The RDC's Winter 2011 edition of the Link Magazine

1. Regional Development Centre & Research Office
the link
Ionad Forbartha Réigiúnach & Oifig Taighde
Issue Nine winter 2011
Newgrange:
What lies beneath
Exit Strategy:
Success Through Succession
Renewable Energy:
The future begins now
Where Research & Innovation Meets Enterprise

2. Réamhrá / Foreword
Ag druidim dúinn ar dheireadh na bliana agus sinn ag tnúth leis As we approach the end of one year and look forward to the
an mbliain seo chugainn, tá mothú cinnte dóchais i DkIT. Ní raibh next, there is a definite sense of optimism at DkIT. Enterprise
forbairt fiontair, agus freisin naisc níos dlúithe a chruthú idir lucht development and forging closer links between academia and
acadúil agus lucht gnó, riamh chomh tábhachtach don tír. Leis an business has never been more important for the country. With
Institiúid suite i ngach ceann de na réimsí sin, tá 2012 geallta a the Institute embedded in all of these areas, 2012 promises to be
bheith spreagúil agus torthúil. exciting and fruitful.
Is é ár bhfócas san dá mhí déag romhainn ná forbairt fiontair, Our focus over the next twelve months is enterprise development,
nuálaíocht, T&F agus tráchtálú taighde, mar iarracht ar an réigiún a innovation, R&D and the commercialisation of research in our effort
dhéanamh iomaíoch agus láidir. to make the region competitive and strong.
Tá an sórt sin oibre T&F á dhéanamh ag Ionad um Fhuinneamh The Centre for Renewable Energy at DkIT (CREDIT) is doing such
In-athnuaite i DkIT (CREDIT). De réir mar a thránn ár n-acmhainní R&D work. As our natural resources begin to ebb the only logical
nádúrtha, is é an t-aon chéim loighciúil ná gach iarracht a step is to put our efforts into developing renewable and sustainable
dhéanamh ar mhodhanna ghinúint fuinnimh a fhorbairt atá in- methods of generating energy. Ireland can be a major world player
athnuaite agus inbhuanaithe. Is féidir le hÉirinn bheith ina imreoir in this field and CREDIT is certainly playing its part in pushing this
domhanda sa réimse seo agus tá CREDIT go cinnte ag déanamh a country’s profile upwards as it plays a key role in Ireland’s transition
chuid chun próifíl na tíre a bhrú in airde agus ról lárnach á imirt le to renewable energy.
linn trasdul na hÉireann i dtreo fuinnimh in-athnuaite.
The Success Through Succession (STS) programme is another
Is tionscnamh eile é clár Rath Trí Chomharbas (STS), dírithe ar initiative aimed at assisting and coaching businesses, all family-
chabhrú le gnólachtaí, atá uile faoi úinéaracht clainne, leanúint ag owned, to keep on operating successfully as the reins are passed
feidhmiú go rathúil le linn stiúir ag dul ó ghlúin go chéile. Le mórán from one generation to another. With many family businesses
gnólachtaí clainne ag dul faoi i láthair na huaire, is féidir leis an going under at the moment, the STS programme can guide
gclár STS cuideachtaí a threorú thar fhadhbanna comharbais agus companies through the pitfalls of succession and help to keep the
cuidiú leo leis an ngnó a choimeád beo. business alive.
I measc na bpríomhtheachtaireachtaí i dtuarascálacha le déanaí, ar Entrepreneurship and its effect on the economy and the
nós Hunt agus an Geilleagar Cliste, bhí fiontraíocht agus a tionchar intertwining of academia and industry were key messages that
ar an ngeilleagar agus sníomh réimse acadúil le réimse gnó. Le 21 spun out of recent reports such as Hunt and the Smart Economy.
bliain anuas tá an tIonad Forbartha Réigiúnach (RDC) ag tacú le For 21 years the Regional Development Centre (RDC) has been
fiontraithe, trí mheán a chlár cothaithe agus trí cabhrú leo teacht ar supporting entrepreneurs, through its incubation programme and
shaineolas T&F ar an gcampas. Tá mórán cúiseanna le go dtagann helping them to access R&D expertise on campus. Entrepreneurs
fiontraithe chuig an RDC agus in eagrán seo The Link buailimid le turn to the RDC for many reasons and in this edition of The Link we
roinnt de na fiontraithe agus cuirimid aithne ar a gcúiseanna. meet some of those entrepreneurs and discover their reasons.
Is léir go bhfuil éifeachtaí dearfacha tráchtála ag iarrachtaí DkIT, Clearly, DkIT’s efforts with research and enterprise is having positive
i dtaca le taighde agus fiontair, ar na cuideachtaí lena oibríonn commercial effects on the companies it works with, which in turn
sí, rud a chuireann go mór le toradh eacnamaíochta. Agus ag boosts economic return. With that in mind, 2012 promises to be
meabhrú ar an méid sin, tá 2012 geallta a bheith ina bhliain an- a very good year for the RDC at DkIT and The Link will keep you
mhaith ag an RDC i DkIT agus beidh The Link ag coimeád ar an informed each step of the way.
eolas tú gach céim den bhealach.
Finally, we’d like to wish our readers a very merry, peaceful
Mar fhocal scoir, ba mhaith linn Nollaig shona, shíochánta agus Christmas and a happy, prosperous New Year.
Ath-Bhliain faoi shéan agus faoi mhaise a ghuí ar ár léitheoirí.
We hope you enjoy this edition of The Link. If you have any
Tá súil again go mbaineann tú taitneamh as eagrán seo Link. Má comments or suggestions regarding content, or would like to be
tá tuairimí nó moltaí agat faoin ábhar, nó más mian leat bheith ar included on the mailing list, please email
liosta na seoltaí, cuir rphost led thoil chuig anne.tinnelly@dkit.ie.
anne.tinnelly@dkit.ie.
Irene McCausland, External Services Manager, RDC
Irene McCausland, Bainisteoir Seirbhísí Seachtracha,IFR Dr Tim McCormac, Head of Research, DkIT
Dr Tim McCormac, Ceannasaí Taighde, ITDD
 Cover Photo “New Dawn Rising” light enters the passage and chamber of Newgrange at dawn on the winter solstice. Photo by Newsfile.
The Regional Development Centre (RDC) is a centre to promote innovation, technology transfer and enterprise in the wider region and is based on the
DkIT Campus.
RESEARCH
Great care has been taken to ensure that this information is accurate, but the Regional Development Centre, including its subsidiaries does not accept
responsibility or liability for errors or information which is found to be misleading.
Regional Development Centre Dublin Road Dundalk Co Louth Written & edited by Eamon McGrane
T +353 42 9370400 F +353 42 9370499 T + 353 86 8343053
W www.rdc.ie E info@rdc.ie
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3. ENTERPRISE 3
LINK Issue 9
Get ready! Get support! Go!
It has been a busy few
months for participants on Student to Peter Carroll was a student in DkIT and
president of DkIT’s Surf Society when he
the Novation Enterprise Entrepreneur asked the question “Why is there no major
Irish surf brand serving cold water surfers?”
Platform Programme. His second question “How can I create one?”
led him to the RDC. With some funding from
It’s no exaggeration to say that
the Student Innovation Fund,
the past few months have been
provided to DkIT students by Dundalk
particularly busy on the Novation
Credit Union, he conducted a feasibility
programme. We’ve had product
study. The results were encouraging and with
and business launches, Seedcorn
a realisation that he had to work on
Competition finals to prepare for,
his business acumen he applied for the
TV programme schedules to adhere
NEPP programme. Just over 15 months
to along with other business issues
have passed and Carroll is now awaiting
to attend to such as suppliers to be
delivery of his first range of products
selected, clients to be supported and
designed for cold water surfers. With a
sales to be won. Yes, it has been busy!
comprehensive range of innovative products
in the pipeline, Mara Surf is well poised for
Since the last edition of The Link the  Mara Irish Surf
growth in home and international markets
collaboration between DkIT and DCU w www.marasurf.ie
over the coming years.
on the NEPP programme has grown
stronger with participants benefiting
from the wide range of supports on
offer from both campuses.
Serial When John Delany first approached the
This year has seen participants avail of RDC for support for his latest venture it
Enterprise Ireland supports at almost Entrepreneur was hard to refuse. Experienced he most
every level: Innovation Vouchers, certainly was but even experience needs
Feasibility Study Grants, CORD support to flourish. The NEPP programme
Grants and we expect at least one provided Delany with focus, access to
Innovation Partnership agreement expertise resident in DkIT’s research centres
to be signed in the coming months and a sounding board along each step of
as well as match funding under the the journey to producing an investor-ready
HPSU scheme. business plan.
We’ve also seen our first student A fruitful few months has seen the Oriel
entrepreneur (Peter Carroll–Mara Sea Salt company win the regional final of
Surf) take his idea from the napkin to InterTrade Ireland’s Seedcorn competition
the marketplace and he has recently in the Leinster Connaught Region with the
been approved for incubation in the  John Delany Founder Oriel Sea national finals taking place at the end of
Regional Development Centre (RDC). Salt Co. November.
The job of supporting entrepreneurs
from diverse backgrounds and a
range of sectors is a challenging one
and the programme has evolved to First Time Sarah Jane Lynch is currently on the 2011/12
provide a comprehensive suite of
supports to meet each individual’s
Entrepreneur NEPP. She joined with a product that was
well defined, specified and near to market.
needs as the following case studies Lynch had the business destination identified
illustrate. but needed the support and the plan to get
there.
For further information or to apply
for the Novation Enterprise Platform A very polished pitch has seen the Design
Programme and other Enterprise Basket receive CORD funding from
Support Programmes available from Enterprise Ireland and also an appearance
the RDC please email garrett.duffy@ on RTÉ’s “Local Heros-A Town Fights Back”
dkit.ie or call 042 9370400 programme where Lynch has benefited from
additional mentoring from Jerry Kennelly.
The Design Basket was launched in
November and over the coming months
 Sarah Jane Lynch The Design Basket Lynch aims to use the programme supports
w www.designbasket.com to secure round one investment.

4. international and local companies
in Northern Ireland to improve their
manufacturing processes and increase
their bottom line. He presented a case
study from Rapid Engineering Ltd one
of the companies he has worked with
recently.
Kieran Fegan ICE programme manager
commented, “It is important to put
processes in place to identify, capture
or generate and effectively assess ideas
so that those with potential can be
implemented effectively.”
ICE Group Innovation ICE has received approximately €2.49
million of support under the EU’s
INTERREG IVA programme, with
Workshop
assistance from Scottish Enterprise and
is spearheaded by Dundalk Institute
of Technology (DkIT). Representing a
truly collaborative approach, DkIT is
The Innovation for Competitive The workshop was practical and implementing the project alongside
Enterprises (ICE) programme has interactive and there was an the University of Ulster, the University
recruited its second cohort of 31 opportunity to put the theory into of Glasgow and Glasgow Caledonian,
companies and will be working with practice through a group exercise University.
these businesses to enhance their where some owner-managers
innovation capability through the presented their own real business ICE is designed to enhance the
intensive twelve month ‘learning by issues. Meanwhile, others carried on innovation capacity of local businesses
doing’ programme. brainstorming in addition to creating through an intensive twelve month
and evaluating ideas on the issues and ‘learning by doing’ programme. The
The companies were brought together offering potentials solutions. These three year project will enable 90
for a first Group Innovation Workshop solutions were also assessed through companies participating to develop new
which was held on 26 October 2011 an ideas assessment toolkit. business models, products and services.
in the Glenavon Hotel, Cookstown,
Northern Ireland. The theme of this The day closed with some real live For further information on ICE contact
first workshop was ‘Ideas in Business’ case studies presented by Professor the Regional Development Centre at
– this looked at how to introduce Dennis McKeag former Professor DkIT on t +353 42 9370425 or contact
creativity into a business, capturing of product development at the Kieran Fegan directly on +353 87
ideas from employees and customers University of Ulster. For over 20 years 4174681. The ICE website can be found
and assessing and evaluating new Professor McKeag has been helping at www.iceprogramme.com
ideas before preparing the roadmap.
Microtech grows its business thanks to ICE
Microtech Support is a professional IT Microtech Support can offer customised concepts and products that will be
support and maintenance company based support solutions for small and large eligible for support funding in the
in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, in the west of companies from installing applications, areas of innovation
Scotland. Founded in 1986 Microtech networking and security to total cover • The pursuit of Scottish enterprise
serves a wide range of clients in the private maintenance. investment to support the company’s
and public sectors. expansion activity
The Innovation for Competitive Enterprises • The technology transfer of an Irish
Microtech Support has experienced (ICE) programme has been supporting software product from Galway-based
significant growth in the last few years to Microtech over a 12-month period in company Retail Solutions to be used
become one of the largest companies in the area of innovation management. by Microtech as a foundation solution
its field. This process has led to a number of for the retail sector in Britain.
key changes and developments within • A legacy of knowledge and skills so
It is the sole Scottish distributor of the Microtech. that these innovation activities are
document management system DocMan. repeatable by the company
And it has now installed and currently These include:
supports this software in over 1,000 GP • The creation of a marketing function to The company now has a platform to
ENTERPRISE
practices. In addition to this Microtech also foster growth activities develop and market its own added value
provides IT support services to 10 of the • The gradual transition of Microtech software concepts and has positioned
15 health boards throughout Scotland. from being a software provider to itself so that it is now eligible for support
The company’s expansion has led to heavy becoming a software developer, which funding and investment. It has also seen
investment in support facilities and staff is adding and creating more value for the benefit of partnering with other
and they now have over 15 field engineers the company developers and technology providers to
who can attend sites throughout Scotland. • The development of emergent software meet its customer needs.
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5. ENTERPRISE 5
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Launch of ICE
overview of ICE and highlighted how it
is helping SMEs from across the region
become more innovative by developing new
and improved products, services, processes
benchmarking survey
and business models.
Michel Fitzpatrick, business development
manager of Newry based ICE participant
company FM Environmental Ltd said how
innovation and business partnering has
been instrumental in helping a 21st century
business succeed internationally. Michel also
talked about how his company is benefiting
from ICE support and how the programme
is helping the company become more
innovative.
Speaking at the launch Fegan stated “ICE
is designed to enhance the innovation
capacity of local SMEs through an intensive
practical twelve month ‘learning by doing’
programme. The three year project will
enable 90 SME company participants
to develop new and improved business
models, products and services. The ICE
Innovation Benchmarking Report validates
the need for the unique approach being
adopted by ICE which is currently helping
SMEs from across the regions become more
 (L-R) Tim Brundle, University of Ulster, Jonathan Bell Northern Ireland Junior Minister
OFMDFM, Report Author Professor Richard Harris University of Glasgow and Kieran Fegan innovative”
ICE Programme Manager Dundalk Institute of Technology.
ICE has received approximately €2.49
million of support under the INTERREG IVA
Jonathan Bell, Northern Ireland Junior shows that companies who innovate Programme, with assistance from Scottish
Minister at the Office of the First Minister are much more likely to have higher Enterprise; the partnership is spearheaded
and deputy First Minister, launched the ICE productivity, and that this leads to greater by Dundalk Institute of Technology.
(Innovation for Competitive Enterprises) prospects for long term growth and Representing a truly collaborative
project Innovation Benchmarking Survey survival”. approach, Dundalk Institute of Technology
Report recently at the University of Ulster’s is implementing the project alongside
Belfast campus. “This report provides further confirmation the University of Ulster, the University
that certain company-level characteristics of Glasgow and Glasgow Caledonian
ICE, a project funded by the European (such as size, selling to international University.
Union’s INTERREG IVA Programme, is markets, adopting a culture based on
designed to enhance the innovation ‘product design’, as the most important Welcoming the report, Howard Keery, a
capacity of local small to medium sized factors in determining competitiveness) are director of the Special EU Programmes
enterprises (SMEs) through an intensive clearly important in determining whether Body, said: “This EU funded report is
twelve month ‘learning by doing’ to invest in innovation-related activities.” a useful barometer in gaining a better
programme. The three-year project is The report’s findings are available to understanding of the value that our
enabling 90 SME company participants download at www.iceprogramme.com/ businesses place on innovation. It highlights
to develop new and improved business research-and-publications the pressing need for the private sector,
models, products and services. on a cross-border basis, to fully embrace
At the launch, Kieran Fegan (ICE innovative working practices and product
A core part of the programme for the programme manager) provided an development.”
partners, involved carrying out a survey of
a representative sample of 200 companies
from each of the INTERREG eligible regions
of Northern Ireland, the border region of
Ireland and western Scotland.
MacCausland External Services Manager, DkIT.
Six hundred and six companies were
surveyed. Professor Richard Harris of the
Mr John Simpson, Economist and Ms Irene
University of Glasgow compiled, analysed
and detailed the results in an extensive
report. This information has been endorsed
by European Commissioner for Research,
Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan-
Quinn.
Professor Harris gave an overview of the
report at the event and said, “Evidence
from academics and businesses alike clearly

6. Exit Strategy: ‘success through succession’
programme reaches a milestone
The ‘Success Through Succession’ (STS) and has concluded its first group of hosted a tri-regional meet and greet event
programme is a three-year course with companies while starting a second group for the participant companies at Stormont
total project funding of €1.74m and is a on the STS journey. To date ten companies Hotel Belfast during October 2011.
collaborative partnership between Dundalk across the six southern border counties This two-day event offered interactive
Institute of Technology (DkIT), Glasgow from sectors including engineering, workshop sessions, keynote speakers and
Caledonian University and led by the medical devices, construction, crafts, and networking opportunities for participating
University of Ulster. It aims to strategically transport have been successfully brought businesses throughout the three regions of
assist family-owned SMEs throughout through Cohort I of the STS programme. Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Northern Ireland, the six border counties
and the West of Scotland to manage the Throughout their journey each company Eleven companies from Ireland, eight from
challenges of succession using a series of has been supported in their succession Scotland and six from Northern Ireland
interventions. planning with intervention mechanisms attended the event with a total of 54
that have included one-to-one mentoring delegates and a generous mix of both
The findings of the STS programme concur and consultation and group activities, senior and younger generation from each
with the generally accepted notion that such as themed workshops and training of the companies. Commenting on the
poor attention is given to succession seminars. In conjunction with the STS significance of the STS programme Aidan
planning within the majority of family team each participant company of Cohort Browne, project manager for STS Ireland
business SMEs in Ireland. It also underpins I has developed and documented bespoke said, “The programme has a significant
the value of adopting a psychology-based succession plans that provide a framework consequence not just for family businesses
enterprise support and intervention and action plan to realise their family but for the economy as a whole.
approach in order to identify solutions and business succession goals.
options to the challenges faced by family “If we consider that family-owned
SMEs. businesses make up the majority
(estimated at over 65%) of the SME sector
The programme adopts an intervention
STS Cohort II in Ireland and yet statistics show that only
Following a robust recruitment drive
methodology that couples a psychological 30% make the transition to the second
twelve companies were accepted onto
approach with legal, financial, tax and generation successfully, while only 10%
the Cohort II of the STS programme. The
general business mentoring, advice and make it through to the third generation.’
sectors Cohort II companies are from
support; and does it in an integrated way.
range in diversity to include retail, textiles,
For further information see www.
Enterprise
arts and crafts, construction, light and
This approach emphasises the role of successthroughsuccession.com where
heavy engineering, memorials, ground
the founder, the perspectives of the next the STS Workbook and other pertinent
drilling, and hospitality.
generation and the remit of the family information can be accessed by both the
to realise their succession plan in an participant companies and other family
In conjunction with our project partners,
optimal manner and delves into a multi- owned businesses.
University of Ulster and Glasgow
level analysis of the business. The STS
Caledonian University, the STS programme
programme has now reached a milestone And/or contact Aidan Browne, STS Project
Manager for Ireland on +353 42 9327455
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7. ENTERPRISE 7
LINK Issue 9
Other comments
STS Programme Testimonial from STS
“
mentoring and coaching we received
participants
“
We started our business in 1995 and from all aspects of our business was
grew it to a level where we set up second to none.
The STS programme opened
a high frequency commuter service
between Dundalk, Drogheda and
Dublin.“
Unfortunately the company structures
“Ok, we have a long way to go,
but at least now there are direction
indicators leading us in the right
direction and we have a plan. It takes
communication channels
for us. The workshops were
interesting and enjoyable with
the ones targeted at the younger
“
generation particularly helpful.
did not take off as quickly as the a lot of commitment and dedication
“
service, and for many years we have to follow through on the plan, but
been playing catch up. step by step we are getting there.
It was helpful from the point that
Day by day as I see the changes
the best expertise was available to
“I was interested in succession occurring, it makes me wonder
us at all times to guide us on all
planning and attended the STS launch what would be the result if I had
and had no idea what lay in store for
me. I had a nice business, profitable
and growing but no structure. It
never heard of STS. So as I watch the
structures being put in place and
the whole jig-saw coming together I
experience as we met people who
had gone through the succession
“
issues. It was also a very enjoyable
in a very smooth way, allowing us
would be a nightmare for anyone to
consider taking it over. I with my sons “
can relax in the knowledge that the
company my family and I created will
to realise the benefit of STS.
“
Noel and Paddy Jnr attended all the carry on into the future and continue
different sessions and found them all
very educational. Through dialogue
with the STS team, we identified
weaknesses in our organisation. It
to create secure employment for my
workers and their families, as I plan
my retirement.
“
I wouldn’t have known where
I was if it wasn’t for the
programme. . . it was a great help
was no problem finding the cracks,
to me.
“
“
Paddy Matthews Snr
but the key was the STS program
Matthews Coaches
had the tools to fix the cracks. The
I found it invaluable. . . our
company has changed as a result.
“
 Hopes and Concerns workshop for the Business Successors
. . . without the STS programme
we would have been lost and the
“
company would not have survived
into the future because the family,
the business, the staff and I were
not prepared for the succession
“
challenge.
“
. . . everything discussed was very
“
relevant and helpful.
“
. . . it was fantastic, I learned new
things.
“
“ It gave us great direction. . . we
weren’t sure how to go about
“
succession before STS.
“ Meeting people with similar hopes
and fears. . .
“
“
Meeting up with other families
and sharing views and experiences.
Being able to talk openly about
the challenges ahead.
“
“
. . . identification of common
issues during the breakout
discussions.

8. Incubation: A journey not a Diaceutics – The
latest business
destination to commence
The nature and scale of incubation has come a long
way since the RDC was first established in 1989. So
trading in
what are the trends, developments and the likely the RDC
future of this important campus-based activity? Diaceutics is a highly focused business
The main focus of the Regional Also required is an endless supply consulting and software application
Development Centre (RDC) since its of energy and determination, not firm specialising in personalised
establishment over 21 years ago has to mention resilience in the face of medicine for the world’s leading
been to enable technology entrepreneurs adversity. “I always have concerns when pharmaceutical companies.
to get up and running and in particular the promoter is attempting to develop
to support their early stage efforts to the perfect mouse trap and is reluctant to The company is led by Belfast-born
develop a viable product and secure show an early prototype to a prospective entrepreneur Peter Keeling who, after
that all-important first customer. The buyer – often out of a fear of rejection. 26 years in the pharmaceutical industry,
centre went through a major expansion If the need is for cats and not mouse has built and run companies in the US,
in 2005 and in the same year opened a traps it is better to know this as soon as Europe and Asia.
satellite incubation centre at Millmount, possible rather than when the ‘kitty’ (pun
Drogheda. Over the past 10 years intended) is almost empty,” said Mac Founded in 2005, Diaceutics’ mission
over 30 companies have successfully Entee. is to improve overall return on
graduated from both centres – having investment in personalised medicine by
completed a three year residency here. The RDC has had a notable track record, providing pharmaceutical development
During their time in incubation, most of especially over the past 10 years in teams the personalised medicine
them benefited from participation on the helping to establish many well-known specific knowledge, evidence, tools
Novation Enterprise Platform Programme and successful companies such as and operational structure to effectively
which to date has supported a total of Digiweb, Redmere Techologies, Brandt commercialise and successfully launch
110 entrepreneurs. Furthermore, many Technologies, Mobium, Barracuda Fx, targeted therapies. It currently employs
have benefited from links to DkIT’s BlueAcre Technology, Armac Systems , around 20 leading experts in various
diverse research and development Movidius, Oriel Windfarm, Vennetics, locations across the globe.
capability through innovation vouchers, Mcor Technology etc. Indeed the RDC
innovation partnerships and other has also had a strong involvement with Speaking about the establishment of
collaborative arrangements. InterTradeIreland’s Seedcorn Competition its new software development centre
boasting regional winners in seven of in the RDC, Peter Keeling said: “To
The concept of incubation is often each of the last eight years; with four integrate and accelerate personalised
misunderstood. Many people mistakenly of these regional winners going on medicine planning within our pharma
see it as a place (incubator) when in fact to land the overall prize of €100,000. clients we have developed and recently
it is a process (incubation). The key to Total winnings to date are estimated at launched an expert, content based, IT
effective incubation lies in the provision €500,000. platform called Diaceutics Fusion.
of soft supports to entrepreneurs and
embryonic ventures. These supports can Finally, there is evidence to suggest “This is already being installed with
be mentoring, networking, technical that research centres such as Casala two leading pharma companies. To
advice, sign-posting, validation or a (Independent Living) are beginning to continue to evolve the IT platform
combination of several of these. act as a magnet for would-be enterprises and expert content we are delighted
Experience has shown that the most and commercial activity related to Ageing to open an office within the Regional
successful incubated companies see in Place as well as Seniors Technology. It Development Centre. This will be the
themselves as continuous learners, always is expected that as entrepreneurs begin new base of an IT and innovation team,
looking for information which will lead to realise the scale and potential of this with plans to grow the team from
to greater insights and better solutions emerging market. New ventures will three to 20 people over the next few
to customer challenges. Sean Mac Entee, be established and several of these will years.
ENTERPRISE
Incubation Centre manager since 2004 want to locate as close as possible to the
says, “The one personal trait that sets the facilities and research capabilities offered “We hope to use our base in Dundalk
really successful entrepreneurs apart from by Casala –and similar ‘close to market ‘ to link with academic and commercial
the mainstream is a sense of curiosity research centres at DkIT. enterprises across the island to more
along with an innate ability to identify a actively develop the expert content for
customer need.” Diaceutics Fusion.”
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9. ENTERPRISE 9
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Hanley Energy celebrates one year in business
Established by Clive Gilmore and Denis Nordon in 2010, Millmount-based Hanley Energy has made major strides in its first year in
business. With the aim of assisting companies to become more energy aware and efficient, the company’s customer list is indeed
impressive. Names such as Baxter Healthcare, Glanbia, Hollister, Largo Foods, CRH, Leo Pharma, and Alcan Packaging all suggested
that Hanley Energy has truly found its niche in what is often a crowded and confusing marketplace.
Denis Nordon said ‘We provide energy metrics and in some cases control of energy consumption through customised automation
and building energy management systems (BEMs). Our energy monitoring system now forms an integral part of a company’s
“
EN16001/ISO5000 energy management system.”
With sales turnover of almost €1million in year one, the company has very quickly
become an established player in the energy management sector. Clive Gilmore added
We hope to forge
“
closer links with DkIT
“We have recently started working in the UK providing intelligent monitoring and in the future.
control systems for social housing schemes. We have also been shortlisted for a major
Denis Nordon
project in the medical care sector and hope to start on this in January 2012.”
“Millmount has been good for us,” said Nordon. “We are surrounded by like-minded professionals. We have also benefited from the
advice given by the centre manager. We hope to forge closer links with DkIT in the future.”
Louet Woods has designs on innovative products
with an established route to market.
Large distributors such as Draper Tools,
Boots, Home Depot, QuinnCo and so
on are always seeking innovative and
exclusive products to add to their product
range but do not have the design or
engineering capabilities to do this.
LWP provides these new products from
concept to production.
Examples of new products they are
currently introducing to distributors are
golf training aids, digital touch screen
hand sanitisers, holographic point of
sale displays for the beverage market,
digital medical vaporisers, dog grooming
 Darren Louet Louet Woods Products
products and numerous DIY products.
It takes years to get a product from
concept to market and only five per
The story of Louet Woods Products in the market for bringing products cent will make it, but if however you
began ten years ago; Ronan Woods from design through production and to have a good team to focus on R&D and
started work in China for RT Sourcing. market. LWP started designing battery marketing then this percentage will
There he gained valuable engineering powered soldering irons and their gas improve significantly.
and manufacturing experience, as well powered vaporisers in 2007. The unique
as building relationships with many design of the soldering iron interested LWP has two design and engineering
suppliers. Draper Tools (A key tool distributor in staff in Ireland, one sales and logistics
Britain and Europe) and they invited LWP staff in the USA and four engineering
Darren Louet graduated from NCAD in to supply them and to expand the battery and merchandising staff in China. See
product design in 1999, and worked as a powered soldering iron into a range to be www.sourcingproductdesign.com/
product designer in the UK and Australia distributed under the Draper Brand in the
on major brands such as P&G. Louet UK and Ireland. Draper Tools also opened Finally LWP has a new dog grooming
returned to Ireland in 2006 and started the doors to other distributors in Asian product finishing its first 1,00 unit
working as a freelance product designer. and US markets for LWP products. production run mid November 2011.
This product will hit the US, UK and
In 2007 they formed Louet Woods LWP’s ambition is to develop and Irish markets early 2012. http://
Products Limited. They identified a gap supply its own products to distributors thegroomingkennel.com/

10. Renewable energy – the future begins now
As our planet begins to run out often located in difficult to access places deployment of technologies which can
of its natural resources, Dr Niall and they usually belong to somebody access fragmented gas supplies remain
else. This is what people mean when they poorly understood.
McMahon, director of the Centre
talk about security of supply: we don’t
for Renewable Energy at DkIT, own it and it’s hard to get. These are the main difficulties facing
asks what now? And where does energy planners: finite resources,
Ireland fit in? Another, most serious, difficulty is security of supply, climate change and
carbon dioxide. Burning fuel releases environmental damage. The underlying
On earth we have a limited supply of it; fossil fuels are essentially stores of need is to do better, to make the world
fossil fuels. These fuels have been formed carbon dioxide, among other things. a better place. One solution, which we
over tens of millions of years from dead It’s been shown to be true that world believe to be the answer, is to power the
organisms. It’s not hard to imagine that temperatures increase with carbon world using only renewable energy.
such fuels can’t last forever. At the same dioxide concentration and, also,
time, much of the world’s electricity and that carbon dioxide concentration is Renewable energy sources are indefinitely
heat is obtained from burning coal, oil increasing as a result of human industrial renewable, for all practical purposes.
and gas. Nuclear energy sources are finite activity. While actually finite, the sun’s energy is,
as well. Clearly, we have a problem. practically, infinite from a contemporary
What exactly increasing carbon dioxide human perspective.
As Lawrence Staudt, the founding and global temperatures mean for the
director of CREDIT (Centre for Renewable future is unknown. Yet, at the very least, At time of writing, it is possible to say
Energy at Dundalk IT) put it, “We live this uncertainty about the future effects that a transition to renewable energy
in a time that is unique in many ways. of this global warming forces us to think will almost certainly happen; there are
One thing our distant descendants will carefully about what we’re doing. As a no sensible alternatives. When exactly, is
wonder about is what it was like to live first step, we must stop releasing stored another matter.
RESEARCH
during that brief period of human history carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
when fossil fuels were available.” Finally, our environment suffers, often, Ireland has abundant renewable energy
as a result of accessing the Earth’s fossil sources: primarily from wind, biomass,
To compound the difficulty, fuels. Currently in the news, the effects water and the sun. Yet Ireland needs
contemporary fossil-fuel supplies are of the relatively recent, and rapid, energy research and teaching, now
10 LINK Issue 9

11. RESEARCH 11
LINK Issue 9
in savings. The turbine has become a until appointment as project manager
symbol of modern Dundalk. It is the first to CREDIT in 2006. He holds a Ph.D.
urban turbine in Ireland and we hope in physical chemistry from UCD. His
that many Irish towns will follow this research interests include energy
example, sourcing energy locally. extraction from marine algae and he
leads our component of the BioMara
Since 2009, the centre has operated the project.
world’s first electricity storage system of
its kind coupled to a large, stand-alone, Raymond Byrne joined the Centre in
wind turbine. Funded by Enterprise 2005. After working in industry in
Ireland, the system’s core is a flow battery Ireland and overseas, he completed a
rated at 125kW and 500kWh. It was M.Sc. in renewable energy systems from
installed primarily as a research platform. Loughborough University in England. He
 Dr Paul MacArtain, Dr Niall McMahon
and Mr Ray Byrne of CREDIT This year, CREDIT, together with IWEA, holds a degree in applied physics and
Wind Skillnet and corporate sponsors, electronics from NUIG.
delivered Europe’s first KidWind teacher-
more than ever. Academic research is training course. The American KidWind Byrne is interested in electricity storage
bound up with teaching and with future programme trains teachers to teach their for large, stand-alone, wind turbines
technological capability. Good researchers own students about wind energy and to and is responsible for the flow battery
will often be good teachers. And good understand wind development. and managed its installation. He’s also in
teachers are required to train good In addition to wind energy and electricity charge of the operation of the large wind
engineers and other employees. With storage, the centre’s research interests turbine.
well-educated workers and an excellent also include biomass energy and ocean
renewable resource, Ireland can capitalise energy. Byrne represents Ireland to the
more than superficially from its natural International Energy Agency’s small wind
resources. CREDIT, was established to As an example, CREDIT is one of six turbine standards task group as well
assist Ireland’s coming transition to this partners that make up the BioMara as to the International Electrotechnical
renewable energy-based future. project, a European-funded collaboration Commission’s small wind standards
investigating the development of development committee. This work is
There’s an often discussed gap between sustainable fuels from marine biomass critical for the small wind industry in
the work of academia and industry ‑ (such as algae). We have four staff Ireland and abroad.
work that’s too applied for academics members dedicated to researching routes
but too academic for many companies to biogas and bio ethanol from these Our people are everything. We are
to undertake profitably. Applied research organisms. This work involves mapping actively encouraging enthusiastic
is a broad term that can be used to the marine biomass available around academics throughout the institute to
describe this missing work. Irish, Northern Irish and Scottish coasts; take part and work with us.
the Scottish Association for Marine
In the United States and elsewhere, Science in Scotland coordinates the Ireland requires high quality renewable
various organisations fill the gap ‑ the overall project. energy research. Apart from the intrinsic
national laboratories, start-up companies value of research to a society, this is
and autonomous industrial research and Earlier this year, I was appointed to clearly important at both national
development teams are all on a spectrum take over as director of the centre. One and international scales. Research
bridging academia and industry. of my first decisions was to formally supports the teaching of new engineers
create a joint management team with and scientists, it underpin future
At the academic end of this gap is Paul MacArtain and Raymond Byrne. technological development and enables
where CREDIT works in Ireland. CREDIT Practically, this means that the three of us effective representation on international
is an applied research centre but with manage CREDIT on a day-to-day basis. committees. In the end, the effects of
a significant teaching and training In the recent past, I’ve worked as the good research work and teaching will
component. senior mechanical engineer with Ampair, endure.
England’s oldest surviving wind turbine
Since the centre was established in 2002 manufacturer, as well as Dublin City CREDIT’s mission is to help with Ireland’s
it has achieved a string of innovative University. transition to renewable energy: to create
firsts. ideas and to teach people. There’s a lot
My current technical interest is building to be done.
In 2005, the centre led the installation modular computer models of small and
of the world’s first large commercial medium-sized wind turbines. These We’re looking forward to the adventure.
wind turbine on a college campus, a tools can be used to better understand You can find out more about our centre
Vestas V52 850kW machine. The turbine important aspects of turbine system at www.credit.ie/ or e-mail niall.
provides half of the electricity used on- design, especially over-speed control. mcmahon@dkit.ie.
campus and has already paid for itself Paul MacArtain worked in industry

12. DkIT at GLEON 13
by the Marine Institute’s Burrishoole a well established environmental
research facility under the leadership programme with platforms in place
of Dr Russell Poole. to continuously monitor essential
Eleanor Jennings has been climate and aquatic variables in lakes,
collaborating with the Marine rivers and streams. Vicky Veerkamp,
Institute since the late 1990s on a who is co-supervised by Suzanne
series of EU and nationally funded Linnane and whose work is funded
projects which have used the data through a DkIT internal masters
from the Lough Feeagh platform scholarship, is investigating options
to assess historical changes in for controlling phosphorus loads to
the catchment and to model the Milltown Lake, Co Monaghan, using
possible effects for future climate a combination of field work and
change. The involvement in GLEON computer modelling. Milltown Lake
is a continuation of this relationship has been the site of the Irish National
and is leading to new and fruitful Source Protection Pilot Project since
collaborations. 2005.
 Liz Ryder, DkIT and Marine
Institute (front 2nd from left) and Both DkIT students presented A major theme of the Sunapee
Eleanor Jennings (front 2nd from posters on their own research work meeting was the effective
right) GLEON delegates at the at the meeting. Liz Ryder, who is communication of science to the
US National Science Foundation, co-supervised by Dr Elvira de Eyto general public. Liz Ryder is the
Washington (Marine Institute) and Dr Suzanne current chairperson of the GLEON
Linnane (CFS, DkIT), are investigating Graduate Student Association and
Dundalk Institute of Technology how changes in the quality and was responsible for organising a
(DkIT) was well represented at the quantity of the carbon which is postgraduate and postdoctoral
recent thirteenth international exported from peat soils in the student workshop which was held
Global Lake Ecological Observatory catchment are affecting the food web concurrently with the main GLEON
Network meeting (GLEON 13) in in Lough Feeagh. The study will also meeting. The title of the workshop
Sunapee, New Hampshire, USA, use computer models to assess the was ’Communicating Science’, and
by Dr Eleanor Jennings, from the potential impact of climate change it highlighted the importance of
Centre for Freshwater Studies (CFS), on these processes. effective communication of science
along with two of her postgraduate both across disciplines and to
research students, Liz Ryder and Vicky The Burrishoole Research facility stakeholders and the general public.
Veerkamp. has been a sentinel site for
fisheries research in Ireland since Communicating research is an
GLEON is an international grassroots the mid 1950s. Today, the site has integral part of every student’s work
network of lake scientists,
information technology experts,
and engineers, who have a common  Eleanor Jennings, Liz Ryder and Vick Veerkamp from DkIT at the GLEON
goal of building a network of 13 meeting in Sunapee, New Hampshire, USA
instrumented lake platforms across
the globe.
The 300 members of the network
use high resolution data from the
instruments mounted on these
platforms to continuously study more
than 60 lakes across six continents
and 34 countries. Data from these
global observatories are being used
to obtain a better understanding of
RESEARCH
key processes in lakes, such as the
effects of changes in climate and
land use. GLEON sites include Lough
Feeagh in Co Mayo, and its sister lake
Lough Furnace, which is managed
12 LINK Issue 9

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that will be used to distil laboratory organisation to date and, together
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• Danny O Savur Food
officers at the US National Science
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the Marine Institute in Co. Mayo in registration at
er,
the Friday following the GLEON 13
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a wonderful opportunity for both
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