regional development centre

the link
issue FOUR SUMMER 2009

A Shared
Vision at RDC
Baby dragon finds its feet
Fergal McCaffery profiled
Super seaweed
 Contents Foreword Enterprise 3

LINK
3 Targeting Fusing RDC to spearhead regional ICE project –

Issue 4
SME Jobs
talents enterprise project key facts
4 Credit Union
Fund for Startups
the link
Time was, researchers did
their thing and businesses
regional development centre

did theirs and ne’er (or only

issue FOUR SUMMER 2009
Dundalk Institute of Technology to lead €2.5m project to create 90
sustainable jobs in SME sector
The Innovation for Competitive
Enterprises (ICE) project aims to
promote greater prosperity in the
rarely) did the twain meet. Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) an average of three people from southern Border counties, Northern

5 Out of the
Dragons' Den
A Shared
Vision at RDC
Times have changed. Today,
researchers know that if
Baby dragon finds its feet
Fergal McCaffery profiled
Super seaweed

they want to get their

research out there and in
is to lead a three-year project that will
create 90 sustainable jobs in small and
medium enterprises (SMEs) in border
communities in the Republic of Ireland,
each company will be involved in
the innovation process so that the
programme reaches 270 individuals.
Ireland and western Scotland by
helping small local businesses become
more innovative, thereby boosting
turnover and employment.

6
such a way that it can make Northern Ireland and western Scotland. In total, 270 companies will attend 27
Focus on a big difference to people’s lives, then they will need to information sessions to be held The project will promote and
Applied Research work with commercial partners. Similarly, technology The project, called ICE (Innovation for between now and 2011 with 135 of encourage the development of
entrepreneurs understand that to have business acumen Competitive Enterprise), will see the these to undergo an innovation audit an innovation culture through a
is no longer enough to succeed; ideas and innovation are Regional Development Centre at DkIT to measure progress. dedicated in-house project-led

7 needed, too, and where better to find them than in a partnering with the University of Ulster, approach focusing on commercial
SMRC Bonds
third-level institute? University of Glasgow and Glasgow Irene McCausland, External Services rewards and supported by a
with Andor Caledonian and has been allocated €2.48 Manager, DkIT said ICE was a timely regional network (the Tri-regional
The benefits of business and research working together, million in funding by Interreg IVA, the and relevant initiative in the current Innovation Network).

8
and the supportive role played by the Regional cross-border co-operation programme economic climate. “Small and medium
Looking at the Big Development Centre (RDC), is the theme of this issue ’managed by the Special EU Programmes enterprises have tremendous potential The four main supports delivered by
of The Link. The RDC is Dundalk IT’s innovation support Body (SEUPB). to help lay the foundations for economic the Network are:
Research Picture
and technology transfer organisation. The fact that it is recovery and this is especially true  A regional information resource
celebrating its 20th anniversary this year says much about Small and medium enterprises in the border region as well as in and network of SMEs for sharing

9 A Talent for Software:

Dr Fergal McCaffery
the progressive attitude of the Institute in relation to
commercialisation activities. Over the past two decades,
have tremendous potential to
help lay the foundations for
Northern Ireland and western Scotland
where there is an established culture
of information, resources and
knowledge

’
the RDC has incubated some 80 hi-tech startups and of entrepreneurship. Their business  Access to regional panel of experts
economic recovery prospects will improve as they gain a  Access to technology transfer and
supported 430 entrepreneurs through technology-

10
training programmes. competitive edge by innovating across licensing opportunities
Turning Seaweed The initiative will concentrate on all their operations.  Specialist SME innovation learning
into Energy At the same time, the Institute has continued to develop counties Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Louth, programme coupled with in-
its research base through the creation of new research Monaghan and Sligo in the Republic, “The businesses that participate in company mentoring and assistance
groups, the recruitment of quality research professionals all of Northern Ireland, and western this programme over the next three with innovation planning and

11 and the supervision of the Institute’s first homegrown
Africa's
PhDs. The past five years in particular have seen a massive
Fresh Water Challenge increase in research activity. And not just in scientific
disciplines but also in areas of the humanities such as
Scotland. years will be facilitated in introducing implementation
new or radically changed products and
Focused on skills development in a services as well as internal processes and The key project targets include:
network across the three areas involved, changed business models. In addition,  The creation of 90 new sustainable

12
music and creative media where, under the visionary ICE will work with 90 companies in an we will work with them on opening new jobs/placements
Calling All leadership of Dr Eibhlís Farrell, the Music and Creative intensive innovation programme aimed market segments or niches,” she added.  At least 15 technology transfer or
Business Brains Media Department is carving an international reputation at increasing turnover in participating licensing opportunities identified
for itself through the efforts of its large team of senior companies by at “The approach will be very and investigated
researchers. least 10 much one of ‘learning by  A 10pc increase in turnover at
The Regional Development Centre (RDC) is a centre to promote per cent. doing’ and the role of participating companies
innovation, technology transfer and enterprise in the wider region and is
The coming months and years will see more and more It is also this Institute and our  270 SMEs attend information
based on the DkIT Campus.
research being conducted at DkIT, in all disciplines. At intended partners at partners at workshops for the duration of the
the RDC, we look forward to continuing to give our that University of Glasgow, project
researchers the help and support they need to reap the Glasgow Caledonian  135 SMEs undergo an innovation
reward their efforts deserve. and University of Ulster audit and feedback results
will be one of supporting  90 companies to participate in an
We hope that you enjoy this edition of The Link. If you companies to grow a own intensive innovation programme
have any comments or suggestions regarding content, or in-house skills and build an  50 new/modified products/
would like to be included on the mailing list, please email innovation culture. With day- services/ process or business models
developed for commercialisation
Issue 4

anne.tinnelly@dkit.ie. to-day pressures taking

Regional Development Centre Dublin Road Dundalk Co Louth precedence, there can be a
T | +353 42 9331161 F | +353 42 9331163 Irene McCausland, External Services Manager, RDC particular issue for smaller The project is a three-year programme
W | www.rdc.ie E | info@rdc.ie Tim McCormac, Head of Research, DkIT companies in finding with a three-month set-up phase.
the time and resources to
LINK

Great care has been taken to ensure that this information is accurate, engage in innovation but it is only For further information on Innovation for
but the Regional Development Centre, including its subsidiaries does not Competitive Enterprise (ICE), contact the
accept responsibility or liability for errors or information which is found
by innovating that they can hope to Regional Development Centre at Dundalk
to be misleading. survive and prosper." Institute of Technology on (042) 937 0413.

Written & edited by Brian Skelly, The Write Business, + 353 86 857-5829

2
 Enterprise
Student
enterprise
intern
appointed
A new student enterprise intern,
Emma Brabazon, has been appointed
by Dundalk IT.
The role of the intern is to actively
support, promote and develop a spirit
of enterprise and self-employment
amongst all of the students attending
DkIT.
The internship, which will be given
ongoing support and direction by the
Regional Development Centre, will
commence in September 2009 and run
until June 2011.
Emma will spend 18 hours per week
in this role and combine it with
attendance on a Masters programme
in DkIT.
Emma recently sat her finals for a BBS
degree in Marketing & eBusiness.
Dundalk IT is at the forefront of
promoting enterprise among its
student population.
In May 2007, it appointed its first
student enterprise intern for a two-
year term and in May 2008 create
its second such position. In 2008,
a three-year Higher Education
Authority-funded project commenced,
Issue 4
called ‘Accelerating Campus
Entrepreneurship’ (ACE). It is a major
cross-Institute programme to promote
entrepreneurship among students
LINK
and is led by Dundalk IT. The student
enterprise internship is a key element
of this programme.
4
Pictured, from left: Jim Kelly, Chairman, Dundalk Credit Union; Karen Doherty, student; Billy
Doyle, CEO, Dundalk CU; Sean MacEntee, Incubation Centre Manager, DkIT; Dermot Ahern
TD, Minister for Justice; Ronan Lynch, Student Enterprise Intern, DkIT; Tom D'Arcy, Treasurer,
Dundalk CU: and Colm McElarney, student
Dundalk CU's funding
initiative for startups
Getting access to finance in a cash-
strapped economy is not easy so Dundalk
Credit Union has launched a new scheme
that it hopes will encourage budding
student and graduate entrepreneurs.
The Credit Union, which is celebrating
its 40th year in business, has created the
Dundalk Credit Union Student Innovation
Fund at DkIT to mark its anniversary and
to give something back to the community
of which it has been a part for four
decades.
The €15,000 fund is the first of its kind
in Ireland. Its aim is to provide essential
funding for third-level student projects
that show potential for commercial
success. It will go towards marketing,
prototyping and other related costs for
approved projects.
The fund was launched by the Minister
for Justice Equality and Law Reform,
Dermot Ahern TD, at the Dundalk Credit
Union office. Speaking at the launch,
Minister Ahern commented, “This
most welcome and positive initiative by
Dundalk Credit Union – the first of its
kind in the country – should serve as a
template for other organisations and
Institutes to replicate.”
Billy Doyle, General Manager of Dundalk
Credit Union, expressed his Board’s
Enterprise
delight at being able to support student
enterprise at DkIT.
“This is a novel idea which we believe will
result in many more students exploring
new venture creation and ultimately self
employment – something badly needed
in these challenging times. As part of
our 40th birthday celebrations we are
delighted to be able to make this positive
and meaningful financial commitment to
both DkIT and Dundalk itself.”
“With the downturn in the economy,
the concept of self-employment is now
becoming a real career option for third-
level graduates,” noted Sean MacEntee,
Incubation Centre Manager, Dundalk
Institute of Technology, at the launch.
To be considered for funding, an
applicant will need to show some
evidence that a market exists for the
product or service being promoted. To
apply for funding support, students must
be in full-time attendance on one of
DkIT’s undergraduate or postgraduate
courses. The Regional Development
Centre in DkIT will administer the fund
and significant interest is anticipated.
The Dundalk Credit Union Student Innovation
Fund will open in September 2009. Applications
forms are available from Garrett Duffy
(garrett.duffy@dkit.ie)
Tech startup follows its About
heart using its head Novation EPP
 Ronan Woods of Sourcing
Product Design
A product design company
that has appeared on
Dragons’ Den is the latest
graduate of the Regional
Development Centre’s
Novation EPP programme to
make a name for itself.
Starting a business is notoriously
risky. Every year Ireland produces
hundreds of startups and many
of them are destined to fail. One
that looks like making the grade,
however, is Sourcing Product Design
(sourcingproductdesign.com), an
innovative technical services firm that
is based in the RDC at Dundalk IT.
Back in March, the company was
catapulted to national attention when
its co-founder Darren Louet-Feisser
appeared on entrepreneur show
Dragons’ Den and persuaded dragons
Niall O’Farrell, Sean Gallagher and
Bobby Kerr to each take a 15pc stake
in the business.
Industrial designer Louet-Feisser set up
the company in January this year along
with Ronan Woods, a product design
engineer and fellow Carlingford
native who worked with Irish electrical
products manufacturer Glen Dimplex
in China before resigning to co-found
the new venture.
Sourcing Product Design’s pitch is
very unusual. While some companies
design a product for you and others
will arrange low-cost manufacturing
in China, Sourcing Product Design
does both.
“There are lots of companies out there
that have ideas for products but no
idea how to get them off the ground.
We can design and engineer the
product and then get it quoted and
manufactured in China,”
explains Woods.
It is currently designing 15 different
products on behalf of various clients.
Three of these products – the Kaylite
handbag light, the Toilet Snake
cleaning and disinfecting hose and
the Tyligo tile-fitting device – were
presented in prototype form on
Dragons’ Den and now Sourcing
Product Design has been asked to
design a full working version. Other
design projects it has been asked to
work on include a teddy bear that
speaks Irish and a medical pump.
In addition to making products for
other people, Sourcing Product
Design also designs its own, the
first of which – a soldering iron –
was featured on Dragons’ Den.
Sourcing Product Design recently
signed up its first customer, a UK
retail chain, for the product, which
enjoys patent protection funded by
a €6,000 grant supplied by the
Leitrim County Enterprise Board.
Sourcing Product Design is one
of several startup and early stage
companies based within the RDC.
As a tenant there, the company
has benefited from the Novation
Enterprise Platform Programme
(NEPP), a programme of support
for graduate entrepreneurs with an
innovative hi-tech business idea (see
panel). The RDC is currently
promoting the scheme with the
slogan, ‘Follow your heart using
your head’
5
LINK
Issue 4
The main objective of the Novation
Enterprise Platform Programme
(NEPP) is to develop the commercial
and job creation potential of the
participating businesses. The
programme delivers comprehensive
training in business and management
to equip participants to successfully
start up and manage a new business.
It also helps participants achieve
personal and business development
goals and undertake market or
technical feasibility studies and/or the
preparation of a business plan.
The programme is open to applicants
with a good business idea for a hi-
tech business, at least three years’
relevant experience and who are
educated to at least diploma standard.
The programme, which lasts nine
months, takes place at the Regional
Development Centre within DkIT and
candidates are required to commit to
it full-time.
Eligible participants receive a
consultancy/travel allowance of
approximately €1,150. They may also
apply for funding through Enterprise
Ireland’s Commercialisation of
Research and Development (CORD)
grants. NEPP is funded by the Higher
Education Authority under European
Regional Development Funds –
‘Investing in Your Future’.
Applicants should submit a completed
application form with current CV and
an outline of their proposed product
or service (maximum of three typed
pages). Shortlisted applicants will be
invited to attend a panel interview.
Places are limited and the decision of
the interview panel is final.
Applications should be sent to:
Garrett Duffy, Enterprise Development
Manager, Regional Development
Centre, Dundalk IT, Dundalk, Co Louth.
Tel: (042) 9331161. Fax: (042) 9351412.
Email: garrett.duffy@dkit.ie.
Closing date for applications is Friday
11 September 2009.
 Applied Research 7

LINK
Getting research to market

Issue 4
Creating a space where research and enterprise can work together for the benefit of both is a
key part of the Regional Development Centre’s mission

Much has been written about the
massive national investment in R&D
through such vehicles as the PRTLI,
Science Foundation Ireland and the
HEA. But this investment will be of
limited value if the intellectual property
created in the lab does not find its way
into commercial products that improve
quality of life and generate wealth,
employment and the funds to sustain
further research work.
DkIT has long recognised the
crucial role applied research plays
in creating sustained economic and
social value. In recent years, through
the research and developmental
endeavours of its academic staff, it
has developed a strong applied R&D
reputation in software development,
electronics and engineering design,
applied humanities, cultural studies
and enterprise development and
innovation, with growing strengths in
the fields of renewable energy, assistive
technologies and digital media.
Commercial centre
Established in 1989, the Regional
Development Centre is the Institute’s
innovation support and technology
transfer organisation. The Centre acts
as a commercially oriented interface
between DkIT and the industrial,
commercial and business life of the
region, and makes available the
expertise, facilities and resources of the
Institute for the wider benefit of the
regional economy.
The RDC has both on- and off-campus
incubation facilities to accommodate
new or start-up technology or
knowledge-based businesses in their
early developmental phases. Since
Issue 4
over 80 major research projects with
industrial partners. One such initiative
is the Enterprise Ireland Research
Voucher Scheme, which provides
companies with the opportunity to
engage in small research projects
with the third-level sector through
a voucher system. The Institute is
currently involved in seven research
vouchers schemes with industry.
The Institute is also engaged in a
number of Fusion projects. Funded
through InterTrade Ireland, companies
from Northern Ireland partner
with universities and Institutes
of Technology in the Republic of
Ireland to hire a research assistant
to work on a technical project over
a 12-month, 18-month or two-year
period. The Institute is currently
involved in nine such projects. A
third initiative is Enterprise Ireland’s
Innovation Partnership programme.
Here, the Institute is involved in a
major innovation partnership with the
National Centre for Freshwater Studies
and has just completed a project with
the School of Engineering.
Smooth operators
In addition to the applied research
programmes co-ordinated by the RDC,
the various research teams within the
Centre have developed and nurtured
their own fruitful partnerships with
industry. One of the most successful
is that between the Smooth Muscle
Research Centre (SMRC) and a fast-
growing Belfast-based technology firm
called Andor Technology.
With 20 researchers including four
principal investigators (PIs), seven
PhD students and several postdocs,
the SMRC represents the largest
Its research focuses on the cellular
mechanisms underlying physiological
function and how this is modified in a
range of conditions including urinary
incontinence, erectile dysfunction,
lymphoedema, arthritis and ureteric
obstruction.
"The objective of the research is to
find out how different smooth muscles
behave in health and disease. That’s
our end game,"says Hollywood.
The Centre has secured approximately
€5 million in research funding since
2005 from competitive international
and national sources including NIH
(USA), Wellcome Trust (UK), Science
Foundation Ireland, the Health
Research Board and Enterprise Ireland.
The Centre has also produced over
190 publications in high impact peer-
reviewed journals and five of these
have been with Andor Technology.
Its relationship with Andor began
about five years ago when Andor, a
 Dr Mark Hollywood in the SMRC's electrophysiology labs
manufacturer of high-end scientific
cameras to the physical sciences the rate of imaging for the device to Five years on, and the SMRC has just as urinary incontinence or Hirschprung’s
and astronomy markets, invited the be really useful to the team. So began this month taken delivery of the latest Disease, a condition that causes bowel
staff at the SMRC to evaluate the a remarkable, symbiotic development generation of confocal microscope from obstruction in infants, may be treated by
potential biological applications of partnership between Andor and the Andor. The Andor Revolution, which is targeting ion channels.
a new camera it had developed. The SMRC which has lasted to this day. housed in labs newly converted from
academic staff at the SMRC jumped There are a number of aspects to the offices within the RDC, consists of a In the SMRC’s electrophysiology labs,
at this opportunity because they partnership. One is that the SMRC tests motorised microscope attached to a researchers record ion channel activity and
realised that these sensors could be new equipment and provides feedback to confocal head, a bank of four lasers, a then in the adjacent Cellular Imaging Labs,
utilised to offer an insight into how Andor – in effect becoming a beta testing number of scientific cameras and various they use Andor technology to create visual
cells maintained and modulated site for its latest technology. Another is couplers, plus associated software. The images of that activity. In time, Hollywood
intracellular ions such as calcium and that the SMRC uses Andor technology equipment is sufficiently powerful to allow is hopeful that through gaining a better
sodium. in its experiments and publishes papers the simultaneous imaging of up to four understanding of ion channel behaviour it
supported by data obtained using this wavelengths of light. may be possible to develop drugs that can
“Imagine you had a piece of tissue equipment. Thirdly, the SMRC acts manage such conditions. And in his view,
or a single cell and were able to take as a demonstration facility for Andor The equipment will be used to further Andor has played an invaluable role in the
an optical bacon slicer to it and take equipment, which means that potential SMRC’s research efforts into studying the research effort by supplying technology
very thin slivers – that’s what confocal Andor customers can come to the SMRC role of a variety of ions, such as Ca2+ that allows his researchers to gaze into
microscopy in essence allows you to and try out the equipment for themselves. within cells and how these are affected by cells and tissue and understand their inner
do. You take a very thin optical slice Finally, using Andor technology the modulating ion channels. These channels workings.

its creation the RDC has incubated
80 knowledge-based businesses and
supported over 430 entrepreneurs
through technology training initiatives.
LINK
group of researchers investigating the
control of smooth muscle function in
Ireland and the UK. The centre was
established in 2005 when Dr Mark
Hollywood, along with colleagues
through the tissue and this permits you
to gaze inside the cells and find out
what’s actually happening to them,”
Hollywood explains.
SMRC offers a variety of services to
pharmaceutical companies.
“If a biopharma firm has a candidate
drug at the pre-clinical stage and they
are proteins, which act as molecular
switches to permit various ions such as
sodium, calcium and potassium to flow
in and out of cells. The influx and efflux
of the ions modulates the activity of the
“It’s been a fantastic journey with Andor;
we’ve really enjoyed it,” he says.
It is a journey that has proven not only that

The RDC also engages with industry Drs Noel McHale, Keith Thornbury The sensitivity of the Andor camera have don’t have the expertise to do these cells and therefore can influence their can academics work well with industrial
through a range of applied research and Gerard Sergeant were recruited was spectacular, Andor was told, but experiments, we can do it for them,” contractile state. One focus of the SMRC partners but that the partnership can have
initiatives and to date has undertaken from Queen’s University Belfast. the company would need to improve notes Hollywood. research is to examine if diseases such significant benefits for both sides..

6

Research at DkIT –
a question of priorities
The Institute’s strategy of
focusing research efforts
on a small number of key
areas where there is critical
mass, sustainability and
relevant expertise has been
an unequivocal success, writes
Dr Tim McCormac, Head of
Research at DkIT
One of the big changes that have taken
place at Dundalk IT over the past five years
is the amount of research that’s conducted
here. But it has not just been a question of
greater output: the research being done at
the Institute is now highly focused, too.
Realising that it would be far better
to excel in a small number of research
disciplines rather than be just average
at a large number, we decided to invest
in strategically important growth areas
of research that were aligned with our
emerging strengths in specific areas. As
Issue 4
a result, the Institute has established a
strong reputation in several research areas,
including ageing and health, energy and
the environment, software engineering,
LINK
music and entrepreneurship.
The research activity is spearheaded
by six research centres, one of which,
8
the Smooth Muscle Research Centre,
is profiled on the previous page. The
other five are Netwell (Social Networks,
Environments and Technologies for
Wellness and Ageing-in-place); the
National Freshwater Research Centre;
the Centre for Renewable Energy; the
Software Technology Research Centre;
and the Centre for Entrepreneurship
Research (CER). The Institute has also
recently established three research groups
in Creative Media, Electrochemistry and
Organic Resource, which also contribute
strongly to the overall research output.
Funding growth
DkIT researchers have secured an
impressive €23 million in research funding
in the past five years through national
funding bodies such as the Environmental
Protection Agency, the Health Research
Board, Science Foundation Ireland,
the Higher Education Authority and
Enterprise Ireland. Funding secured from
the latter agency, primarily through the
Commercialisation Fund, represents
nearly one-quarter of the total research
funding secured in the past five years,
thus highlighting our researchers’ ability
to secure funding for technology transfer
activities as well as actual research. Their
Research
success, too, in attracting considerable
funding from sources outside the State,
such as the Wellcome Trust, the European
Union Framework Programmes and the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the
US, is also worth noting.
Research Funding €M
PhD priority
There are currently more than 50
registered postgraduate research
students at DkIT. This represents almost a
250% increase since 2003. The increase
can be directly attributed to the creation
of the Institute’s research centres and
groups, and their immediate impact
on its research activities. At present,
approximately half of all research
postgraduate students work within the
six research centres, with close to 90%
involved in research consistent with the
Institute’s established research themes.
One of our strategic aims is to
increase the number of registered PhD
postgraduate researchers to 100 by
2014, in addition to increasing the
number of Principal Investigators and
Postdoctoral Fellows across the Institute.
These strategic research targets will
require an annual research income of
€10-12 million, a target that is already
being reached.
A better experience
We strongly believe in enhancing
the learning experience of our
postgraduate PhD research students.
We have therefore begun the rollout
of structured PhDs in priority research
areas. This will ensure that not only will
the Institute produce the well motivated
and highly trained researchers that are
required for Ireland’s economic revival
but that it remains an attractive research
destination for undergraduate students
wishing to pursue a research career.
The principal mechanisms that will drive
the development of structured PhD
programmes include leveraging the
expertise available through the Research
Alliance within the IOT sector, which is
funded through the Strategic Innovation
Fund, and the Institute’s existing
strategic partnerships with universities.
In addition, the Institute is preparing to
roll out, in September 2009, a series of
generic skills training modules for all
researchers across the Institute.
In conclusion, over the past five years
Dundalk IT has dramatically upped its
game in relation to research by focusing
its efforts on a number of specific
areas. In doing so, it has developed
a reputation that in some cases truly
merits the description “world class”.
This is a very welcome development
for the Institute whose standing within
the national and international research
community is greatly enhanced. It is
good news from a national perspective,
too, because it clearly shows that the
Institute and its researchers are playing
their part in creating the smart economy
that is needed to set the country on
a course of sustainable growth and
prosperity.
For more information on the Institute's research
activities please contact Dr Tim McCormac
researchoffice@dkit.ie
Code
shark
Dr Fergal McCaffery joined
DkIT in February 2008 as an
SFI-funded Stokes Lecturer
within the Department of
Computing & Maths and
a researcher within the
Software Technology Research
Centre (STORC)
When interviewed for The Link, Dr
Fergal McCaffery had just come back
from a week-long conference in
Vancouver and was just about to head
off to another big international event
in Helsinki. Who said researchers’ lives
aren’t glamorous and exciting?
Well, probably McCaffery himself for
one. The quietly spoken Co Armagh
native is much more concerned about
furthering his research interests than
he is living a jet-set lifestyle. Those
interests centre on software process
improvement for medical devices.
He heads up an international project
called MediSpice, which is working
to develop an international software
improvement assessment standard for
the medical devices industry.
In recognition of his work, McCaffery
was recently invited to join the
prestigious SPICE Academy which
currently consists of 15 of the world's
leading software process researchers
and is the main player in relation to
developing international software
standards and research themes.
The development of such a standard
will, he believes, incentivise more
Irish software firms to move into the
medical devices space by providing
them with a means to develop safer
software of a more consistently high
quality and more quickly than they
can at present. He argues that if can
Ireland can demonstrate that it has
expertise in the development of high-
quality medical device software, then
global medical device firms – many of
which are already present in Ireland
9
in a manufacturing capacity – would
also be prepared to make Ireland their
software development hub as well.
The work being done by McCaffery
and his colleagues will, therefore, act
as a crucial bridge between two major
industries in Ireland – medical devices
and software development.
In addition to this work, McCaffery
is heavily involved in STORC, whose
research work is focused on two main
areas: software process improvement
and software spreadsheet engineering.
STORC’s five-person team comprises
director Dr Gerry Coleman, Dr Kevin
McDaid, Ronan McRuairi and Frank
Keenan as well as McCaffery himself.
Since joining DkIT, McCaffery has
wasted no time seeking additional
sources of funding for his research.
In April, he was awarded €385,000
under the EU Framework Programme 7
Artemis programme for Charter, a pan-
European research project aimed at
improving the software development
environment for safety-critical
embedded software.
Before coming to DKIT, McCaffery
worked as a Senior Research Fellow
at UL. Prior to that, he worked as a
software engineer and architect with
Nortel Networks in Belfast.
Outside of work, he has been just as
busy. Married to Caitlin, he has five
children under ten years of age. So,
whether at work or at home, there’s
hardly a dull moment for this high
achiever.

Turning
seaweed into
energy
Using seaweed to power your car may seem far-fetched but
DkIT researchers are involved in a project which is exploring
this and other possibilities for the humble marine plant.
DkIT’s Centre for Renewable Energy
(Credit) is one of the six academic partners
involved in Sustainable Fuels from Marine
Biomass (BioMara), a new UK and Irish
joint project that aims to demonstrate the
feasibility of producing third-generation
biofuels from marine biomass.
Issue 4
“The focus of the project is to harness
bioenergy available from the marine
environment,” explains Dr Paul MacArtain,
Research Manager at Credit. “The
two major areas we’re looking at are
LINK
macroalgae – otherwise known as
seaweed – and microalgae, which are
micro-plants.”
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BioMara is being led by the Scottish
Association for Marine Science (Sams),
an independent marine research institute
whose particular expertise is in microalgae.
Credit’s focus, on the other hand, is on
macroalgae (seaweed).
“They grow relatively quickly, depending
what part of the world you’re in, and
they’ve been exploited for food use since
the second world war,” says MacArtain,
who adds that Ireland, particularly its
craggy west coast, is extremely rich in the
marine plant.
“There is a lot of seaweed around the
 Dr Caroline Gilleran, Lecturer, DKIT
and Dr Paul MacArtain, Credit
11
LINK
west coast of Ireland. Seaweeds can grow
quite fast and you can get a lot of biomass
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out of them. The aim of our research is
first of all characterising what’s in them
and, secondly, investigating their potential
for energy use. This will involve fermenting
them for biogas and experimenting with
bioethanol production from seaweed.”
The latter will be done using the biofuel-
testing laboratory at DkIT.
One of the ultimate objectives of the
project is to find a more sustainable
way to meet the energy requirements of
remote, dispersed communities, which
currently rely heavily on fossil fuels being
transported to them. Developing a
sustainable local source of energy would
help offset this reliance. In addition, with
the European Parliament calling for 10%
of road transport fuel to come from
renewable sources by 2020, sustainable,
industrial-scale biofuel production has
become an urgent challenge.
DkIT researchers take on
clean water challenge
The BioMara team will also be initiating
joint projects with companies with the
aim of developing commercial applications
from the research. Fresh water is something we all take for granted but in Uganda the lack of potable water is
one of the biggest developmental challenges it faces. Now a team of scientists from DkIT is
The €6 million BioMara research project heading up a major research project looking at ways in which water quality can be permanently
was launched in April and is expected to
improved throughout the continent of Africa
last four years. It has received €4.9 million
from the EU’s Interreg IVA programme,
with additional funding coming from Last year a consortium led by DkIT and The project is extremely broad in its provides a lead supervisor in Ireland.
Highlands & Islands Enterprise, the Crown including NUIM, DCU, TCD, DIT, RCSI, scope. Research being undertaken There is also a co-supervisor based in
Estate, Northern Ireland Executive and the UCD and QUB secured €1.5 million in ranges from technical aspects of Makerere University who oversees
funding under the Irish Aid and HEA water management, such as water the fieldwork of the researchers. It
Irish Government. DkIT’s research partners
on BioMara are Sams, the University of Programme for Strategic Co-operation sourcing, pump design, rainwater is envisaged that most of these will
Strathclyde, Queen’s University Belfast, the between Irish Aid and Higher harvesting and solar disinfection of be African but there will be some
University of Ulster and the Institute of Education and Research Institutes water, to the social impact of water – Irish researchers working there as
Technology, Sligo. (2007-2011) for a project called the effect clean water provision has well. All of them will be qualified to
‘Water is life’. on women and children for example honours degree or masters level in an
The four-person research team at DkIT will – and participation in the governance appropriate discipline such as geology,
include two PhDs and two postgraduate According to Dr Suzanne Linnane, of local water supplies. “It’s very mechanical engineering or social
researchers, along with a cross-border Director of the National Centre broad but at the centre of it all is studies.
education officer whose job will be to for Freshwater Studies at DkIT, the the village pump. Everything just
Seaweed photograph courtesy of Sams
produce educational material for schools, project is about building research ripples out from there to the wider In addition to ‘Water for Life’, the
communities and businesses to make them capacity in sustainable water resource community,” she says. National Centre for Freshwater Studies
more aware of the bioenergy area and the management in Ireland and Africa. is also involved in a number of other
opportunities afforded by it. She says that water resource major projects including the National
management is seen as the The Irish research partners are Source Protection pilot project, whose
More information: paul.macartain@dkit.ie “catalyst for future sustainable working with Makerere University focus is rural water provision; an EPA-
social development and in Uganda and a number of NGOs funded project on waste management;
economic growth” in Africa and on the ground in that country, and the National Onsite Waste Water
other underdeveloped and including the Medical Missionaries of Treatment Systems study, of which it is
developing regions. Mary. Each of the partner institutes project leader.
 RDC News
Calling all
enterprising
graduates
As part of a wider response to the
economic downturn, Dundalk
Institute of Technology (DkIT) is
encouraging enterprising graduates
with professional experience to
return to the campus to develop
their business ideas.
The President’s Enterprise
Development Programme for Alumni
is likely to be of particular interest
to Institute graduates keen to
develop their own businesses having
experienced changed circumstances
arising from the ongoing recession.
The programme will offer participants
three months of free business training
and mentoring from July to September
and they will also have free access to
shared office space and funding to
develop their business concept.
While priority will be given to
applicants who have graduated from
the Institute and worked for five years
Music conference hits right note
An electro-acoustic concert, singing,
a creative media and film exhibition,
an eclectic mix of academic sessions –
all these and more were part of
a varied and thought-provoking
programme at the recent Foras Feasa
conference held at Dundalk IT earlier
this month, in association with the
Institute’s Department of Music and
[e] info@elementdesign.ie
Creative Media.
The conference theme was ‘Humanities:
Challenging the Future’, a premise
that reflects the growing impact of
digitisation on the arts and humanities.
Keynote speaker and guest of honour
[t] 042 9327943
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Dr Christopher Cahill, Executive
Director of the American Irish Historical
Society (AIHS), New York City, stressed
the ongoing importance of the arts
and humanities and of preserving
element design
LINK
cultural legacies, particularly in tough
economic times when the arts can be
marginalised and starved of funding.
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Pictured launching the President’s Enterprise Development Programme for Alumni, were,
from left: Aidan Devenney, Programme Mentor; Garrett Duffy, Enterprise Development;
Denis Cummins, President; and Sean MacEntee, Incubation Centre Manager (all DkIT)
or more, any surplus places will be
allocated to those planning to locate
their new enterprise in the northeast
region.
It is also envisaged that several
participants from the programme will
go on to join the nine-month Novation
Enterprise Platform Programme
commencing in October. Novation
EPP has helped foster over 60 new
businesses employing more than 300
people over the last eight years.
A number of speakers were DkIT
researchers who presented papers
on recent research work they had
done. They include Foras Feasa
Postdoctoral Fellow Ian Wilson who
discussed the merits of combining
traditional music performance
practice with new technology and
Gerry O’Connor who gave an insight
into Luke Donnellan’s Dance Music
of Oriel.
The strong emphasis on research
was not a coincidence. Since it was
established in 2004, the Department
of Music and Creative Media has made
research a core activity, according to
departmental head Eibhlís Farrell.
“It’s important for students to know
that you’re not just teaching in
a vacuum: you’re part of a wider
research community and contributing
something to your art-form.”
The Institute has also introduced a
taster programme in business for
those currently out of work while a
new year-long graduate diploma is
allowing those with a Level-8
primary degree to gain a
postgraduate qualification in
information and communications
technology. Also on offer is a Higher
Diploma (HDip) in Small Enterprise
Support, which will be available on a
part-time basis for the first time from
September.
There are some 15 researchers in the
Department and it is soon to boast the
Institute’s first two PhDs in the persons
of Aylish Kerrigan and Linda Butler,
who respectively have done doctorates
on ‘Schoenberg’s The Book of the
Hanging Gardens’ and ‘Young People’s
Community Theatre Practice’.
Foras Feasa (Irish for ‘foundation of
knowledge’) is otherwise known as the
Institute for Research in Irish Historical
and Cultural Traditions. Based in NUI
Maynooth and comprising staff from
humanities and computer science
departments in four institutions –
DCU, DkIT, NUI Maynooth and St
Patrick’s College Drumcondra – it
supports individual and collaborative
research projects in the areas of
humanities and technology. It received
funding of €5.8 million in 2006 under
the Government’s PRTLI Cycle 4
programme.