The Success through Succession (STS) Programme aims to help border region family businesses address succession planning challenges. It will work with family members over 12 months to understand succession needs and impacts. The programme hopes to establish regional succession planning hubs, address skills deficits, increase knowledge transfer, and support governance structures during succession. It is oversubscribed and hopes to recruit two cohorts of companies in 2010-2011 with €1.74 million in EU INTERREG IVA funding.

1. Where research & InnovatIon Meets enterprIse
CASALA:
Regional Development CentRe & ReseaRCh offiCe
exploring
the link
the future of ageing
Statsports joins premier league
Boost for border business
Hattrick of options for student enterprise issue six summeR 2010

2. Contents Foreword
3
The importance of linking
Where research & InnovatIon Meets enterprIse
Student enterprise research and enterprise
boost cannot be overstated.
The Government’s latest
Innovation Taskforce report,
4 Game is on for
Statsports
published in March, places
a strong emphasis on
enterprises and entrepreneurs
and states firmly that State
5
support for research will be
Helping border contingent on there being
CASALA: exploring
Regional Development CentRe & ReseaRCh offiCe
business the future of ageing
the link
Statsports joins premier league
positive economic outcomes
for the country. In other
Boost for border business
Hattrick of options for student enterprise issue six summeR 2010
words, whatever supports the
6 Acclaim
for ACE
State gives to research will
eventually have to be repaid through exports, employment
and tax receipts generated by the businesses that have
stemmed from the supports.
7 CASALA
launch
As this issue of The Link shows, not only is the entrepreneurial
spirit alive and well at DkIT but many of the companies
based here are actively looking to boost the quality of their
offerings by tapping into relevant research. A good example
8
is Statsports, the sports performance measurement startup,
Innovation Vouchers:
which is hoping to create an alliance with two research units
40 not out
in order to further enhance the quality of its products (see
page 4).
9 Biochemist
makes mark
Recent months have also seen the establishment of a major
new applied research centre at DkIT whose objective, again,
is to bring a strong entrepreneurial input to research. This, of
course, is the Centre for Affective Solutions for Ambient Living
10
Researching Research (CASALA) and you can read more about it on page 7.
water
The strength of the RDC is that it brings together exciting
young enterprises with DkIT’s growing research base. It is a
11
place where creative entrepreneurs can tap into the technical
Netwell has knowledge of the various research programmes under
finger on pulse way here in order to create innovative new products and
services. Equally, it is a place where researchers who may lack
commercial experience can find a wealth of financial and non-
12 Extra funding for
electrochemists
financial supports to help them commercialise their ideas.
As we anticipate a well-earned break over the summer, we can
look back with satisfaction on the work that’s been done since
the beginning year while looking forward with enthusiasm to
The Regional Development Centre (RDC) is a centre to promote
innovation, technology transfer and enterprise in the wider region and is the remainder of the year and the great opportunities that
based on the DkIT Campus. will surely present themselves for innovation and enterprise.
We hope you enjoy this edition of The Link. If you have any
comments about the content, have suggestions for stories,
or would like to be put on the mailing list please email anne.
tinnelly@dkit.ie.
Irene McCausland, External Services Manager, RDC
Tim McCormac, Head of Research, DkIT
Issue 6
Regional Development Centre Dublin Road Dundalk Co Louth
T | +353 42 9331161 F | +353 42 9331163
W | www.rdc.ie E | info@rdc.ie Telephone numbers are changing
Our contact numbers at the RDC are changing as we move
LINK
Great care has been taken to ensure that this information is accurate, to a new telephony system.
but the Regional Development Centre, including its subsidiaries does not
accept responsibility or liability for errors or information which is found
Note that numbers from mid-July will be:
to be misleading. t 042 9370400 f 042 9370499
Written & edited by Brian Skelly, The Write Business, + 353 86 857-5829
2

3. Enterprise 3
LINK
Dundalk Credit Union scores
Issue 6
a hattrick for Student Enterprise
Strike two
Student interest in the fund is growing
rapidly and to consolidate this,
the Regional Development Centre
developed an enterprise development
programme specifically for students
to run over four weeks during the
holiday period. ‘Bright Ideas’, as the
programme is known, will focus on
determining commercial feasibility
for each of the student projects and
will cater for final-year students and
recent graduates who are interested
in setting up a new venture following
graduation. Demand for places on the
programme from students at earlier
stages of their courses has been high
and may necessitate running another
programme later in the year. The
programme is being fully funded by
Dundalk Credit Union.
Strike three
Dundalk Credit Union is also
sponsoring a co-working venue in the
RDC Incubation Centre, entitled the
“Ideas Lab”, to allow students grow
and develop their business together
and share each other’s experiences.
Asked why Dundalk Credit Union has
become so involved in the promotion
and support of enterprise to DkIT
students, Billy Doyle, General Manager,
responded, “Dundalk Credit Union
and DkIT are two of the great success
stories in Dundalk and share a
 DkIT Student Entrepreneurs with Billy Doyle, Tom Darcy and Pat Muckian, Dundalk common commitment to the
Credit Union, Cathal Kearney Head of School of Business Studies and Humanities, and strength of the self-help ethos in
Garrett Duffy, DkIT making a real difference to the people,
the community and the local economy
The promotion of an enterprise Strike one of Dundalk at this challenging time.
culture amongst DkIT students has The Board of Dundalk Credit Union
In 2009, Dundalk Credit Union
been at the forefront of DkIT policy is delighted to provide this enhanced
established a Student Innovation Fund
since 2007. Since then three Student level of financial support to the
of €15,000 for DkIT students which has
Enterprise Interns were recruited to student enterprise initiative
been used to provide seed capital to
promote enterprise to DkIT students at DkIT.”
real student-led enterprises. Amounts
using a peer-to-peer approach.
awarded have varied between €400
However, promotion and offering The invaluable support of Dundalk
and €1,000 and 12 projects have been
encouragement is one thing, providing Credit Union combined with the
supported so far. The fund has allowed
practical assistance in the form of ongoing enterprise development
students to determine technical
funding is quite another so, together efforts of the RDC team makes DkIT
or market feasibility and for some
with Dundalk Credit Union, DkIT has the campus of choice for students
students, who are already trading, to
devised a three-strike programme to wishing to get their first business up
assist with marketing costs.
get enterprise moving on campus! and running.

4. Enterprise
Big-name contract wins promote
Statsports to premier league
Like many successful businesses, RDC-based Statsports came into being
after a gap was spotted in the market for a new service.
“The initial concept was that we would GAA, that provided the first client
provide Irish teams and associations for Statsports. “Leinster Rugby was
with sports science back-up and wearing our system when they won
facilities that professional teams in the Heineken Cup last year and when
the UK would have. We saw a gap they won the Cup it boosted our
where people didn’t have the facilities profile as well. On the back of that, we
or equipment they would have in clinched a three-year deal with Irish
the UK,” says Sean O’Connor, who rugby. We’ve also signed a deal with
founded the company in mid-2009 the Rugby Football Union which means
with his business partner Alan Clarke. the English team is now using our
system as well,” says O’Connor.
Statsports' flagship product is a GPS
analysis system called SpiPro made The system has crossed over to
by leading Australian fitness product Premiership football as well, with
firm GP Sports. Statsports has exclusive both Arsenal and Manchester Utd  Sean O'Connor, Statsports, and Peter
Stringer, Munster and Ireland rugby
distribution rights for the product signing up recently to use the system.
professional
in the UK and Ireland. Worn on the O’Connor emphasises that it not just
player’s back via a discreet harness, the hardware that these teams are move from the RDC. “We have been
SpiPro is a mini-computer that logs a getting from Statsports but the full here since August last year. It’s been
player’s physical performance during management and analysis of data. great for us because it’s given us the
training. Every possible statistic is headquarters we need. It’s also enabled
logged and measured, from the “Manchester Utd bought some units us to network with people who are
amount of ground covered by the in the past but there was nobody in similar positions and may be facing
player to their speed or heart-rate. appointed to manage them – to get similar problems as a start-up company.”
The machine can also flag when a feedback and analyse the results,
player is getting tired (via the length whereas we make sure players wear Statsports is hoping to cement further
of his running stride) which is a key the device and analyse the data live as its ties with Dundalk IT by establishing a
metric given the fact that players are the session is happening. Then, once partnership with the Exercise Physiology
most likely to get injured when they it’s finished, we get the units back and lab within the Nursing building,
are fatigued. upload all the information onto the whereby Statsports will offer its services
computer to generate reports for the to athletes and teams.
After extensive trials last year with coaches,” says O’Connor. “What our
more than a dozen county teams, clients say is that the technology is It is also establishing a link with
Statsports has got the approval from great but what they really value is our Ronán McRuairí within the software
the GAA for players to wear the device reliable feedback and experience using engineering unit, with a view to
during competitive fixtures. So far, a the system.” having some purpose-designed
number of teams have agreed to wear software written for its performance
it including the Galway footballers and The company has had visits at the RDC measurement systems. This is to be
Tipperary hurlers. from both the Manchester United funded by an innovation voucher for
and Arsenal fitness and conditioning R&D which the company has received
The founders made it a priority to get coaches. Statsports will start providing from Enterprise Ireland.
some experienced sportspeople into the service when pre-season training
the company in the early stages in begins in early July. O’Connor puts Statsports' success
order that they could act as a sounding to date down to “hard work” and
board for new technologies and target The company is currently recruiting getting strong references from clients.
potential users. Joe Kernan, the former new staff to support the expansion of “Everyone at elite level in sport knows
Armagh GAA football boss and now business and hopes to have four new what’s going on in different sports
Issue 6
Galway supremo, was one of those interns in place by the end of June and if you have a good relationship
approached. Kernan liked what he saw – sports science graduates who are established with one team or sports
and he has since become an advocate looking for somewhere to deploy their association the word tends to
for the product and director of the knowledge and expertise. get around. We have established
company.
LINK
a relationship as a very reliable,
While the company may be expanding trustworthy and efficient company and
But it was the sport of rugby, not O’Connor says there are no plans to it’s gone from there.”
4

5. Enterprise 5
LINK
Helping border businesses
Issue 6
family businesses to work through entrepreneurial firms as an option
their own succession issues. The need for future ownership where
to engage in change, innovate and use family business owners have
creative input to develop management failed to identify a successor e.g.
practices can provide these businesses management buy outs, social
with the opportunity to enter a new enterprises or family business
growth phase. In most family owned investment groups;
SMEs, there are complexities in dealing
with emotional beliefs and value • Address skills deficits and provide
systems mixed with the challenges SME owner/managers and their
faced by SMEs. On top of all that, the teams with the knowledge
characteristics of the entrepreneur and skills to effectively address
will also be taken into account, for succession challenges;
example resistance to change. These
complexities lead to a potentially • Increase capacity to absorb external
volatile ‘cocktail’ that should be knowledge within participant
addressed because succession happens organisations;
whether one plans for it or not.
• Increase uptake in knowledge
This programme is therefore more transfer activities e.g. via research
than a management development centres and third level higher
 Programme Manager Dr Cecilia Hegarty programme. Throughout the duration education institutions.
of the 12-month programme, the
programme team will work with The STS programme was so popular
Whilst succession issues may not be at the various family members to work that it was doubly over-subscribed.
the forefront of daily operations in out their own individual needs and The programme was launched in
family businesses, it is thought it is the how this impacts upon the family Ireland at DkIT on 11 March 2010.
single biggest threat to sustainability business and the family unit in order The event gave attendees an
of family businesses in Ireland. to gain an understanding of the overview of the programme and
process of succession planning. The showcased an Irish family business
SMEs make-up approximately 94% of STS Programme is also fully supported that has successfully undertaken
all business. Within this, family owned by a dedicated team of experts, best succession planning – Sammy Leslie
firms account for a minimum of 69% practice visits, networking events and of Castle Leslie. Sammy Leslie gave a
of all SMEs, yet only 30% survive to an online toolkit which will be made humorous and honest account of how
the second generation and only 10% available to the companies selected the family home and heritage was
survive into the third generation. onto the programme. nearly lost on a few occasions due to
While families are traditionally highly the lack of succession planning.
effective at developing internationally It is anticipated the programme will
competitive businesses they tend to help: Two cohorts of companies will be
be less adept in knowledge capture recruited onto the STS programme
and transferring knowledge between • Establish regional succession in June 2010 and February 2011.
generations in order to pass the baton planning hubs providing cross The STS project is being developed
onto the next generation. The 'Success border expertise training and in- over a three-year period. The total
through Succession' (STS) Programme house mentoring to support newly project funding is €1.74m from the
is a unique programme offered to formed governance structures for European Union’s INTERREG IVA
family businesses in the border region the family and the business; Programme, managed by the Special
of Ireland. The project, part-funded by EU Programmes Body with matched
the European Union’s INTERREG IVA • Contribute to a dynamic economy funding contribution provided by the
Programme, will specifically focus on through the development of accountable departments in Northern
managing the challenges of innovative approaches to ownership/ Ireland and Ireland as well as Co-
succession therefore improving management in family owned SMEs; operative Development Scotland.
the growth, sustainability and
competitiveness of these SMEs using • Build capacity within the regional For further information please
a series of interventions. SME sector to increase, enhance contact Dr Cecilia Hegarty,
and sustain regional economic Programme Manager, at
Free to participating companies, the development; cecilia.hegarty@dkit.ie
programme adopts a unique business tel: +353 42 9331161.
psychology approach aimed at leading • Create a wide range of additional

6. Enterprise
ACE endorsement from HEA
that stimulating entrepreneurship
is essential to make third-level
education relevant to the needs of
today's graduates. The report can be
downloaded at: www.hea.ie. Share
your comments on the report by
emailing us at: ace@dkit.ie.
Roll-out of student
programmes
Two new student programmes
in entrepreneurship, developed
through ACE, are to be made
available to students in the
new academic year. These new
programmes offer science,
engineering and technology
graduates the opportunity to
develop entrepreneurial skills
required to either develop their own
business idea or to further benefit
’
their future employers.
 Academic Staff and Technology Transfer Officers prepare for the rollout of the new
ACE is an impressive
entrepreneurship programmes in DkIT.
project that appears
The ACE initiative recently received employment or benefit their to be well regarded in the
’
high acclaim from the Higher employers, be they multinational
private sector
Education Authority (HEA) in its mid- companies, small enterprise, public
term evaluation report of Strategic sector or voluntary organisations. MSc in Technology
Innovation Fund (SIF II) projects. The report noted that ACE was "an Entrepreneurship
Accelerating Campus Entrepreneurship impressive project that appears to be Through this unique master’s
(ACE) is a partnership between IT well regarded in the private sector" programme, the student will
Blanchardstown, Cork IT, IT Sligo, and "all of higher education should network with successful role-model
NUI Galway and Dundalk Institute be engaged in this work". The ACE entrepreneurs and enterprise
of Technology which is developing initiative was singled out as one of two development experts, develop an
a range of educational programmes projects of excellence. investor-ready business plan and also
to create entrepreneurial graduates obtain a post-graduate qualification
who can then create indigenous In the HEA report, it is recognised (PG Diploma or MSc) based on the
Business Idea?
Take the Plunge
The Novation Enterprise Platform Programme has been helping
technology start-ups for over 10 years with great results.
Offers • Comprehensive business training and advice To Apply Contact Garrett Duffy, Enterprise
• Business Coaching & Mentoring Development Manager
• Co-Working facilities e garrett.duffy@dkit.ie
• Access to investment funding t 042 9331161
Starting Autumn 2010

7. Research 7
LINK
Ageing population
experiential learning process of
commercialising their business idea.
Issue 6
BSc in Engineering
Entrepreneurship
The programme will be driven
by innovative pedagogy which
an opportunity for
the smart economy
will include individual and team-
based project-focused learning
opportunities for students at Level
8. The inter-disciplinary programme
will be delivered in collaboration
with staff from the Schools of
Engineering and Business and the
campus incubation centre.
Summer school
Six academic staff members from the
ACE partner institutions have been
accepted onto the 2010 Price-Babson
Symposium for Entrepreneurship
Educators. Through this summer
programme, the participants will
improve their understanding of
teaching entrepreneurship through
Babson College in the US, which
is a recognised world leader in
entrepreneurship education.
 Launch of CASALA in DkiT
A new centre at the Dundalk Institute of CASALA aims to work with industry in
Technology is helping to drive the creation helping to develop, trial and commercialise
of new and better products and services to new products and services to the benefit
help older people live independently longer. of the older people and the economic
development of Irish based industry.
The Centre for Affective Solutions for Ongoing developments are delivering key
Ambient Living Awareness (CASALA) is an frameworks and platforms, empowering
applied research centre based on campus, entrepreneurs, SMEs and multinationals to
established with seed funding of €1.8 bring new services and innovative products
million under Enterprise Ireland's Applied to the market.
Research Enhancement programme. A
team of researchers and experienced The research centre has been instrumental
entrepreneurs will work with industry in a new collaboration between a major
to achieve product innovation, business multinational (Bosch) and an Irish company
competitiveness, and market leadership (McElwaine Smart) that has seen the
in the emerging ambient assisted living introduction of a trial telehealth service
(AAL) sector. that has already had impact for older
people and created new jobs here in
Population ageing offers many Ireland (see story on page 11).
opportunities – by 2020, 25% of the EU's
population will be over 65, with spending CASALA also acts as the commercial
on pensions, health and long-term care arm of the Netwell Centre, which is also
expected to triple by 2050. Extending the based within DkIT. The Netwell Centre is
opportunity for older people to age in a developing new ideas that enhance the
place of their choosing is a major policy quality of life and well-being of older
alternative to long-term care. There is a people and those who care for them,
huge economic potential related to this the through more integrated community-
“Silver Market”. Older people are important oriented services, more sustainable home
consumers with a combined wealth in and neighbourhood design, and more
Europe alone of over €3,000 billion and age-friendly technologies.
the forthcoming generation of older
people will be increasing demands for For more information log on to
high quality services. www.casala.ie

8. Case Study
Fortieth EI Precise advice
Innovation for Bellugan
Voucher How one client used its innovation voucher
completed
The Regional Development Centre
recently completed its fortieth
Enterprise Ireland Innovation
Voucher with Louth based Bellurgan
Precision (see case study on
this page) The objective of the
Innovation Voucher initiative is to
build links between Ireland's public
knowledge providers and small
businesses and create a cultural shift
in the small business community's
approach to innovation.
 Production floor in Bellurgan Precision
Bellurgan Precision is an SME making Also, since multiple raw material stores
high precision parts for the aerospace had grown organically from the start,
and medical device sectors. The company the consolidation of these raw material
had a number of concerns in the area stores into one area was recommended.
 Sean MacEntee, Incubation Centre
of production control and inventory Bellurgan has already started to clear
Manager, RDC
management. An Enterprise Ireland the space necessary for this newly
Innovation Voucher was raised to provide consolidated raw-material store. Other
Over the past few years the voucher
consultancy from an academic member of advice was given based on world-class
scheme has become a popular
the DkIT staff. best practice including the adoption of
means of undertaking technical or
Single Minute Exchange of Dies (SMED).
market feasibility for new products
With 12 years’ industrial experience in the
or services. The initiative matches a
multinational sector, and having delivered Bellurgan has now completed the first
company’s innovation needs with a
six different modules in supply chain phase of the project and started to
third-level institute that can solve its
management, Tony Lennon was able to examine the suitability of the ERP options
‘knowledge question’.
bring impartial advice to Bellurgan and to that are available. It is expected that a
take a broad view of the situation. A gap follow-on voucher will be requested and
Voucher projects completed by
analysis was conducted through interviews that Bellurgan will seek Tony Lennon’s
DkIT Researchers have covered
with all the management team and many continued assistance and advice on this
multiple sectors including software
shop-floor personnel. This process has innovative project.
development, renewable energy,
built a consensus as to the problems faced
environmental, seniors technology
by Bellurgan and its possible solutions. Asked about the process Gabriel Murtagh,
and life sciences .
This consensus will be important when the Quality Manager, Bellurgan Precision
recommended changes are implemented. Ltd, said, "We see the Voucher/DKIT
Issue 6
Visit www.innovationvouchers.ie for
contribution to be a very worthwhile
full details of the standard scheme
The purchase of an enterprise resource project that has independently identified
valued at €5,000, or the recently
planning (ERP) system was recommended and endorsed the company's need for
launched matched voucher scheme.
and the necessity of the ERP system improvements in inventory and production
is now recognised by the company. A management to meet the challenges of
LINK
For further details contact: Sean
short-list of suppliers and the criteria that the growing aerospace and medical
MacEntee on 042 9331161 or email
the software must meet was agreed. device sectors."
sean.macentee@dkit.ie. www.rdc.ie
8

9. Research 9
LINK
Making ends meet at DkIT
Issue 6
If enthusiasm and passion are essential characteristics for a researcher, then Dr Ronan Bree
need never worry about having chosen the wrong career. Since the energetic, fast-talking NUI
Galway-educated biochemist joined DkIT last September, it’s been a case of so far, so fantastic.
As well as lecturing in Biochemistry,
Molecular Biology, Immunology,
Upstream Processing and
Biotherapeutics within the Department
of Applied Sciences, Ronan is
starting to ramp up his research
activities, which are centred on the
groundbreaking area of DNA damage
and repair.
“DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are
one of the most dangerous forms of
DNA damage that can occur within
a cell and their presence can lead to
genomic instability, cancer and even
cell death. When a DSB occurs to a
DNA strand in the cell, the primary
goal of the cell is to use repair
processes to bring the two ends back  Dr Ronan Bree: likes the “push towards research” at DkIT
together, ie, make the ends ‘meet’,
with as little disruption to the genetic which is ‘Ronan’ backwards. That Clinical Research in Sandyford. From
information as possible,” he explains. led to follow-on projects in the lab, this he gained a deeper understanding
which was great because they’re of the role of teamwork in
Ronan first got into the whole area of still working on Nanor to find out commercialising research ideas. He
DNA research at NUI Galway where, what it is responsible for and why it’s describes ICON as a “really great
after completing his biochemistry important in embryo development,” company” and one he wouldn’t have
degree in 1999, he stayed to complete he says. left were it not for the fact that the
his PhD. There, he was invited to join “perfect job” came up for him.
a developmental biology research lab As a postdoc, Ronan was planning
run by researchers Drs Lucy Byrnes to pursue further research in the “I think in Dundalk there’s a real push
and Maura Grealy, which focused zebrafish area but instead was drawn towards research; there’s big energy
on the genetics of zebrafish embryo towards joining a newly established and drive and I wanted to become part
development. As part of this, he was cancer research cluster at NUI Galway, of that club,” he says simply.
awarded a scholarship to travel to which had recently been set up by
San Francisco to pursue research in Professor Noel Lowndes. It was here Although Ronan comes across as
the area of gene expression during that Ronan began to investigate the fanatical about research, he also knows
embryo development at the lab of role of various proteins in the cell’s how to switch off. He used to play a lot
internationally renowned geneticist response to DNA damage. of soccer but a knee injury put paid to
Professor Didier Stainier at UCSF. that so he has switched his attention
Now, in his new position at DKIT, to photography – with considerable
“It was central to my PhD but it also he plans to maintain his links with success. He was recently awarded a
helped us to build links between Professor Lowndes by forging a cross- licentiateship – a sort of quality mark
labs internationally,” he recalls. “The institutional research alliance focusing – by the Irish Photographic Federation
whole idea of my project was to on how cells respond to DNA damage. and has already had one book of
identify novel genes involved in the landscape photography published and
development of zebrafish embryos, a What appeals to him about this area has another in the pipeline. As if that
black-and-white striped fish which is of research? “It has huge long-term wasn’t enough excitement for one
used as a model system,” he explains. potential for developing strategies or year, he is due to get married to his
targets for therapeutic approaches,” fiancée, Deirdre, this summer.
It was while doing this research he points out.
on zebrafish that Ronan made a So, never a dull moment then, but
breakthrough that most researchers As well as the third-level research that’s just the way this all-action
could only dream about: he found sector, Ronan has experience of scientist likes it, one imagines.
a brand new gene. And as the working in the biopharmaceutical
discoverer, he was given the honour industry. Between 2007 and 2009 he Check out Ronan’s photography at
of naming it. “I named it ‘Nanor’ worked in various roles with ICON www.ronanbree.com

10. Research
Bringing a fresh
perspective to water
There are not many jobs out there that allow you to look back in time and also forward into the future,
but Dr Eleanor Jennings can claim to have one of them. As lecturer in environmental biology (soil and
water management) in the Department of Applied Sciences much of her research explores what lakes
looked like in the past and how they might look in the future.
“We’ve looked back in time and we’re fish survival, and included modelling of from the surrounding peat land has on
looking forward in time as well – so it’s in-stream temperatures, dissolved oxygen the lake and drinking-water quality. She is
like being in a time machine,” says Dr and dissolved organic carbon. also investigating how carbon is processed
Jennings, who has worked on a succession through the lake and gets lost into the
of projects that have had climate change She has also worked on two projects that atmosphere and starts a feedback loop
as their theme. These include the EPA- have been funded by the EU. The first with creates yet more carbon by heating
funded Illuminate project, which involved of these, ‘Reflect’, looked at long-term up the surrounding peat land.
modelling catchment export of sediment, climate change in Europe and its effect on
nutrients and dissolved organic carbon lakes and freshwater systems. The other Dr Jennings has a Burrishoole-based
under historical conditions, and the Marine project, ‘Clime’, involved her doing field research student, Liz Ryder, who
Institute-funded ‘Re-scale’ project which research at two sites in Ireland – Lough is investigating this carbon-cycle
focused on the impacts of current and Leane in Co Kerry and Lough Feeagh in phenomenon further. Jennings and
projected climate on factors important for the Burrishoole catchment in Mayo – to try Ryder recently attended an international
to get a deeper understanding of the role conference in Brazil where Liz Ryder
and impact of climate change on carbon. presented her findings from Burrishoole.
In Lough Feeagh, there is a monitoring Dr Jennings has a second student, Vicky
buoy operated by the Marine Institute, Veercamp, working on Milltown Lake
Issue 6
which takes very frequent readings from in Co Monaghan. Her project, Dynamo,
the lake of characteristics such as dissolved is looking at the value of computer
oxygen levels, temperature and pH level. modelling to the management of a
Dr Jennings uses these measurements to freshwater resource. Dr Jennings is also
inform her research. What she is trying to
LINK
co-supervising two other students: Tesfaye
find out, among other things, is exactly Bekele who is working on an Enterprise
what impact the dissolved organic carbon Ireland project, in collaboration with Bord
10

11. 11
LINK
Netwell has finger
Issue 6
on the pulse
The Netwell Centre at DkIT is partner
on a project that aims to assess how
patients with chronic conditions
may benefit from using a remote
patient-monitoring – or telehealth –
system from Robert Bosch Healthcare
(BOSCH).
Netwell serves as a centre of excellence
and is developing new ideas that
enhance the quality of life and well-
being of older people and those
who care for them, through more
integrated community-oriented
services, more sustainable home and
neighbourhood design, and more age- monitoring services and clinical triage
friendly technologies. staff to monitor the data received
from the patients. The data from
The Netwell project will demonstrate the sessions is sent over a telephone
how a telehealth system may help line to a secure data centre where it
patients better understand their is accessed by a clinical triage nurse,
chronic illness and motivate them to who is alerted to early warning signs
change their behaviour to improve if a patient’s health is deteriorating.
self-management of their condition. The triage nurse alerts specialist
The project marks the first involvement clinical staff within the Louth County
of Robert Bosch Healthcare’s Hospital if a patient appears to need
na Móna, designing on-site waste water telehealth system in Ireland. urgent attention.
treatment plants, and Sam Kagwisagye, a
student on Water is Life: Amazzi Bulamu', Forty older patients who have either By quickly risk-stratifying patients
an Irish Aid project investigating water congestive heart failure (CHF) or based on the daily interactive
resources in Uganda. Dr Jennings will diabetes are participating in the trial, sessions, the Bosch Telehealth System
travel to Uganda in June for fieldwork with and a quarter of them will serve as a enables healthcare providers to
Sam. control group. The main group will intervene before medical issues
use the Bosch patient interface in their escalate. The goal is to improve
The Centre for Freshwater Studies is one home for a period of 90 days. The quality of life, enable older people
of the most active research units within project has been enabled by the close to remain independent longer, and
DKIT. It has 13 postgrad students, and two cooperation of specialist clinical teams lower costs of care by reducing visits
postdocs – Siobhan Jordan and Valerie based in the Louth County Hospital. to the emergency department and
McCarthy – involved in a range of research hospital.
projects. The patient interface is a compact
device with a display and simple four- During the trial, researchers from the
According to Dr Jennings, who previously buttons that allows patients to answer Netwell Centre will evaluate how
worked at TCD, it was DKIT’s growing a series of questions about their health patients respond to the telehealth
reputation in freshwater studies that and symptoms each day. Through these technology and determine its ability
attracted her to the Institute, which she “dialogues” they learn about ways to to impact their well-being and
joined in September 2008. “Dundalk has better manage their conditions, and quality of life.
been building up a strong reputation in they receive health tips and reminders
freshwater sciences and I have a strong to take their medication. In the Researchers plan to publish results
interest in that,” she says. As for the Netwell Centre trial, the participants from the project in September 2010,
Institute itself, she is finding it “very will also report their blood pressure but even at this stage participants
dynamic – there’s always something and weight or blood glucose levels, in the project have demonstrated
happening. I’m really enjoying it.” depending on their condition, through significant positive impacts.
the session.
For more information on the work of the For more information check out
National Centre for Freshwater Studies go In the Netwell project, McElwaine www.netwelcentre.org and sign up
to www.dkit.ie/research/research_centres/ SMART, an Irish SME and commercial for the Netwell newsletter to receive
ncfs partner of Bosch, is providing future updates on the project.

12. Research
DkIT researchers
secure €370k EU
funding
The Electrochemistry Research Group, located within the
Department of Applied Sciences in the Institute, has recently
secured over €370,000 in research funding under the EU
Framework 7 (FP7) ‘Benefit for SMEs’ scheme.
The commercial partners on this project entitled "Mobile
refrigeration system refrigerant leakage monitoring" include
Primalec, Maidstone, UK; AARTS Plastic BV, Netherlands;
Data Optics Balkans Ltd, Sofia, Bulgaria; Sensor technology
Ltd, Banbury, UK; Brain Bees, Parma, Italy and Hubbard
Products, Ipswich, UK. The two research performers are
Dundalk Institute of Technology and the UK based Intelligent
Systems Research Institute Limited. The total funding secured
[e] info@elementdesign.ie
for the two-year period by the consortium is €1.29 million.
More information on the project can be found on the Cordis
website at http:// cordis.europa.eu/search/index.cfm.
 Front (L - R) Naris Anwar, Rashdar Naseer, Mostansara Yaqub. Back (L-R)
The research activities of the Electrochemistry Research Shahzad Imar, Dr Tim McCormac, Head of Research, DkIT.
Group can be broadly classified as the development of
nanostructured materials for environmental based sensors, researchers employ electrochemical techniques and state-of-the-art
molecular electronics and bioscience applications. More
[t] 042 9327943
surface-based techniques, in conjunction with their collaborators, to
specifically the group of researchers utilises the unique redox carry out translational research from the bench to industry.
properties of both conducting polymers and large inorganic
cage like molecules, known as polyoxometallates, for these If you would like more information about the group’s activities please
purposes. The ability to surface-manipulate these molecular visit their website at http://ww2.dkit.ie/research/research_groups/
element design
systems onto both metallic and semiconducting surfaces is electrochemistry or you can contact Dr Tim McCormac at
of particular interest to a wide variety of technologies. The tim.mccormac@dkit.ie, tel +353 42 9331161.
Open Invitation
The RDC hosts its monthly
Enterprise & Innovation Zone Starting Out or Need a Base for your
on the last Friday of the month
R&D activities
from 2pm to 4:30pm Incubation
The Regional Development Centre has top class
Facilities and Business Supports both on-campus in DkIT
and Off-Campus in Millmount, Drogheda.
Please visit www.rdc.ie for details on
upcoming topics and how to reserve your For further details contact: Sean MacEntee on
[t] 042 9331161 [e] sean.macentee@dkit.ie [w] www.rdc.ie
place. Admission is free but spaces limited.