ATU Innovation Hub secures €45.75m of Disruptive Technologies Innovation Funding (DTIF)

Picture captions [Photos by Aengus McMahon. No repro fee] 

L to R: Giuseppe Ruvio, CSO, EndoWave, Turlough Rafferty, Operations Manager, ATU iHub Galway, Meabh Conaghan, Regional Director, West and North West Regions, Enterprise Ireland, Tim Jones, CEO SymPhysis Medical, Dr Elizabeth McGloughlin, CEO, Tympany Medical, George McCourt, Head of Innovation & Enterprise, ATU, Ena Brophy, Innovation Grants Project Manager, InVera Medical, Tony O’Halloran, CTO, Aurigen Medical, Tomás Thompson, CEO, Rockfield Medical Devices, Sharon White, Technology Gateway Manager, Medical and Engineering Technology Gateway ATU.

12 ATU iHub projects aimed at revolutionising healthcare delivery and improving patient outcome

Demonstrating a commitment to innovation and technological advancement, Atlantic Technological University's (ATU) Innovation Hubs (iHubs) have achieved outstanding success within the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF), with its Galway iHub client companies securing €45.75m over the last five years, across twelve projects representing 12% of total funding awarded (details of the projects are outlined in the tables below).

Established under Project Ireland 2040 and managed by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland, the DTIF aims to invest in disruptive technologies and applications, facilitating collaborations between Ireland's research base and industry to drive economic growth and innovation. To date €371 million has been awarded to 104 projects across six DTIF calls. Among the notable projects funded through the DTIF are innovations in medical devices, healthcare systems, and minimally invasive treatments. 

Of the 12 ATU iHub clients which secured DTI funds, three client companies secured two DTI funds each - Endowave, Tympany Medical & Crannmed, while several client companies such as Aurigen Medical, Rockfield Medical and Symphysis Medical received significant funding for projects aimed at revolutionising healthcare delivery and improving patient outcomes.
The Enterprise Ireland Medical and Engineering Technologies (MET) Gateway based in ATU was selected as a Research Partner Organisation on four DTI funds. 

George McCourt, Head of Innovation and Enterprise at ATU, outlined the critical importance of DTI funding, saying: "The success of ATU's iHubs in securing DTI funding underscores our commitment to fostering innovation, research integration and supporting the development and adoption of disruptive technologies. These collaborations not only showcase the cutting-edge research capabilities within ATU but also highlight the potential for transformative impact on various industries."

Sharon White, Manager at the Enterprise Ireland MET Technology Gateway, emphasises the importance of collaboration in driving innovation: "The partnerships forged through the DTIF enable us to leverage our research expertise and industry insights to develop solutions that address real-world challenges.”

Additionally, collaborations involving MET Technology Gateway partner companies including iHub clients such as Rockfield Medical, InVera Medical and Endowave along with Ceroflo have further contributed to the success of ATU in supporting DTIF funding, totalling €15.6m.

Méabh Conaghan, Enterprise Ireland Regional Director for the West & North West Region, says: "The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund plays a crucial role in supporting Irish companies and Ireland’s world-class research base to engage in collaborative projects which have the potential to disrupt markets and create new business opportunities. The projects funded under the DTIF at ATU’s Innovation Hubs are diverse and some are potentially life-changing, such as developing new minimally invasive and targeted treatment for metastatic lung cancer and a treatment for chronic knee osteoarthritis to deliver dramatic pain management and mobility benefits to patients.”

About ATU Hubs
iHub Galway is one of four Innovation Hubs across the ATU region which provide high-potential entrepreneurs and innovative start-ups with the necessary business skills, networks, space, and research support to navigate the business start-up process from concept to successful commercialization. These Innovation Hubs also support a range of Entrepreneurship Programmes such as - New Frontiers, Empower and Cumasú. For more information, visit: www.atuihubs.ie

About The Enterprise Ireland MET Technology Gateway
The Enterprise Ireland Medical and Engineering Technologies (MET) Gateway is an interdisciplinary applied research centre, dedicated to supporting Research, Development and Innovation activities in the MedTech, LifeSciences and Engineering sectors, providing open access for industry to the academic expertise within the Atlantic Technological University, generating solutions for the close-to-market needs of companies. We deliver world class innovative solutions for the close-to-market needs of Irish based Start-ups, SME’s and Multinationals to build, scale and expand reach by improving competitiveness and enhancing innovation activities. For more information, visit: www.metcentre.ie

The MET Technology Gateway is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Northern and Western Regional Programme 2021-27

Note to editors

Please see the below table showing the breakdown of DTIF funding to ATU iHub client companies.

Breakdown of DTIF Funding by MET Centre Partners

ENDS

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