Research and Innovation undertaken in UCD College of Engineering & Architecture is commercialised where possible through licences and spin-out activities. Examples of technology developments currently available for license are listedhere. The many established direct spin-out companies founded / co-founded by members of the College are listed below.
Academics: Prof Niall English & Dr Mohammad Reza Ghaani
AquaB has developed a breakthrough technology to generate nano-bubbles of different gases in aqueous solution. It won the prestigious IChemE Global Award in 2020. Established in 2020 as a direct spin out from the UCD School of Chemical & Bioprocess Engineering, and won the prestigious 2020 IChemE Global Award.
Academics: Dr. Ger Devlin, Dr. Kevin McDonnell & David Meagan
Belfield Technologies developed the HIDLightSaverTM which helps organisations to reduce their energy costs and associated carbon footprint for street light, floodlit arenas, motorways and retail outlets. Established in 2011 as a Direct Spin-Out from the UCD School of Biosystems & Food Engineering
Academics: Conor Heneghan
BiancaMed specialises in non-contact sleep monitoring equipment. It was recently acquired by the global healthcare equipment manufacturer ResMed. Established in 2003 as an InDirect Spin-Out from the UCD School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
(opens in a new window)Biosimulytics Ltd
Academic: Professor Niall English
BioSimulytics has developed breakthrough technology combining quantum physics, computational chemistry, machine learning and high performance computing to accurately and rapidly predict the most desirable force field energy configuration and crystal structure packing of new drug compounds, thereby supporting the pharma industry in addressing problems with polymorphism and getting from molecules to medicine (M2M) faster and with much greater probability of success. Established in 2019, BioSimulytics is a direct spin-out of the School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering. It was the overall winner of the 2019 UCD VentureLaunch Accelerator Programme run by NovaUCD.
BioSimulytics has received multiple awards including it was the overall winner of the 2019 UCD VentureLaunch Accelerator Programme run by NovaUCD; the company was a finalist in the 2020 The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) Global Awards, widely considered as the world’s most prestigious chemical-engineering awards; it received the 2022 Amazon AWS Software Start-Ups - Sustainability Champion - Silver Award; the 2022 Global Health & Pharma Biotechnology Pioneer Award; the NovaUCD Spin-out of the Year 2022; and it was shortlisted finalist in Ireland for the 2022 KPMG Global Tech Innovator competition.
Academics: Debra Laefer, Linh Truong-Hong & Julie Clarke
Established in 2011 as a Direct Spin-Out from the UCD School of Civil Engineering
Academics: Luis Alejandro Vergara, PhD student supervised by Dr. Fionnuala Murphy
Carbon Harvesters is an ag-tech start-up that allows dairy groups to achieve their climate goals by facilitating the decarbonisation strategies of their farms. Carbon Harvesters is a direct spin-out from the School of Biosystems and Food Engineering and the founder, Luis Alegandro Vergara, won the Young Innovator prize at the 2021 Enterprise Ireland Innovation Arena Awards.
Academics: Sean Giblin
Cylon produces both hardware and software that allows the monitoring and control of energy provision, heating, air conditioning, lighting and many other services from central and remote locations. Established in 1985 as a Direct Spin-Out from the UCD School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
Academics: Eamonn Ahearne, Diego Carou and Jinghang Liu
DuBrand protects medical device brands. DuBrand’s novel technology for applying a bar code provides anti-counterfeit protection and traceability for medical device parts, meeting stringent industry regulations.
DuBrand was founded in 2017 as a Direct Spin-Out from the UCD School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering.
Academics: Peter Clinch
EnvEcon Limited is an adaptable research and policy consultancy and a leading provider of government and business policy advisory services and decision-support systems focused on matters of economic and environmental policy and regulation. Established in 2007, a Direct Spin-Out from the UCD School of Architecture, Planning & Environmental Policy
Academic: Professor R. Bogdan Staszewski
Equal1 Labs which is developing a new type of quantum computer based on the latest advances in semiconductor CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) technology. Established in 2018 as a direct spin-out from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Equal1Labs received the 2021 NovaUCD Spin-out of the Year Award.
Academics: Barbara Murphy & John Sheridan
Equilume developed the Equilume™ Light Mask which is an innovative new method of providing artificial light to horses. The automated device provides the optimum level of blue light to a single eye to successfully advance the breeding season. Established in 2012 a Direct Spin-Out from the UCD School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering & UCD School of Agriculture & Food
Academic:Robert Shorten
Go Eve is commercialising the ‘DockChain’ technology. Current EV charging technology only allows for one or two EVs to access a charger at a time, so you need lots of chargers or can only electrify a few parking spaces. The DockChain technology solves this problem by extending the reach of a single EV charger with an extensible daisy-chain of low-cost charging terminals, or ‘Docks’, allowing it to electrify multiple parking spaces. Go Eve won the 2021 Nova UCD VentureLaunch Accelerator Programme and received the 2024 NovaUCD Licence of the Year Award.
Go Eve a joint UCD and Imperial College London (Imperial) spin-out that was co-founded in 2021 by Hugh Sheehy, John Goodbody, Professor Robert Shorten (former member of the UCD School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering), Dr Pietro Ferraro and Andrew Cullen.
Academic:Denis Dowling
Based in NovaUCD, Infraprint is a 3D printing start-up that manufactures high-performance polymers and composite materials for the space, energy and aerospace industries. Patented technology developed in UCD allows this company to print high-value parts for these industries on a contract basis that are stronger and more efficiently produced than traditional 3D printing methods currently used. Known as Thermal Radiation Assisted Additive Manufacturing, or TRAAM, the technology utilises infrared light to selectively heat the layers of a part during the printing process. Infraprint was co-founded by Denis Dowling and former PhD student, Dr Andrew Dickson of theUCD School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering. Dr Andew Dickson was awarded Winner of the First-time Founder award at the Irish Times Innovation of the Year Award 2023.
Academics: Ravi Thampi & Robert Dowdall
Insight Renewables Limited is involved in creating next generation renewable biomass based fuels. Established in 2015 as a Direct Spin-Out from the UCD School of Chemical & Bioprocess Engineering.
Academics: Dr Paul Cuffe with student Mr Philip Snell and UCD ME graduates, Mr William Langrell and Mr Edward Byrne
Joyst Instruments has developed the Joyst JV-1 MIDI controller which provides an array of gamer-style thumb joysticks to give more expressive possibilities for electronic musicians. Notes are played by striking the joysticks, if one is then rotated, this pitchbends that note up or down. Using joysticks in this role is a very new approach for a MIDI controller, which significantly increases a musician’s ability to play with subtle intonation and expressive flourishes. Established in 2020 as a direct spin-out from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Dr Paul Cuffe won the 2021 NovaUCD Innovation Champion of the Year Award for his dedication to working with UCD engineering programme students, to unlock the commercial trajectory of their final year dissertation projects that led to the formation of Joyst Instruments Ltd.
Academics : Eoin O’Cearbhaill, Seamus Morris and Nicky Bertollo
Latch Medical is developing a patent protected wound closure device. This will speed up the time taken to close surgical wounds resulting in cost savings via reduced operating times.
Latch Medical founded in 2017 as a spin out of UCD School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering and the UCD School of Medicine.
Academic: Eoin O’Cearbhaill
Lia Therapeutics has developed NightleafTM, its drug-free, wearable medical device to treat dry and sore eyes. Lia Therapeutics was established 2023 and co-founder Eoin O’Cearbhaill of theUCD School of Mechanical & Materials Engineeringreceived the 2023 NovaUCD Innovation Champion of the Year award.
Academics: Paul Costigan and 2 other researchers from the Digital Signal Processing Research Group
Massana a communications chip company was acquired by Agere System in 2003 which was subsequently merged into LSI Corporation in 2007 which in turn was acquired by Avago Technologies in 2014. Established in 1996 as a Direct Spin-Out from UCD School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
Academic: Dr Nan Zhang
MiNan Tech escalates laboratory research to the level of mass production by resolving challenges for early stage scale-up and mass production of plastic microfluidics. Established in 2019, MiNan is a direct spin-out from the School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering.
Academics: Andrew Keane & Paul Manning
NovoGrid has developed an intelligent control system to enable wind farm owners reduce energy losses associated with the transfer of electricity to national grids thereby assisting them to improve energy efficiencies and to increase revenues. Established in 2014 as a Direct Spin-Out from the UCD School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
Academics: Eoin Casey & Eoin Syron
OxyMem Ltd. is a Cleantech company commercialising an innovative solution to reduce costs for wastewater treatment – the Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor (MABR). OxyMem is named in the 2015 Global Cleantech 100 list which recognizes the Top Private Companies in Clean Technology. Established in 2013 as a direct Spin-Out from the UCD School of Chemical & Bioprocess Engineering
In 2020 US chemical giant DuPont acquired full ownership of Oxymem and will scale up the MABR technology production to meet global demands to treat wastewater.
Academic: Dr Nick Barry
PlasmaBound is based on patented technologies that enable composite manufacturers to build stronger and lighter composite assemblies. The novel PlasmaBound manufacturing technology removes the need for bolts when joining structural composites, thus eliminating associated mechanical and fatigue performance problems. Established in 2017, PlasmaBound is a direct spin-out from the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering.
(opens in a new window)ProvEye Ltd
Academic: Professor Nick Holden
ProvEye uses remote sensing and image data from UAV’s, satellites and other platforms to increase sustainable agricultural productivity and food security. Established in 2019, ProvEye is a direct spin-out from the School of Biosystems and Food Engineering.
ProEye has won many awards including the Ornua Most Innovative AgTech Start-up 2022 and top prize in the Inaugural AgriTechUCD Accelerator programme; the Ace Agritech Centre of Excellence Award at the 2023 Innovation Arena Awards; and start-up of the year at the 2024 Innovation Arena Awards. Also Nick Holden received the 2024 NOVA UCD Innovation Champion award.
Academics: Michael Mescal of the UCD School of Architecture, Planning & Environmental Policy.
Founded in 2017, Saragossa Software is developing a next generation building energy analysis software system for architects, engineers and educators. The proprietary software combines 3D modelling, climate and physics simulation technologies with specific green building codes and certifications, in one system.
Academics: Mr Ian Kennedy, Dr Cagri Cubukcu, Dr Aviva Cohen
SeamlessCare Ltd has developed a digital care platform to support people with intellectual disability and dementia. Established in 2021, SeamlessCare Ltd. is a direct spin-out from the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering.
Seamless Care Ltd. received the Best Application of AI in a Start-up Award at the 2022 AI Ireland Awards and the 2023 NovaUCD Spin-out of the Year Award.
Academics: Seamus Timoney
Established nearly 50 Years ago as a Direct Spin-Out From the UCD School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, Timoney Technology are world leading experts in Mobility Systems for heavy vehicles and specialist vehicle applications.
Academics: Dave Burke
Established in 2000 Voxpilot provides interactive telecommunication services to companies, operators, and service providers, a Direct Spin-Out from the UCD School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering.
Voxpilot provides interactive telecommunication services to companies, operators, and service providers.
Established in 2007 as an InDirect Spin-Out from the UCD School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
