Innovative and New Product Development

Multi-Disciplinary Engineering / Business Laboratories

 

Engineering an Innovation Eco-System in an Ethical Design Driven Environment

by Professor Sean F. O’Leary

 

The engineering of a college-wide innovation eco-system at Cork Institute of Technology has led to a great flowering of Irish educational student achievement on both national and international stages, founding of start-up companies, developing a range of international award winning pipeline student innovative products and heralding a bright future for Irish innovation and entrepreneurship.

 

 

The development and delivery of ground-breaking Innovative and New Product Development Multi-Disciplinary Engineering / Business Laboratories modules and projects at Cork Institute of Technology has dovetailed with the implementation of major initiatives including: 

 

Innovative and New Product Development

 

Multi-Disciplinary Engineering / Business Laboratories Modules Developed

 

CIT Engineering and Innovation Exhibition

Europe's Largest Educational Engineering Event (200 stands in 2017)

 

CIT Innovation Start-up Company Internships  

CIT Innovation Week and Student Prizes for Innovation 

CIT Ideas Hub Society 

CIT Rubicon Ireland's Premier Business Incubation Centre 

CIT MEDIC Medical Engineering Design and Innovation Centre 

CIT Nimbus Centre for Embedded Systems Research 

CIT Hincks Centre for Entrepreneurship Excellence 

 

to engineer a college-wide student innovation eco-system. 

 

CIT Promotion of Women in Engineering and Entrepreneurship

 

 

CIT Graduate Louise Roe 

Ireland’s first female Engineers Ireland Chartered Engineer of the Year

 

CIT Graduate Dr. Xiao Fang Zhang

 European Laureate of Innovation

 

 

 

Examples of developed knowledge-based student innovative products include:

 

PMD SolutionsTM  - Respiratory Monitor Device Design and Development

CIT Prize for Innovation and Student Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 - EC Horizon 20/20 €4.2 Million Funding 2016

A prime example of a highly successful student start-up company ( now employing 22 staff), is PMD Solutions based in the Rubicon Centre, CIT’s Campus Based Start-Up Incubation Centre. Following winning First Place in the 2011 CIT Prize for Innovation and the coveted Award of CIT Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 by CIT Mechanical Engineering Student Myles Murray for his undergraduate project on Respiratory Rate Monitoring Device Development, PMD Solutions was founded to develop innovative and patient friendly technologies to support health providers early prevention model of patient care. 

 

EqualiserTM - Extreme Weather Conditions Novel Tie-down System for Ship to Shore Cranes

University Startup World Cup Finals 2015 Copenhagen, Denmark - 48 Finalists from 24 Countries - Top Three Worldwide in Product and Technology Category 2015

 

PyraAidTM  -  Wheelchair Enablement Device

Innovact European Campus Innovative Student of the Year 2014 First Place

 

HydroFLOcean H-FLOTM  - Platform Safety System Design

CIT Multi-Discipline Start-Up Innovation Team - (1) James Dyson Design Award 2016 - First Place National Award  $3,500 Award - (2) Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur Finals 201 Cruickshank Intellectual Property Attorneys €5,000 National Award - (3) CIT Prize for Innovation 2016 Most Technically Innovative Product  €2,000 Award 

 

Advanced Hydro Systems TM – Automatic Flood Barrier Design and Development

(1) National Disability Authority Centre for Excellence in Universal Design Grand Challenge Enterprise Ireland Commercialisation €15,000 National Award - (2) National Disability Authority Centre for Excellence in Universal Design Grand Challenge Judges’ Choice Technology Trophy National Award 2016

 

MediPodTM  - Drone Compatible Medication Container

Engineers Ireland Innovative Student of the Year First Place

 

MusicabilityTM - Music Creation Enablement Device for the Disabled

London Medical Engineering Finals IMechE Vicon Award for Best Undergraduate Medical Engineering Project First Place -

 

VisionRETM  - Terrain / Obstacle Detection System for the Visually Impaired

Innovact European Campus Innovative Student of the Year First Place

 

Med-O-Ware™ - Medical Infusion System Air Bubble Extractor

European Laureate of Innovation

 

Unmanned Marine Search and Rescue Vehicle

 

AquaEyeTM - Swimming Aid for the Visually Impaired

Engineers Ireland Innovative Student of the Year  First Place

 

 

 

Promotional Videos for Student Engagement created in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland / Invest Northern Ireland:

Lecturer

Students

 CIT Faculty of Engineering and Science Promotional Videos

 

The CIT Prize for Innovation with awards totalling €10,000 per annum in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland Innovation Centres and the Cork City and County Enterprise Boards has been a major spur towards the promotion of an entrepreneurial/innovation ethos amongst the student body.

 

The attendance and participation of internationally renowned entrepreneurs and alternative thinkers, such as Edward De Bono, is designed to provide inspiration and example. 

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