2019
UCC appoints Director of Technology Transfer
University College Cork has appointed Dr Rich Ferrie as Director of the Office of Technology Transfer.
“I’m delighted to join UCC, which has a good track record in knowledge transfer and commercialisation. Most recently, the University’s spinout companies including Luxcel Biosciences, SensL Technologies and InfiniLED were acquired by global blue-chip companies,” he said.
“My future vision is to make this kind of commercialisation a systematic feature of what we do, ensuring we are up there with the avant-garde of universities in this regard.”
Dr Ferrie has joined UCC from the University of Manchester, where he was Director of Operations and Head of UMIP, the technology transfer office of the University, for the past seven years.
During that time, he ensured the University’s offering to academic innovators embraced social venturing, an online portal for digital marketing/ licensing and an innovation academy, maximising the appeal to the academic community.
Dr Ferrie has served as an invited member of Knowledge Transfer Ireland’s International Panel, overseeing its Technology Transfer Strengthening Initiative for (TTSI) for six years.
Previously, Dr Ferrie enjoyed 11 years in scientific and commercial role with the diagnostics business of AstraZeneca, formerly ICI, building on his postgraduate training as a molecular biologist.
He was a key player in applying and commercialising DNA fingerprinting in the UK and the US, and his team developed Europe’s first commercially available genetic diagnostic test for cystic fibrosis.
According to Dr Ferrie, “entrepreneurship is a priority for the University, and our door is open to entrepreneurs who wish to work with us in building innovative spinout companies.”
“As well as nurturing entrepreneurship within the University, we are keen to work with the broader entrepreneurial community, including local investors and angel groups,” he added.