Partner Search - Trinity College Dublin

Trinity is recognised as one of the world’s leading research-intensive universities and its research continues to address issues of global societal and economic importance. The University’s research strategy is based on developing multidisciplinary areas in which the College has the critical mass of world-class researchers needed to deliver research of global consequence. Among the priority research themes being addressed by Trinity researchers are ageing, nanoscience and materials, telecommunications, neuroscience, human identity, cancer, international integration, arts practice, and the inclusive society. These are topics that not only address issues of immediate and long-term concern to society but offer opportunities for future economic development.

Trinity has always valued innovation and entrepreneurship and has been a national pioneer in the area of knowledge transfer. It was the first Irish university to have a technology transfer office. It produces more spin-outs than any other Irish university – many of which have grown to be leading companies e.g. Opsona, Havok, IdentiGEN, Iona Technologies. It supports collaborative research programmes with hundreds of Irish and international companies. Trinity recognises that we live in a world undergoing rapid economic transformation. The major driver of this transformation is competition between regions and cities. Universities play a pivotal role in winning this competition because they can be catalysts for innovation and value creation. Trinity is at the heart of the national push to attract talent to Ireland, nurture existing talent, and turn good ideas into sustainable jobs. Trinity collaborates with eight of the top 10 ICT exporters in Ireland, and partner with eight of the top 10 medical device companies. Last year, Trinity entered into 100 research agreements with industry. Trinity now accounts for one-fifth of all spin-out companies from Irish higher education institutions.

 

Trinity recently established a new Office of Corporate Partnership and Knowledge Transfer. It brings under one roof all of the functions necessary to support research collaboration and commercialisation for both internal and external parties. For industry it provides a single interface, which will reduce any barriers for companies to interact with Trinity researchers and infrastructure. It is a customer focused office that incorporates Trinity’s industry liaison, knowledge transfer, contracts and entrepreneurship activities and fosters an internationally positive environment for industry-academic engagement and drives to make Trinity the partner of choice for collaborative research and open innovation. 

Dublin boasts a thriving innovation ecosystem and has seen the emergence of a dynamic entrepreneurial culture in the past two decades. Universities are recognised as being one of the driving forces behind the creation of innovation clusters leading to economic growth and job creation. Trinity is currently at the forefront of this activity in the capital city. Building on that foundation there is potential to substantially grow the city’s innovation ecosystem and position it as a leading global innovation and start-up centre. Trinity, as an integral part of the city’s ecosystem, has a central role to play in that process. Its new strategy for Innovation and Entrepreneurship aims to further drive the development of Dublin as an innovation cluster.

 

Complementing the activities of Trinity’s Office for Corporate Partnership and Knowledge Exchange, Trinity runs the existing innovation and entrepreneurship programmes.

 

• Create a co-working space in Trinity that is available to partners and visitors to use on a planned and adhoc basis to facilitate ease of operation for entrepreneurs or partners visiting Dublin that are working to realise social or economic impact from research.
• Create or join a network of co-working spaces that facilitate entrepreneurial or innovative activities that enable social or economic impact from research. Eg. Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR), Executive in Residence (XIR), consulting, intern, and graduate placement programmes for new enterprises across the network.
• Develop a community that run a programme of events that support entrepreneurial and industry engagement activities. Examples include hackatons, innovation challenges, bootcamps, executive innovation, design thinking courses, and accelerator programmes. Trinity is currently working on several programmes for 2016 with industry partners to create impact through newly formed startups and spinouts, licence deals, industry innovation, and research partnerships, including: 

1. Working with Deloitte and Bank of Ireland to run an innovation challenge matching research carried out in Trinity with industry challenges in financial services, with a view to running a pan-European innovation challenge annually.
2. An innovation challenge in conjunction with the HSE (Health Service Executive), clinicians, neuroscientists, patient advocacy groups, and pharmaceutical companies to identify opportunities to improve patient outcomes for BiPolar disorder patients.
3. Working with two Universities in Brazil to deliver our Innovation Academy programme.
4. Developing a best practise programme and support structure for new venture creation from research including ‘adopt a startup’, joint ventures with industry partners, and developing country contact and connector points to facilitate local connections and administrative navigation for partners.