The QUESTOR CentreThe QUESTOR Centre

AnAn international partnership between industry, international partnership between industry, government agencies and academia for government agencies and academia for industry industry driven driven multimulti--discipline discipline environmental research environmental research with a clear emphasis on technology transfer with a clear emphasis on technology transfer

and exploitation and exploitation

General InformationGeneral InformationFounded in 1989Founded in 1989

The only Centre outside the US to be part of the National The only Centre outside the US to be part of the National

Science FoundationScience Foundation’’s (NSF) Programme for s (NSF) Programme for

Industry/University CoIndustry/University Co--operative Research Centres operative Research Centres

(I/UCRCs)(I/UCRCs)

The I/UCRC concept is a highly successful model The I/UCRC concept is a highly successful model

developed by the NSF where more than 50 such developed by the NSF where more than 50 such

Centres have been operating in the US for 20 yearsCentres have been operating in the US for 20 years

Annual MembershipAnnual Membership

Key ObjectivesKey ObjectivesTo enhance the quality and relevance of research To enhance the quality and relevance of research projectsprojectsTo establish a critical mass skills base across To establish a critical mass skills base across disciplines aligned to the research needs of disciplines aligned to the research needs of member companies and organisationsmember companies and organisationsTo ensure timely delivery of technology through To ensure timely delivery of technology through enhanced procedures for technology and enhanced procedures for technology and knowledge transferknowledge transferTo increase SME MembershipTo increase SME Membership

To develop an international network where To develop an international network where companies can benefit from both research and companies can benefit from both research and business opportunities business opportunities

Current & Potential Current & Potential International Academic International Academic

PartnersPartnersQueenQueen’’s University Belfasts University BelfastDublin City University (RoI) Dublin City University (RoI) –– 20052005Stevens Institute of Technology (US) Stevens Institute of Technology (US) ––20062006Dalhousie University (Canada)Dalhousie University (Canada) –– Nov 2007Nov 2007University of Duisburg Essen University of Duisburg Essen –– Nov 2007Nov 2007The Institute for Water Research (Germany) The Institute for Water Research (Germany) –– Nov 2007Nov 2007

Cranfield University (UK) Cranfield University (UK) –– May 2008May 2008AFBI (NI)AFBI (NI)–– Under DiscussionUnder Discussion

Research Priority AreasResearch Priority Areas

WaterWater EnergyEnergy

Sensors for Sensors for Environmental Environmental

MonitoringMonitoring Energy from Energy from BiomassBiomass

Water & Water & Wastewater Wastewater TreatmentTreatment

Surface WaterSurface WaterGroundwaterGroundwaterContaminated Contaminated

LandLandResource Resource

ManagementManagement

Member Driven ResearchMember Driven ResearchMember Research Priority Booklet UpdatedMember Research Priority Booklet Updated

One One ––to to ––One MeetingsOne Meetings

Call for PreCall for Pre--proposalsproposals

PrePre--Proposals ShortProposals Short--listedlisted

Call for ProposalsCall for Proposals

Project Champions AgreedProject Champions Agreed

Presentations to IABPresentations to IAB

Members VoteMembers Vote

Projects PrioritisedProjects Prioritised

JanuaryJanuary

MayMay

JuneJune

JuneJune

SeptemberSeptember

SeptemberSeptember

NovemberNovember

NovemberNovember

NovemberNovember

QUESTOR Foresight Exercise

Novel Nanomateria ls 

for Remedia tion

S usta inable  Wastewater Treatment

Embedded  S ensor 

Networks

Renewable  Rsources from  the  Marine  Environment

R emediation/T reatment            S ens ors           E nerg y    

QUE S TOR  F ores ight E xerc is e

QUE S TOR  Academic  P artners  (QUB , DCU, S IT, DAL , UDE , IWW)

QUE S TOR  Membership (indus trial Advisory  Board) (IAB )

C ollaborative  R esearch P rojects

IAB  F unded R esearch P rojects

Research Drivers

EU Framework VIIEU Framework VIIMarie Curie Initial Training NetworkMarie Curie Initial Training Network

Advanced Technologies for Water Resource ManagementAdvanced Technologies for Water Resource Management(ATWARM)(ATWARM)

Water Water Quality/SensoQuality/Sensor Technologiesr Technologies

Enhanced Enhanced Wastewater Wastewater TreatmentTreatment

Sustainable Sustainable Wastewater Wastewater TreatmentTreatment

14 PhDs plus 2 Post Docs14 PhDs plus 2 Post DocsAcademic Partners: QUB, DCU, UDE, IWW, CRAAcademic Partners: QUB, DCU, UDE, IWW, CRAIndustrial Partners: NI Water, TE Laboratories Ltd + QUESTOR MemIndustrial Partners: NI Water, TE Laboratories Ltd + QUESTOR MembershipbershipPotentialFundingPotentialFunding: : €€3.2M 3.2M

Competence Centre for Competence Centre for Renewable Energy Renewable Energy

New INI Funding Programme for Industry Driven New INI Funding Programme for Industry Driven ResearchResearchI/UCRC approach favouredI/UCRC approach favouredQUESTOR will apply for a Competence Centre for QUESTOR will apply for a Competence Centre for Renewable EnergyRenewable Energy•• Energy from biomassEnergy from biomass

ADADCatalytic gasificationCatalytic gasificationBiogas conversion to storable/ 2Biogas conversion to storable/ 2ndnd generation transport fuelsgeneration transport fuelsAdvanced small scale power generationAdvanced small scale power generationIntegration of emerging generation technologiesIntegration of emerging generation technologies

•• Tidal/waveTidal/wave

££5 5 -- ££10M funding over 5 years10M funding over 5 years

Technology Transfer Technology Transfer & Exploitation& Exploitation

•• Applied Technology Unit (ATU)Applied Technology Unit (ATU)

Unique group of 12 scientists and engineers with access to QUESTOR facilities

Monitoring, technical consultancy, new product and process develMonitoring, technical consultancy, new product and process developmentopment

Work in partnership with members to demonstrate/commercialise technology

•• QUESTOR Technologies LtdQUESTOR Technologies Ltd

Established to develop products/processes derived from technologEstablished to develop products/processes derived from technologies ies

developed within the QUESTOR Centredeveloped within the QUESTOR Centre

Improved Technology Transfer process

For QUB, led by ATU with major input from Project Champion and academics Develop draft roadmap at around six month stage of projectRevision at 18-24 month stage or as appropriate, and at end of project

The QUESTOR ModelThe QUESTOR Model

Assist membersand academics in steering researchtoward useable products and technologies

MonitoringConsultancy

Product and ProcessDevelopment

ProductDevelopment

ProductSupport

QUESTOR Research Programme

Range of Environmental ProductsBased on Novel Technologies

QUESTORTechnologies

Ltd

Annual MembershipAnnual Membership

QUESTOR Members QUESTOR Members Great BritainGreat Britain

•• BPBP

•• Shell Global SolutionsShell Global Solutions

•• Modern Water Ltd*Modern Water Ltd*

United StatesUnited States

•• Exxon Mobil Research & Exxon Mobil Research &

EngineeringEngineering

Republic of IrelandRepublic of Ireland

•• EnvaEnva Ireland Ltd*Ireland Ltd*

•• AstellasAstellas Ireland LtdIreland Ltd

•• FLI Environmental Ltd*FLI Environmental Ltd*

•• T.E. Laboratories Ltd*T.E. Laboratories Ltd*

Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland

•• Applied Silicate Technologies Ltd*Applied Silicate Technologies Ltd*

•• Alpha Environmental Group*Alpha Environmental Group*

•• AWP (Ireland) Ltd*AWP (Ireland) Ltd*

•• B9 Energy Ltd*B9 Energy Ltd*

•• Belfast City CouncilBelfast City Council

•• Bombardier AerospaceBombardier Aerospace

•• CDE Ireland Ltd*CDE Ireland Ltd*

•• Central Chemical Supplies Ltd*Central Chemical Supplies Ltd*

•• ChemviteChemvite Ltd*Ltd*

•• CleanfieldCleanfield Technology Ltd*Technology Ltd*

•• Coca Cola Bottlers (Coca Cola Bottlers (Ireland)LtdIreland)Ltd

•• DoE Environment & Heritage ServiceDoE Environment & Heritage Service

•• EdaPhonEdaPhon SS--oil Tec Ltd*oil Tec Ltd*

•• GlenfarmGlenfarm Holdings Ltd*Holdings Ltd*

•• KedcoKedco Energy NI Ltd*Energy NI Ltd*

•• McAllister Brothers Ltd*McAllister Brothers Ltd*

•• MacNabbMacNabb Brothers Waste Management Ltd*Brothers Waste Management Ltd*

•• MarencoMarenco**

•• Natural Energies Ireland Ltd*Natural Energies Ireland Ltd*

•• NI Water LtdNI Water Ltd

•• Northern Innovation Ltd*Northern Innovation Ltd*

•• NorlectNorlect Engineering Ltd*Engineering Ltd*

•• Precision Processes Services LtdPrecision Processes Services Ltd**

•• RSK Ireland Ltd*RSK Ireland Ltd*

•• SimproSimpro Ireland Ltd*Ireland Ltd*

•• Williams Industrial services Ltd*Williams Industrial services Ltd*

•• WilsonWilson’’s Country Ltd*s Country Ltd*

Contact DetailsContact Details

http://questor.qub.ac.uk/

The QUESTOR CentreDavid Keir Building

Stranmillis RoadBelfast, BT9 5AG

Tel: +44(0)28 9097 5577Fax: +44(0)28 9066 1462

w.mcgarel@qub.ac.uk