Next generation wireless technology researcher scoops ICT prize

Enterprise Ireland honours ‘technology pioneer’

Dr. Ronan Farrell, Director of Wireless & Microelectronic research at NUI, Maynooth has been awarded the Enterprise Ireland ICT Commercialisation Award 2008. He was presented with the award for his technology development and its successful transfer to the new technology company Socowave Limited.

Socowave, founded by Joe Moore, is incorporating some of Dr Farrell’s research outputs into its technology platforms and creating unique radio access network (RAN) optimization solutions for mobile broadband markets. Socowave’s systems radically reduce the deployment and operational costs for 3G and 4G network global operators.

Even at this early stage, the new company has attracted the attention of several network operators and equipment manufacturers in the global mobile communications sector.

Dr. Farrell’s technology research at NUIM is focused on disruptive technology which radically impacts infrastructure architecture design of the future and which offers new solutions to the technical challenges of transitioning from 3G to 4G networks.

Presenting the award, Gearóid Mooney Enterprise Ireland’s Director of ICT Commercialisation said;

“Dr. Farrell is a true example of a technology pioneer. By combining his world class research in the wireless communications field and his strong industry experience he has played an enabling role in the creation of an exciting start-up technology company in the highly competitive telecommunications sector. 

Enterprise Ireland is delighted to recognise the commercialisation success of his research and his outstanding contribution to the ICT industry in Ireland”.

Mooney continued;

“This is an ideal example of the Irish applied research system at work as Enterprise Ireland funded Dr. Farrell to commercialise research which emerged from the Science Foundation Ireland funded Centre for Telecommunications Value Chain Research”.

The ICT commercialisation award was presented to Dr. Farrell at the annual Enterprise Ireland ICT Technologies showcase at which over 40 new technologies in the sector were demonstrated to potential investors.

Since the inaugural event in 2005, the ICT commercialisation team from Enterprise Ireland has worked closely with the research community to get more than 24 Irish information and communications technologies licensed, with an additional 12 deals on track in 2008. Seven ICT start-up companies have emerged from this source over the same period and at least another four are due in 2008.

ENDS

For more information contact;

Grace Labanyi (nee Fitzgerald) Communications & Media Relations Officer Research Commercialisation & FP7 Enterprise Ireland The Plaza East Point Business Park, Dublin 3  t: +353 1 7272746 m:+353 87 3286404