NovaUCD outlines inventions growth in 2007

01-05-2008

by Billy MacInnes

The growth in commercialisation of research in Irish universities has been underlined by a 35 percent increase in invention disclosures by NovaUCD last year.

The innovation and technology transfer centre at University College Dublin revealed there had been 50 invention disclosures in 2007, including 26 patent applications arising from research in life sciences, engineering and ICT.

NovaUCD Director Dr Pat Frain told ENN the increase in invention disclosures showed the growing commitment of UCD and its researchers to the commercialisation of research-generated intellectual property for the benefit of the Irish economy and society, and he expected the trend to continue in 2008.

"We need to ensure the output is commercialised where possible," Dr Frain said. "The level of activity and commercialisation is going to continue to increase."

He added that NovaUCD was busy growing its relationship with industry and increasing the number of partners in research. "It's difficult to license code to industry, you do need to develop relationships with them," Dr Frain observed.

The addition of five extra staff to UCD's technology transfer team over the year had helped NovaUCD to focus more on maximising the potential from research and to develop a commercialisation strategy, he claimed.

Over half of the invention disclosures were in life sciences and the remainder were in engineering and ICT.

Dr Frain stressed that it could take a significant period of time for technology transfers to generate income. "We need to be realistic about what can be achieved in the short-term," he cautioned. This was especially true in areas like life sciences where the time to market could be lengthy he explained.

As well as conducting R&D, NovaUCD also provides entrepreneurs and knowledge-based start-up companies with incubation facilities and a business support programme. To date, 130 companies and 190 individuals have completed its Campus Company Development Programme over the past 12 years and former participants employ over 675 people.

Four UCD spin-out companies were incorporated in 2007. They include AP EnvEcon, a supplier of decision-support systems, solutions and specialist advice to the public and private sector for the management of environmental change, and Biontrack, which provides IT expertise to pharmaceutical, laboratory and academia. Advanced Dignostics Laboratory claims to be Ireland's first commercial and diagnostic laboratory for animal health and toxology, while OncoMark specialises in producing biomarkers for use in predicting and tracking the efficacy of drug treatments.