technology focused on preparation of graduates for complex professional roles in a changing technological world • Increasingly, focused on supporting the delivery of regional and national economic objectives, in partnership with industry, through impact focused and strategically oriented RDI activities • The advancement of ‘regional cooperation’ in Ireland is achieved by the Institutes of Technology through RDI activities that make a measurable impact on local and national businesses and enterprises, and through the exploitation of intellectual property and technology transfer