Prof. Edmond Magner (MSSI) welcomed over 50 delegates and opened the meeting with an overview of materials research activities at MSSI. The Institute has 39 Academic Staff, 216 Researchers from 8 academic departments representing Chemistry, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Materials Electronics, Physics Biochemistry and Mathematics.

Attendees at the event with Prof. Roger Whatmore Materials Ireland Chairman (CEO Tyndall Institute) right.

Nanostructure in action! Courtesy of Dr. Alan Smith

A highly stimulating talk on Micro-Nanotechnology Roadmapping for Horizon Scanning was presented by Dr. Alan Smith (former Associate Director, UK Micro Nanotechnology Network). Alan outlined that the solutions to many of the world’s problems, namely climate change, prevention of disease, environmental pollution and sustainable energy supplies could be found by the application of these new nano-enabled technologies.

Mr. Jon O’Halloran (MSSI), presented a sobering talk on Pharmaceutical Crystallisation and Drug Delivery, outlining the activities of the Solid State Pharmaceutical Research Cluster (SFI Strategic Research Cluster(SRC)). The importance of the drug manufacturing industry to Ireland’s economy was highlighted where over 30 companies are located in Ireland.

The sector directly employs 24,000 people, was responsible for 45% of national exports in 2004 with product exports of ¤15billion in 2006. The threat to the manufacturing sector is evident given the number of research facilities closing in Europe, relative to those opening in Asia. The new SRC is concentrating on 5 themes namely;

Increasing employment in Pharma Sector

Hand held monitoring device

Mr Ernest Poku, CEO, Crescent Diagnostics Ltd, presented a talk on Development of a Screening Test for Osteoporosis. Ernst delivered an exciting talk on the spin-out opportunities for campus researchers, highlighting the route Crescent Diagnostics has taken since spin-out in 2005. The critical role and support from of the University of Limerick’s TTO was notable. The concept is based on the fingernail Raman signature that can identify the on-set of osteoporosis.

Over 230m are at risk of fracture in the developed world. The drugs are effective but earlier diagnosis is required. Only 12% of at-risk women are screened today. There is a huge unmet clinical need for a new fracture risk test. A ¤2bn market opportunity is estimated.

Dr. Trevor Young, Co-director of Composites Research Centre (CRC) (MSSI), outlined the core competencies of the group that have secured over eleven EU projects in addition to EI, SFI and PRTLI awards. Dr. Young highlighted the Centre’s success is securing one of the first funding rounds for Enterprise Ireland’s research Competence Centre’s (C³).

Examples of Core Competencies include:

Composites:

Manufacturing, Materials Behaviour, Characterisation, Damage Modelling and FMLs

NDT & Microscopy:

Impact and Crashworthiness

Mechanical testing of materials and structures:

Bolted and Bonded Joints (Modelling, Testing and Design)

CRC recently were successful in achieving funding for C³