IRELAND SHOWCASED its R&D capabilities in the heart of Silicon Valley yesterday. Science Foundation Ireland and IDA Ireland have brought a who’s who of Irish science and industry to Stanford University.
Irish-based researchers and industries, which are making a major impact internationally, gave a series of presentations to senior figures from across Silicon Valley.
IDA Ireland’s executive director of business development and marketing Dermot Clohessy said: “This occasion represents a formidable opportunity to promote the talent pool of Irish researchers and those who have chosen to conduct their research activities on Irish soil.
“It also provides a platform to reaffirm the importance of foreign direct investment into crucial scientific and technological disciplines.”
Among the research areas to be covered in the showcase were nanotechnology, communications technologies, cloud computing technologies and the emerging opportunities stemming from convergent technologies.
“The enthusiasm at this event among Silicon Valley executives shows the appetite for what Ireland is offering,” said Mr Clohessy. “ provides face-to-face engagement with multinational company leaders which we are confident will lead to positive business outcome.”
Companies addressing the showcase included Intel, Cisco, IBM and Hewlett-Packard, while Ireland’s academic research community is represented by Trinity College Dublin, Tyndall National Institute, University College Cork, Waterford Institute of Technology, NUI Maynooth, NUI Galway, Dublin City University, University of Limerick and University College Dublin.
Also participating were senior figures from 60 international corporations including Microsoft, Google, Nokia, Oracle and Samsung Electronics.
Prof Roger Whatmore, chief executive of the Tyndall Institute at University College Cork, said: “It’s magic being here in the heart of Silicon Valley. Entrepreneurship seeps out of the walls here. Ireland has the infrastructure that enables us to play in the big leagues.”
According to director of enterprise and international affairs at Science Foundation Ireland Dr Ruth Freeman, the event marked a critical juncture in the continued development of Ireland towards becoming a global innovation hub.
“A showcase of this magnitude, involving such illustrious leaders in business and academia, being hosted in the world-renowned Stanford University illustrates how far Ireland has come.”
Former Intel chairman Craig Barrett, who is chairman of the Irish Technology Leadership Group, said the conference was a microcosm of the innovation capabilities of Ireland.
“The talent and interaction between Government, academia and industry creates an environment of innovation,” he said.
Stanford president Prof John Hennessy said innovation and the role of research “are both extremely vital for economic growth”.
