It was announced today that a new consortium called The Bridge Network has been launched at University College Cork.
Led by UCC, the consortium comprises four technology transfer offices from University College Cork, Teagasc, Cork Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology Tralee and represents the largest consortium with a combined research revenue of €145 million.
Building on significant success to date in terms of licensing, spin out companies and research income, the technology transfer consortium will create an effective link for knowledge transfer expertise to be shared and used in the member institutions, enhancing the innovation ecosystem regionally and nationally.
Funded by Enterprise Ireland and supported by Knowledge Transfer Ireland, the Bridge Network consortium will apply its combined expertise to support the commercialisation of research, early stage spinout companies, licensing and ultimately effective relationships with industry.
Over the last 2 years, UCC has had the largest industry-funded research income of universities in Ireland with CIT similarly leading the Institutes of Technology in terms of income from industry sources. Together with Teagasc and IT Tralee, the consortium hopes to create a model of national and international excellent practice.
The Bridge Network will also create a programme, that supports engagement between spinout companies and venture capitalists and angel investors, institutional investors and national agencies. Bringing together experienced tech enterpreneurs to act as mentors to early stage companies will also feature in the activities of the consortium.
With a combined research funding value of €130 million, the Bridge Network Consortium brings together key players in the Irish ecosystem with the aim of collaborating effectively on the commercialisation of research agenda.
Speaking at the launch, UCC President Pat O’Shea said, "By working together, the Bridge Network of the 4 technology transfer offices is an exemplar of effective collaboration, creating best practice for commercialisation of research through sharing of expertise while managing IP effectively. There have already been many success stories from our technology transfer offices, and together we are in a position to accelerate and drive further success in this area."
Source: www.businessworld.ie
