Innovation Alliance host Engineering Design Innovation Event
New biomedical devices, building networks on Twitter, estimating the Carbon footprint of travel-to-work journeys and detecting damage to wind turbine blades were some of the research and potential commercial products on display at a unique engineering design innovation forum.
Held under the auspices of the Innovation Alliance and organised by the TCD School of Engineering and the UCD College of Engineering, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, over 80 of the country’s leading engineering and computer science graduates from both universities showcased the very best examples of their research and innovation aimed at tackling pressing national and international issues.
Speaking at the opening of the event, the Minister for Science, Technology, Innovation and Natural Resources, Mr Conor Lenihan T.D. paid tribute to the two university leaders, Dr John Hegarty and Dr Hugh Brady, for the unprecedented levels of cooperation and alignment they had achieved between TCD and UCD through the Innovation Alliance. He said the Alliance was a lasting legacy of their leadership and a model that had caught the imagination of other universities in the state.
Dr Hugh Brady, President UCD, Minister Conor Lenihan and Dr John Hegarty, Provost TCD at the official opening of the Engineering Design Innovation Day held on 27th April 2010.
The Minister welcomed the industrial partners who supported the research on display and he encouraged more intense collaboration between research and industry. He noted that part of the remit of the government’s Innovation Task Force, the report of which had recently been published, was to look at ways of supporting the Alliance.
Dr John Hegarty, Provost TCD, in welcoming the Minister, stressed the unprecedented nature of the event and the role the Alliance will play in developing new solutions for the future by better translating the fruits of research into products, wealth and jobs for the nation.
In his opening remarks, UCD President, Dr Hugh Brady emphasised the step change in innovation that the two universities were trying to achieve through the Alliance with the mainstreaming of innovation into university education. A key element being the opportunity for students to work together in dedicated innovation labs on industry defined problems.
Pictured at the TCD-UCD Innovation Alliance Engineering Design Event are (L to R) Interaction Designer Flip van den Berg, Minister Conor Lenihan and Social Science Researcher Chiara Garattini. This TRIL research project, based at UCD, is entitled Building Bridges and explores new ways that communication technology can help reduce risks of loneliness and social isolation in older people.
Between them, TCD and UCD have approximately 2,000 advanced science and engineering postgraduate students in training who will be the entrepreneurs and innovators of Ireland's knowledge economy.
The research presented via elevator pitches, poster displays and demonstrations to industry representatives and potential research collaborators focussed on key areas of national importance under four themes; future energy solutions; sustainable infrastructure and environment; information, communication and media technologies; and bioengineering for health. A panel discussion chaired by Dr Chris Horn, President of Engineers Ireland, with industry and academic representatives address the question of furthering university – industry interaction.
Summary information is available on the following research projects, presented at the event by down loading the TCD-UCD Engineering Design Day Innovation Day April 27 2010 booklet.
For further information please contact the event organisers Professor Michael Gilchrist, UCD, michael.gilchrist@ucd.ie or Professor Brian Broderick, TCD, bbrodrck@tcd.ie
Table of Contents
Future Energy Needs
Sustainability, Infrastructure and Environment
Information, Communications and Media Technology
Bioengineering for Health
Posted 27 April 2010
