June 2017© 2017 Atlantic Bridge

Digital Transformation: The Research Connection

Chris Horn@chrisjhorn

We’ve spent a lot of money on research…

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Government R&D Budget (€M); and a % of GNP/GDP 2014-2016

https://www.djei.ie/en/Publications/Publication-files/The-

Research-and-Development-Budget-2015-16.pdf

Although not as much as some others…

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International Comparison of EU-28 Government Expenditure on R&D as % of Total Government Expenditure

What have we got for our money ?

2015:

• About 28,500 Researchers in total

– Almost 10,000 Academic Researchers

– 17,800 Researchers in Industry

– 900 Researchers in Government Agencies

• 4,400 peer reviewed published papers

• 1,300 sponsored post-graduates

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DJEIDEdS

Patent activity varies..

Both national and international patent filings, involving Irish people..

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https://www.patentsoffice.ie/en/Publications/Annual-Reports/2015-Annual-Report.pdf

12 Research Centres, funded by SFI (part of DJEI)

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AND:: a further 14 Technology Centres, funded by IDA & EI (DJEI)

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Research Centres relevant for the Digital Community

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Topic SFI Research Centre Lead Univ.

Digital Content:Media Analysis, Machine Translation, Personalisation…

Vinny Wade TCD

Internet Tech:IoT, 5G, future networks..

Linda Doyle TCD

Data Analytics:Decision Analysis, Linked Data..

Oliver Daniels UCD

Software Research:Dynamically changing, critical software systems

Brian Fitzgerald UL

Technology Centres relevant for the Digital Community

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Topic Technology CentreFunded by IDA & EI

Lead Univ.

Data Analytics:Decision Analysis, Visualisation..

Padraig Cunningham UCD

Fintech Governance:Software Risk&Governance

Peter Cowap UCC

Cloud Computing:Architecture, Life Cycle..

Joan Mulvihill DCU

Aligning IT with Business Strategy

Frank Kennedy NUIM

e-Learning: New learning systems

Owen White TCD

How Do You Find Out What’s Interesting for You ?

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http://www.knowledgetransferireland.com

Eg: Machine Learning -> Image Processing -> AI&Robotics

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How can we bridge academia and start-ups ?

• €60M University Bridge Fund

• Build top start-ups in Ireland

• Investment period: 2016-2020

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Great Research Great Companies

Marry experienced commercial teams Withexperienced researchers

– Researchers can be from any Irish University and/or Institute of Technology…

University Bridge Fund: investment sizes

• Seed stage

– Typically €250K-€500K

• Series ”A”

– Typically €500K-€1M

• Series “B”

– Typically €1M-€3M

• Follow-on by our main funds

– Typically €3M-€15M..

• Also: Proof Of Principle Projects

– €100K directly into research projects

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• Welcome co-investment by e.g.– Angel & Seed stage investors

– Other funds

– Enterprise Ireland..

• Global team

Dublin

London

Palo Alto

BeijingMuscat

Digital Dun Laoghaire Rathdown

• Emerging location for start-ups• High quality of living• Available office space• Institute Art, Design & Technology..

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Digital Dun Laoghaire Rathdown: How Good could it Get?

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Nationally, what do we need?

• (Please: not yet another incubator….)

Digital Dun Laoghaire Rathdown: How Good could it Get?

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Nationally, what do we need?

• (Please: not yet another incubator….)

• Match-make experienced entrepreneurs with top researcherso Tinder for start-ups?o More like “Coffee Meets Bagel” for start-ups!

• Collaborative teamingo Not funded “contract research”

• Present global opportunities to investors with deep pockets..

Digital Dun Laoghaire Rathdown: How Good could it Get?

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Nationally, what do we need?

• (Please: not yet another incubator….)

• Match-make experienced entrepreneurs with top researcherso Tinder for start-ups?o More like “Coffee Meets Bagel” for start-ups!

• Collaborative teamingo Not funded “contract research”

• Present global opportunities to investors with deep pockets..

Nobody is yet doing this in Ireland DLR can fill the gap

June 2017© 2017 Atlantic Bridge

Digital Transformation: The Research Connection

Chris Horn@chrisjhorn