Education & Research | 23 Nov 2009 :
Minister for Science, Technology & Innovation, Mr Conor Lenihan, TD has announced that Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and HP will jointly fund a €3.7 million research programme in Ireland with CRANN, the SFI funded Centre for Science Engineering and Technology (CSET) located in Trinity College Dublin.
Minister Lenihan said, "I am delighted to announce that the partnership between Irish-based academics in CRANN and industry partner HP has led to such significant programme funding. Over the past number of years the Government, through SFI, has invested heavily in our R&D capability to support joint collaborative initiatives like this, which will lead to the commercialisation of cutting edge products.
Minister Lenihan added, "it is a great testament to the quality of the research carried out in CRANN that Ireland is now recognised as a global location for nano research. This decision by HP will send a message globally that Ireland has the infrastructure and the quality of people to deliver results, which in turn will attract further international investment leading to new jobs in Ireland."
The Ireland based HP research team are part of a worldwide R&D organisation working on the development of technologies for flexible electronics. The research programme announced today builds on the existing highly successful three year nanoscience collaboration between CRANN and HP Ireland to develop a low-cost flexible, transparent, thin-film electrode which is a critical component in the development of flexible displays. The newly announced research programme extends the work carried out to date and will contribute to the development of flexible displays that can be used for laptops, e-books and other electronic devices which are ultra thin, flexible, lightweight and have low power consumption.
Mr Pat Harnett, R&D manager HP Ireland, said, "The proven capability and expertise here at HP Ireland combined with our successful collaboration and lastrong relationship with CRANN, funded through SFI, has enabled us to attract this investment from HP in the US to Ireland. This partnership with CRANN provides a platform to grow research activity within HP Ireland."
"The decision by HP to locate this research programme in Ireland demonstrates that we are seen as a location of excellence for nanoscience," said Dr Diarmuid O'Brien, executive director, CRANN. "The investment in science by Government and Industry over the past number of years is providing measurable returns for Ireland through our ability to attract programmes like this and our enhanced
reputation internationally."