Science Foundation Ireland's €75 million data analytics research centre has the potential to become a global brand and the Google of Big Data, according to newly appointed chief executive Oliver Daniels.

Daniels, who has over 27 years of experience in the software industry, comes to Insight from his position as R&D leader for contact centre applications at multinational telecoms company Avaya.

Daniels says he has plans to steer the Insight Centre for Data Analytics in a more commercial direction: "Whether this is through licensing or through spin-outs, the key plan is to generate more outcomes for Ireland in terms of job creation."

He has his sights set on global brand recognition in the vein of Google, Hewlett-Packard or Cisco, all of which came out of Stanford University.

The Insight Centre has the potential to become a world-class brand in terms of data analytics, says Daniels, with the caveat that we can no longer think in terms of research for research’s sake: “In terms of producing PhD and postgraduate students, the centre is strong and has very bright people but we also need to challenge things; Insight can be a huge innovation opportunity for all of Ireland.

“If we invest in Insight as a brand it can become globally recognisable. It is not just a research centre, it is an R&D business and we need to attract investment above and beyond the level we have today.”

Because the Insight Centre is co-located in four universities (NUI Galway, Dublin City University, University College Dublin, and University College Cork), Daniels says the first step is to create one large virtual team – with the possibility of adding some new members.