Ideas for Knowledge Networks and Virtual Institutes

1. Ideas for Knowledge Networks and Virtual Institutes Workshop on Virtual Institutes, Brussels, 28th September, 2000 Professor Jim Browne, CIMRU, Nun’s Island, NUI, Galway, Ireland

2. Ireland’s Technology Background • Absence of industrial research associations and institutes that exist in the UK, Germany and other countries • Extensive expertise dispersed across the Third Level sector

3. The Irish Solution • To set up Programmes in Advanced Technology (PATs) targeting technologies perceived to be of strategic importance to Ireland

4. Broad Objective of the PATs To develop within Ireland an expertise base and national competence in key strategic technologies based on a partnership between the Universities, Industry and the Government and its Agencies

5. Specific Challenges • Improve the competitiveness of existing industry though access to new technology; • Encourage movement to higher value added products; • Attract inward and domestic investment in high technology areas; • Encourage new start-up companies in high technology areas.

6. Problems • Industry needs are not necessarily those topics of interest to the academics • Often the results of Academic Research need to be “translated” for use in Industry • Industry priorities and time scale do not match those of the academics. • Industry interaction can be time consuming and distracting on the Staff available - academics or students

7. PAT Solution • Implant into University Based Research Centres Small Teams of Full-Time Technologists, Highly Qualified and where possible, with Relevant Industrial Experience • Provide a Commercial Dimension to the Response of the Academic Research Communityto Industry’s Needs.

8. Characteristic features of a PAT / University Partnership • The spectrum of scientific/technical activity in a programme is a continuum ranging from state of the art basic research through contract applied research to the provision of commercial technical services e.g. training, testing and consultancy • It is this wide scope of activity that distinguishes the PATs from other more traditional technical support actions.

9. PATs relative to other technical Service providers State of the Art Strategic Research Research and Development Agencies Universities Strategic PATs Private Consultants Commercial service Mature technology State of the art

10. Technology areas selected for PATs • Sectors • Biotechnology • Optoelectronics • Power Electronics • Software • Telecommunications • General • Advanced Manufacturing Technology • Materials

11. Overview of the PATs • The PATs operate from 35 specialist centres located in six universities • Staff: • 400 Research and Administration staff • 200 Post Graduates • Expenditure (1998): £20M • Financed by: • Earned Income: £11 M • State funding: £9 M

12. Outputs • Strategic research • Contract research • Consultancy • Technology services/info/advisory • Involvement in EU programmes • Publications/PhDs • Other training • Licenses/products/start-ups

13. Government Dept.. General Structure of a PAT Agency (EI) PAT Directorate etc.. Specialist Centre in University 1 Specialist Centre in University 2 Specialist Centre in University 3

14. Government Management of a PAT Centre Agency (EI) Programme Directorate Academic Director in the University Operations Manager in the University Centre Professional Researchers and consultants Post Graduate Researchers Industrial and other Clients

15. The Multi-Sectoral Programmes • AMT Ireland (Helping Industry to Grow) • Conversion Improvement: from Product Concept and Development to the Logistics of Distribution and the Virtual Enterprise. • Materials Ireland (Providing Solutions for Industry) • Materials and Materials Processing and Use

16. Materials Ireland

17. Providing Solutions for Irish Industry

18. A Single Point of Access INDUSTRY Polymers Adhesives Metals Ceramics Coatings Glasses Composites

19. Expertise in: • ceramics • composites • coatings • glasses • metals • polymers • multifunctional materials • adhesives

20. Objectives for Industry • Materials and Materials Use and Processing Development to enhance: • design • performance • energy efficiency • size reduction • cost reduction • recyclability • environmental friendliness

21. Objectives for Industry • Specific needs in Polymers • functionality • biofriendliness • recyclability • reprocessability • waste reduction • disposal systems

22. Objectives for Industry • Processing • Efficiency • Clean Production • Miniaturisation • High precision • Cost reduction

23. Objectives for Industry • Methodology • Modelling of parts and processes • Performance analysis and prediction • Faster prototyping of products • Application of Science to traditional Crafts • Materials substitution • Tightening of specifications • Development and application of smart materials

24. Materials Ireland Structure • Six research Centres • Five Institutions • Forty full time staff • Eight Academic Directors • Twenty Post Graduate Students • Access to expertise in the full range of Industrial Materials

25. Industrial Response 1998 1999 • Number of Clients: 380 450 • Industrial Income: £1.1m £1.5m • Post Graduate Investment: £220k £250k

26. Materials Ireland Locations Athlone Enterprise Ireland Glasnevin NUI-Dublin Trinity College Dublin (2) University of Limerick

27. Materials Ireland Specific Technological Capability of MI Centres • Enterprise Ireland: • Replacement of VOCs, • Renewable materials • Polymer Development Centre: ILAB Testing • General plastics and packaging industrial development • Prototype production and production simulation • Plastic waste recovery and recycling

28. Materials Ireland Specific Technological Capability of MI Centres • TCD Metals: - Finite element modelling - Metal forming, - Polymer flow - Engineering design • UCD Metals: - Modelling of Molten Flows - Foundry Technology, - Heat Treatment - Failure Analysis - Ultra / High Prec. Machining - Bioengineering Materials - Forensic Engineering

29. Materials Ireland Specific Technological Capability of MI Centres • TCD Polymers: • Synthesis and preparation of novel polymers and adhesives, • Charactarisation, analysis and new applications of functional polymers • Product development for the healthcare, pharmaceutical and information technology industry

30. Materials Ireland Specific Technological Capability of MI Centres • UL: • Wide range of materials expertise, • Regional Support, • State of the art expertise and charactarisation facilities for Polymers, Composites, Ceramics, Glasses and metals in Healthcare, Transport, Electronics and speciality materials sectors.

31. Conclusion • Single point of access for industry • Full range of Materials Competence • Commercially responsive organisations

32. 1. Virtual Institutes • Teaching • Research • Professional Training • Professional Services.

33. 2. Formation of Virtual Institutes Complementary Skills and Expertize - Share costs of development and maintenance of knowledge - Lose benefit of informal contracts in “real” laboratories.  New Learning and Co-operative Models - Business and Technology / Engineering - Virtual Laboratories  Maintenance of Knowledge and Updating of Material is facilitated.  In principle, access to world class expertize.

34. 3. Technology Platforms • 3 D Chat-Rooms • Plug and Play across the globe.