research and Innovation | FEATURE
HOw ALuMnI
2009
Spin Out companies
Solvotrin therapeutics Ltd. ›› Many of the world’s most effective and widely-used medicines are acidic and, when taken as tablets, cause damage to the lining of the stomach. Solvotrin has invented a number of technologies which solve this problem. Academic promoter: Dr John Gilmer, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science, TCD.
BioCroi Ltd. ›› The drug discovery market is driven by innovation in new therapies. BioCroi offers solutions to advance current high-content screening of drug candidates in the drug development laboratory. Academic promoter: Dr Tony Davies, School of Medicine, TCD.
Miravex Ltd. ›› Produces a hand-held imaging device which can be used in cosmetic medicine providing 3D computer-generated images of a patients’ skin with accompanying data analysis, including pigmentation and colour analysis. Academic Promoters: Professor Igor Shvets, Dr Guido Mariotto and Dr Roman Kantor, School of Physics. See Case Study on page 30.
Kinometrics’ ›› Technology product, SureWash, has been designed to improve the quality of hand hygiene among healthcare workers. SureWash is an interactive camera-system that monitors how well healthcare workers wash their hands. Academic Promoter: Dr Gerard Lacey, School of Computer Science and Statistics.
treocht Ltd. ›› Treocht is developing a webbased system to monitor global events, using print, video and audio sources, and then applying sentiment analysis to Web 2.0 and self-learning systems to deliver a rapid decision support system for financial market predictions. Academic Promoters: Professor Khurshid Ahmad, School of Computer Science and Statistics and Professor Colm Kearney, School of Business.
empowertheuser ›› (ETU) EmpowerTheUser specialises in technologies for immersive learning and developmental skills, enabling training providers to build and deliver high impact online learning for a fraction of traditional costs. Academic Promoters: Professor Vincent Wade and Dr Declan Dagger, School of Computer Science and Statistics, Professor Michael Gill and Professor Brian Fitzmaurice, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine.
recitell Ltd. ›› Provides advanced e-learning solutions for both the classroom and individual use. Its first product offerings support the teaching and assessment of reading skills using an approach that evokes traditional methods within an advanced technological environment. Academic Promoters: Professor Frank Boland and Darren Kavanagh, School of Engineering.
Share navigator Ltd. ›› Provides professional stock market software, education and support for self directed investors. Academic Promoters: Aidan Bodkin, TCD MBA graduate and Stephen Cox, UCD MBA graduate.
Anamates (jointly with UCC) ANAMATES.com provides a simple-to-use, but very powerful web-based, tool which empowers ordinary computer users to create visual animations without having to master high end professional tools, such as Flash. Academic Promoters: Brendan Tangney, School of Computer Science and Statistics, TCD, Dr Mark Tangney (UCC), James Bligh (NDRC), Dr Chris Collins (St Thomas’ Hospital, London).
Gofer ICt ›› Gofer is a mathematics educational software start-up which is developing a new approach to mathematics learning for Irish Leaving Certificate students. Academic Promoters: Elisabeth Oldham, School of Education, Dr Samik Sen and Professor Siddartha Sen, Fellow Emeritus and former TCD lecturer in mathematics.
CAn Get InVOLVed Trinity wishes to engage with experienced business people from our alumni network to work alongside our researchers and students to assist with and potentially drive the formation of new companies. There is a spectrum of potential involvement, including: • Acting as mentors for students and/or researchers interested in exploring the commercial possibilities of their work; • Helping to crystallise potential commercial opportunities; • Advising the TR&I Technology Transfer Case Managers and researchers at Trinity College on the identification and assessment of commercialisation opportunities that could lead to the formation of new companies; • Helping to assess business plans of potential campus companies; • Having identified a suitable opportunity, preparing a business plan in conjunction with the Technology Transfer Case Managers and advisors from Enterprise Ireland where appropriate. This business plan to lay out channels to market, plus detailed roll out plan, costs of plan, funding options and organisation structure to manage the rollout; • Acting as interim CEO initially, to drive the creation of the business, the initial management team and identify appropriate sources of funding; • Develop strategic growth plans to place the company on a sustainable trajectory; • Potential to be an angel funder in campus companies; • Advising the College on its broad strategy in this area; • Supporting academics and schools with whom they have built a relationship. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact:
James Callaghan Trinity Research & Innovation, e. james.callaghan@tcd.ie | t. +353 1 896 1427
nick Sparrow Trinity Foundation, e. nsparrow@tcd.ie | t. +353 1 896 1031 Trinity Today | 29
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