Innovative IoT solutions for Irish companies

Businesses across Ireland are capitalising on the research and engineering expertise of the Applied IoT Technology Gateway cluster, which is comprised of five Technology Gateways: COMAND (TUS), IMaR (MTU), NIMBUS (MTU), TSSG (WIT) & WiSAR (LyIT). Availing of nearly 250 industry focused professionals, companies are engaging in the development of new and revolutionary products, services and processes in the broad technology area of IoT.

Whilst the most common industrial projects undertaken with the Gateways are valued over €10,000, many companies are making use of the €5,000 Enterprise Ireland Innovation Voucher scheme as their first introduction to the Gateways. Companies then fund their own projects, with the Gateways acting as their external R&D departments.

Meet the Applied IoT Gateways

• COMAND delivers end to end solutions – mobile, smart edge gateways, scalable & global cloud services, augmenting both user & immersive interaction with intelligent infrastructures.
• IMaR applies its core expertise in providing electronic and mechanical hardware, software, IoT and data analytics innovation for increased productivity in the manufacturing, agriculture and process sectors.
• NIMBUS is the industry interface for the Nimbus group in MTU. The Gateway develops IoT prototypes for a broad range of companies, connecting everyday objects and systems and making them smart.
• TSSG is spearheading the software development of next-generation digital technologies that enable seamless real-time interaction.
• WiSAR provide IoT product and system solutions to industry using expertise in wireless sensor networks, electronics, antenna design and software.

Each Gateway has a dedicated Gateway Manager and a specialised business development team who act as the key contact points for companies and manage the successful delivery of each project from conception right through to final sign off.

Collaborating with the cluster

If you have an idea for a new product, service or process or are experiencing difficulties with an existing process – get in touch with us to see how we can assist you in developing an innovative solution.

Innovation Support Applications

The Applied IoT Technology Gateway cluster can help with Innovation Voucher applications for eligible companies. To qualify for a voucher, the company must have fewer than 250 full-time employees and an annual turnover total not exceeding €50 million and/or an annual Balance Sheet total not exceeding €43 million. Enterprise Ireland Innovation Vouchers, to the value of €5,000, can be redeemed for services provided by all members of the Technology Gateway Network.

Larger projects involving new processes or services, knowledge or know-how can access expertise from the Applied IoT Technology Gateway Group and have up to 80% of the research costs paid for by the Innovation Partnership Programme.

Polar IceTech, a Midleton firm, is expanding its cryogenic cleaning services with the help of CAPPA Cork Institute of Technology, Bioexplore & Enterprise Ireland.

Polar IceTech

Polar IceTech are dry ice blasting specialists. They partner with Irish industry to create and develop cleaning processes that are more lean, efficient and cost effective. Polar IceTech work with key decision makers to help them reduce downtime, increase efficiencies and reduce costs by introducing eco-friendly cryogenic cleaning solutions.

Established in 2005, Polar IceTech analyse data before and after the cleaning process and use this to identify and continuously improve on the efficiencies offered by dry ice as a cleaning purification. Specialised equipment and processes were used to clean high-value, moisture-sensitive and abrasive-sensitive critical assets, including process and production equipment with dry ice (solid carbon dioxide).

Polar IceTech have engineered equipment and processes to deliver even greater results for customers and have trained operators to the highest standard. Furthermore, they continue to engage with specialists to ensure the solutions offered are delivering the lean measures promised.

The product

Dry ice blasting is the process of cleaning and decontaminating surfaces with dry ice. It is also known as Cryogenic cleaning. The dry ice blasting process works by accelerating dry ice through a stream of compressed air at the speed of sound. The speed and temperature of the dry ice being blasted causes the primary contaminant to crack.

When the dry ice hits the surface it instantly converts to gas and expands, breaking up the already cracked primary contaminant without damaging the surface. The process can be as sensitive or as robust as the contaminant requires.

Polar IceTech received funding from Enterprise Ireland for research currently being carried out in the Centre for Advanced Photonics and Process Analysis (CAPPA) and Bioexplore at Cork Institute of Technology on the impact of cryogenic cleaning on bacteria.

Polar IceTech, a relatively new business, was not in a position to fully understand the range of supports available to it to engage with third level research bodies. After an open day hosted by CAPPA, initial discussions began with the company and CAPPA suggested a body of work involving both them and CIT colleagues in Bioexplore, to give greater scientific clarity to efficacy of the dry ice blasting process.

After successfully helping the company to write an application for an Innovation Voucher the details of the research were fleshed out and systematic series of experiments conducted to validate the process. The final report on the overall testing is due shortly but the results are very clear and are beyond the expectations of the company.

Dr Liam Lewis of CAPPA Gateway commented:

“This is a classic example of how simple, direct engagement with a company can not only provide significant scientific weight to an in-house process, but can also display the range of offerings available within CIT for collaboration. The company are now firmly looking towards carrying out further research work and establishing a long-term relationship with CIT.”

Planning for the future

Damien McDonnell is planning to expand in all of the markets in which Polar IceTech are competing. They are working on the growth of sales, particularly in the Pharmaceutical sector.

Polar IceTech have broadened their base, with three employees now located in Limavady near Derry, Northern Ireland. Mr McDonnell has international plans for Polar IceTech and over the past 12 months they have tendered contracts with partners from the Middle East, Belgium, UK and Germany. The workforce of Polar IceTech is expected to grow by 20% by the end of 2017 with a 25% increase in turnover rate.

The company are also targeting power generation businesses in both Europe and the UK. Damien McDonnell believes that the experience gained by the company and their investments in high-tech equipment will enable success for Polar IceTech in these markets.

Polar IceTech plan to engage and collaborate with universities in educating Engineering students about the dry ice blasting process. Mr McDonnell said of the experience of working with CAPPA:

“We found CAPPA very professional, helpful and accommodating to deal with. They were quick in understanding what we wanted to achieve and were enthusiastic about working with us to achieve these goals. We experienced a number of hiccups along the way, but the manner in which these were dealt with was impressive and incredibly professional. Overall they were a pleasure to deal with.”

Applied Polymer Technologies (APT) Gateway collaborates with Harvard University and the Mayo Clinic through the Fulbright International Scholar Program  

In 2015, founding Principal Investigator of the APT Gateway in Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT), Dr Luke Geever, was presented with a Fulbright International Scholar Award. Dr Geever, who leads one of Ireland’s largest polymer research groups, was the 2015 Fulbright-Enterprise Ireland Scholar and carried out his research at Harvard Medical School and the Mayo Clinic in the United States. During the scholarship, Dr Geever undertook collaborative research with leading experts in the field of regenerative medicine in work that seeks to Expand the Clinical Applications of Novel Drug Eluting Bioresorbable Polymers.

During his time in the US, through collaboration with Harvard Medical School and the Mayo Clinic, he undertook a clinical observership, observed surgeries and reviewed case studies with surgeons, which has enabled the Enterprise Ireland-funded APT Gateway in AIT to develop technical solutions with the patient’s welfare at the very heart of the research. The research involved the development of novel bioresorbable polymer materials for medical device implant applications, a core area of expertise in APT. Bioresorbable polymers are becoming the materials of choice in the development of medical devices, including cardiovascular stents and fixation devices for bone repair, with demand for implantable medical devices forecast to reach $52 billion in 2015.

Large-scale medical device projects

The research is closely aligned to the strategic direction of the APT Gateway and will allow our centre to carry out a much larger degree of large-scale industry projects with medical device companies in the future. The important industry-relevant skills developed through the Fulbright study have had great benefit to the APT Gateway and to the wider Gateway network.

Presentations to Fulbright awardees were made at an award ceremony in Dublin and at the annual Irish Fulbright Alumni Association Scholars’ Dinner, held at Dublin Castle.

US Ambassador of Ireland, Kevin O’Malley, noted:

“Year on year, US and Irish Fulbrighters provide a fascinating insight into the direction of global research in a wide variety of fields. This year we have seen a particular increase in research in the areas of health and technology. The Fulbright program provides a unique platform for international scholars to break new ground, to collaborate with other world class researchers and to make a difference.”

The study focused on a highly relevant area of clinical and industrial significance – the development of novel drug eluting bioresorbable polymeric materials for medical device implant applications. The research was carried out in Harvard Medical School, Boston, at the Centre for Advanced Orthopaedic Studies, while related research was carried out at the Rehabilitation Medicine Research Center at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester. In 2014, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, was ranked as the No.1 overall hospital in the United States by U.S. News & World Report. Bioresorbable polymers are becoming the materials of choice in the development of medical devices, including cardiovascular stents and fixation devices for bone repair, with demand for implantable medical devices forecast to reach over $50 billion in 2015.

Dr Luke Geever

A graduate in Polymer Technology from AIT, Dr Geever undertook his PhD in Athlone in the controlled release of pharmaceutical ingredients from smart temperature sensitive polymers. Dr Geever now leads one of the largest polymer materials research groups in Ireland, the Smart Polymers Research Group. This specialist research team currently comprises of 10 full-time scientists and engineers. The group has played a key role in securing €6.5 million in research funding awards, attracting significant competitive state and industry funding. Dr Geever is also a Principal Investigator for the APT Gateway, Ireland’s National Polymer Materials and Processing Research Centre, which is supported by Enterprise Ireland. The APT Gateway in Athlone Institute of Technology was established in 2012 and offers companies, locally and nationally, access to world-class R&D infrastructure, expertise and resources. The APT Gateway currently works with in excess of 100 companies each year, delivering solutions to a wide range of industry partners who rely on polymer technologies to support their core business, from SMEs to multinationals across the pharmaceutical, medical, composite and sustainable sectors. The research carried out was wholly industry driven and has been of great benefit to APT’s biomedical industry partners.   

The Fulbright Program is a highly competitive, merit-based grants program for international educational exchange which was founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. It is one of the most prestigious award programmes worldwide, operating in over 155 countries. Under the Fulbright Program, competitively selected candidates are awarded scholarships to study, conduct research, and exercise their talents at top universities and institutions throughout the United States. Interested applicants in all disciplines are encouraged to visit the Fulbright Commission’s website for more information.

Meeting with Enterprise Ireland team (Catie Riordan, Trade Development Executive – Lifesciences and IT for Pharma, & Donal Cummings, Trade Development Executive – Lifesciences and IT for Health) in their Boston office

Dr Luke Geever of AIT pictured with the Chair of the Fulbright Commission Ireland, Prof John Hegarty. Pic: Conor McCabe

Dr Luke Geever recently returned from the USA after completing his Fulbright Scholar position at the CAOS in Harvard Medical School and the Rehabilitation Medicine Research Center at the Mayo Clinic. This prestigious award enabled Dr Geever to forge links within Harvard Medical School, the Mayo Clinic and at other leading research institutes throughout the USA.

Presentation at Group meeting at CAOS, Harvard Medical School

Outside Harvard library which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year

Group meetings at the Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic

Meeting with Professor Hani E. Naguib, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Smart and Functional Materials at his lab in Toronto