University College Dublin (UCD) has announced the results of its latest survey of companies supported through NovaUCD, the University’s Centre for New Ventures and Entrepreneurs, since it opened 15 years ago. UCD has supported more than 360 companies and early-stage ventures through the services and supports provided by NovaUCD (www.novaucd.ie). The combined annual turnover of the companies surveyed amounted to more than €113 million in 2018 and collectively they employ more than 1,040 people directly, and about 950 of whom are based in Ireland. The supported companies which operate in sectors including; AgTech, CleanTech, FinTech, ICT, MedTech and Life Sciences, have raised more than €760 million in equity funding. At NovaUCD new high-tech and knowledge-intensive start-up companies are nurtured and supported to enable them to develop, scale and create jobs. Early-stage ventures have additionally completed programmes run by NovaUCD, such as the UCD VentureLaunch Accelerator Programme (and its predecessor the Campus Company Development Programme) and the UCD Start-Up Stars Programme. UCD’s technology transfer team, which is responsible for the commercialisation of the intellectual property emerging from UCD’s world-class research programmes, is also based at NovaUCD. Since 2003, 45 new UCD spin-out companies have been incorporated; more than 825 inventions have been disclosed by UCD researchers; more than 280 priority patent applications have been filed and more than 200 licensing deals have been concluded with a range of indigenous and international businesses such as, Amdocs, Amryt and Glanbia. Six private sector sponsors; AIB, Arthur Cox, Deloitte, Ericsson, Goodbody Stockbrokers and Xilinx contributed to the development of the NovaUCD facility originally, along with Enterprise Ireland and UCD.

Supported by Technology Transfer Strengthening Initiative (TTSI)

NovaUCD’s technology transfer team has in addition been supported through Enterprise Ireland’s Technology Transfer Strengthening Initiative (TTSI) since 2007. TTSI is managed and administered by Knowledge Transfer Ireland (KTI). Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland, said: “Startups are the lifeblood of the Irish economy and a key role for Enterprise Ireland is to support the start-up ecosystem. Enterprise Ireland has supported NovaUCD over the last 15 years and I would like to congratulate the centre and the companies on their success.” Kevin Cooney, senior vice-president and chief information officer, Xilinx and managing director, Xilinx, EMEA, one of the NovaUCD sponsors said: “Having been involved with NovaUCD since it opened, I am delighted to see its impact through the 15 year results announced today. "These results clearly demonstrate UCD’s leadership role in supporting entrepreneurial and knowledge transfer activities within the HEI sector in Ireland. I now look forward to NovaUCD’s impact continuing to grow from strength to strength in the years ahead.” Companies currently, and to date, supported through NovaUCD include; AccountsIQ, Auranta, BiancaMed, Carrick Therapeutics, ChangingWorlds, Corlytics, DocoSoft, EnBIO, Equinome, Genomics Medicine Ireland, Initiative Ireland, Life Scientific, Logentries, MagGrow, MyWallSt (formerly Rubicoin), Neuromod Devices, NovoGrid, Nuritas, OncoMark, OxyMem, Terra Solar, Plusvital and Vivid Edge.

'Ireland’s innovation ecosystem as an enabler of economic growth'

Professor Orla Feely, UCD vice-president for research, innovation and impact said: “University College Dublin is committed to playing a key role in Ireland’s innovation ecosystem as an enabler of economic growth and as a contributor to economic and social development. "At UCD NovaUCD is responsible for the commercialisation of our research outputs, supporting start-ups and more established companies to scale globally and create jobs, and today’s results clearly demonstrate its success and impact over the last 15 years.” Last August UCD announced a €6.5 million development project to renovate and extend NovaUCD’s east courtyard. When completed this summer, NovaUCD’s capacity to house start-up companies will increase by over 50 per cent. Tom Flanagan, UCD director of enterprise and commercialisation said: “We are very proud of the achievements of our companies and look forward to building on the successful formula for enterprise development and commercialisation that we have developed at NovaUCD. We can do even more when the expansion of our facilities is completed later this year.” Using a multiplier of two would indicate that NovaUCD supported companies support about 2,100 jobs in total, some 1,040 jobs indirectly in addition to the more than 1,040 direct jobs.