NUI Galway Lecturer Finalist of the inaugural Research2Business Award 2014

Seán Sherlock T.D., Minister for Research & Innovation (centre) and Dr Alison Campbell, Director KTI with the finalists in the inaugural Knowledge Transfer Ireland Research2Business Award in Dublin recently. From left: Professor Willie Donnelly, Waterford Institute of Technology; Professor Luke O'Neill, Trinity College Dublin; Dr John Breslin, NUI Galway; and Dr Mark Southern, University of Limerick (winner). The award recognises the interactions of researchers with industry that deliver exceptional impact for businesses and for their host Higher Education Institute.
May 29 2014 Posted: 14:39 IST

Dr John Breslin, Lecturer in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at NUI Galway, was a nominee for the inaugural Knowledge Transfer Ireland Research2Business Award. The inaugural Knowledge Transfer Ireland (KTI) Research2Business award recognises excellence in engagement between researchers and the business community.

The winner of the award was Dr Mark Southern of UL and it was presented by Sean Sherlock T.D. Minister for Research & Innovation at the launch of the office of Knowledge Transfer Ireland and its web-portal, the first resource of its kind in Europe which took place in Dublin yesterday (28 May 2014).

The Research2Business award recognises the researcher whose interactions have delivered exceptional impact for businesses and for their host institution.

Dr John Breslin has had many interactions with local and international businesses, through research outputs that have been deployed in commercial and open-source systems, companies he has co-founded, businesses that he advises, and start-up community activities that he coordinates. Here are some of these activities and impacts:

  • John is the creator of the SIOC semantic Web framework that has achieved widespread adoption on over 25,000 websites and in hundreds of software systems by companies including Yahoo!, Boeing and Vodafone.
  • A prolific business advisor, he sits on the board of many start-up companies, such as CrowdGather, Trugence, Pocket Anatomy, CloudDock, AYLIEN and BuilderEngine.
  • An internet entrepreneur in his own right, John is co-founder of Boards.ie, Adverts.ie and StreamGlider.
  • John has also made a significant contribution to developing the entrepreneurial eco-system in Ireland through the setting up, in cooperation with local CEOs, Startup Galway, and through the establishment of the Entrepreneurship Society at NUI Galway. John is also the founder of Technology Voice, through which he provides technical know-how and start-up advice to budding founders through the monthly podcast/radio show he hosts.

Dr Jacinta Thornton, Associate Director of Ignite Technology Transfer Office said “The award recognises business engagement that has resulted in exceptional and sustained interactions with the business community. John’s engagement and resultant impacts with the business community has been outstanding and we at Ignite TTO are delighted that he has been recognised as a finalist in this Inaugural Research2Business Award. We wish him continued success in his academic and business accomplishments”.

Knowledge Transfer Ireland (KTI) is the State-funded central technology transfer office, located in Enterprise Ireland and operated collaboratively by Enterprise Ireland and the Irish Universities Association.

The nominees for the award included:
· Dr John Breslin, NUI Galway
· Professor Willie Donnelly, Waterford Institute of Technology
· Professor Luke O’Neill, Trinity College Dublin
· Dr Mark Southern, University of Limerick

ENDS

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