News
Congratulations to two staff members on winning the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) TIDA Entrepreneurship training course prize.
Professor Caitriona O’Driscoll and Dr Anne Moore recently took part in a Get Started Venture Technology programme which is an entrepreneurial skills programme for University Researchers designed to equip participants with relevant knowledge and skills to assist them to commercialise their research, product or service.
The programme took place 2 days per month over 4 months. Topics included: Innovative Mindset; Marketers Mindset; Project Management; Finance; Venture Capital; IP & Copyright; Technology Sales. The programme was delivered by the DCU Ryan Academy in Citywest, Dublin and is funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) as a result of participants (from various universities/Institutes) applying for feasibility funding.
Throughout the programme participants learned how to “Tell their Story” in a final pitching event. Participants pitched to a panel of industry experts, all of whom have start up experience and experience with University spin-outs. Both Professor O’Driscoll and Dr Moore competed against participants from: UL, UCD, DCU, NUIG, TCD, RCSI and Tyndall and both won their pitching events. This will lead to a visit by both staff to Silicon Valley for one week, hosted by the Irish Technology Leadership Group (ITLG) to meet venture capitalists and leading technology companies. This is a unique opportunity for both academic staff to promote commercialization of their research. ITLG, was established in October 2007 and is headquartered in Silicon Valley. ITLG is a non-profit organization comprised of high-level global technology leaders who are Irish or Irish-American. The Group includes senior executives from some of the world’s leading corporations, each of whom are committed to promoting the technology connection between Ireland and Silicon Valley, and helping Ireland address the challenges of embracing new technology opportunities.
Both Professor O’Driscoll and Dr Moore are very grateful to Science Foundation Ireland for the generous sponsorship of this visit to Silicon Valley.
Picture 1 (left to right) Dr Roisin Cheshire, Scientific Programme Manager, SFI; Professor Caitriona O’Driscoll, UCC; Cian Hughes, Director of Operations, ITLG; Ann Horan, CEO, Ryan Academy
Picture 2 (left to right) Dr Roisin Cheshire, Scientific Programme Manager, SFI; Dr Anne Moore, UCC; Cian Hughes, Director of Operations, ITLG