This led Thomson Reuters to declare Ireland an
“outstanding” location for immunology research
and rank the country third in this field.
Strategic Research Clusters (SRCs) &
Centres for Science, Engineering &
Technology (CSETs)
The success of the SFI’s sister organisation, IDA
Ireland, in attracting successive waves of FDI and
focusing them into highly-dynamic and innovative
clusters, such as medical technologies, digital media
and games has been highly admired internationally.
Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) has also utilised
a similar model in the formation of their Strategic
Research Clusters (SRCs).
These SRCs are based in and around the nation’s
Higher Education Institutions, and are accompanied
by area-specific Centres for Science, Engineering &
Technology (CSETs).
Many of the CSET projects are part-funded by and
heavily involved with large multinational companies
that are seeking to commercialise aspects of the
research. For example, the IBM Smart Cities
programme is involved with the hi-tech CLARITY
CSET based in University College Dublin (UCD),
while both Intel and Hewlett-Packard are founding
participants in the nanotechnology-focused
CRANN CSET in Trinity College.
Other examples of industry-focused RD&I projects
that are funded by SFI include Intel’s involvement
with TRIL & the Tyndall Institute in UCC.
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Some particularly interesting projects originating
from SFI groups include:
Treemetrics, a Cork company, worked with the
Cork Constraint Computation Centre (4C),
University College Cork (UCC) – on a project that
utilises laser technology to scan trees in order to
determine optimal ways to harvest a forest to enable
less wastage, better distribution and better use of
timber resources. (Prof. Eugene C. Freuder)
The Neonatal Brain Research Group, UCC – a
project that has developed innovative tools to detect
seizures in newborn babies, enabling immediate
evaluation and treatment to prevent long term brain
injury. (Dr. Geraldine Boylan & Dr. Liam Marnane)
Equinome, UCD – a project that has identified the
“speed gene” in thoroughbred horses. This first
known characterisation of a gene contributing to a
specific athletic trait in thoroughbred horses has the
potential to transform the decision-making process
in the global bloodstock industry, capitalising on
Ireland’s international standing in the equestrian
industry. (Dr. Emmeline Hill)