NovaUCD, the Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre, is responsible for the commercialisation of intellectual property arising from University College Dublin’s (UCD) research programmes.
Earlier today NovaUCD announced its 2009 results which indicate a significant increase in UCD’s commercialisation outputs. During 2009 UCD researchers reported 85 new invention disclosures to NovaUCD, a 60% increase on the 53 inventions reported in 2008. A total of 247 inventions have now been disclosed to NovaUCD during the last 5-year period.
During 2009 7 new UCD spin-out companies (profiled below), commercialising UCD research were established, bringing to 13 the total number of UCD spin-outs incorporated since 2005. One of these new companies, Equinome, recently announced the launch of a breakthrough genetic test that can identify the optimum racing distance for individual Thoroughbred horses which has the potential to transform decision-making processes in the global bloodstock industry.
Forty-seven patent applications, up 25% on the 2008 figure, including 25 priority, 17 PCT (patent co-operation treaty) and 5 national/regional applications were also filed by UCD during 2009. These patents were filed for intellectual property arising from research taking place throughout the University’s Colleges, Schools and Institutes. A total of 88 priority patent applications have now been filed by UCD in the last 5-year period. In addition, over 50 licence agreements were concluded by UCD in the same period with a range of indigenous and international companies.
On announcing the 2009 results, Dr Pat Frain, Director, NovaUCD said, “NovaUCD’s successes during 2009 clearly demonstrate that the public investment in R&D at UCD is yielding a significant return to the Irish economy and society.” He added, “The support received from Enterprise Ireland through the Technology Transfer Strengthening Initiative is continuing to have a significant impact on the pipeline of inventions and innovative ideas coming through NovaUCD’s technology transfer and innovation system.”
Fifty high-tech and knowledge-intensive companies, have occupied incubation space at NovaUCD and availed of NovaUCD’s related innovation services since 2004. 156 new ventures, 15 in 2009 alone, and 235 individuals have also now completed NovaUCD’s Campus Company Development Programme (CCDP) which has run annually since 1996. NovaUCD’s CCDP assists academic and research entrepreneurs in bringing their innovative ideas from intellectual concepts to fully-developed and sound commercial business enterprises.
Dr Frain also said, “Looking to the future we should recognise that the conversion to licence deals, new companies and much needed employment takes time and that one major issue is the need to ensure that early-stage campus companies have access to finance.” He concluded, “The recent international success achieved by UCD companies is particularly important in the present economic climate. The $60 million sale of ChangingWorlds to Amdocs, a US quoted technology company, the €6 million investment in BiancaMed led by pan-European venture capital firm Seventure Partners and the recent international media and industry attention attracted by Equinome, can only help to strengthen Ireland’s image as a knowledge-based economy.”
Twenty-six innovative companies, including Alternative Energy Resources (AER), winner of 2009 Deloitte Technology Fast 50 ‘Rising Star’ Award, BiancaMed, one of the companies recently shortlisted for the Irish Times Innovation Award 2010 and RendezVu, overall winner of the 2009 David Manley Emerging Entrepreneur Award, are currently located at NovaUCD.
ENDS
11 February 2010
