Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) has set up a new research centre for data analytics called Insight. A joint initiative of Dublin City University (DCU), National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway, University College Cork (UCC) and University College Dublin (UCD), the research centre will receive €58 million in funding from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through SFI’s Research Centres Programme, as well as a contribution of €30 million from 30 industry partners.
The centre will be staffed by 200 researchers from the supporting institutions and other higher education institutions and the industry partners. The aim of the centre is to “position Ireland at the heart of global data analytics research,” said the launch announcement.
Insight will work with industry partners, ranging from small Irish start-ups to established SMEs and large multinationals, on a range of projects to advance data analytics technologies in Ireland. Industry partners include RTÉ, The Irish Times, Cisco, Microsoft, Alcatel-Lucent, Santry Sports Clinic, the IRFU, Avaya, TE Labs, TreeMetrics, NitroSell, Avego, UTRC, Shimmer and many others.
Big data is a sector targeted as part of the Government’s Disruptive Reforms in Action Plan for Jobs 2013.
“Big data is a sector growing globally at 40% per annum,” said Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD at the launch, “and we have targeted it as part of the Disruptive Reforms contained in Action Plan for Jobs 2013. This is a sector where Ireland has the potential to gain competitive advantage and attract significant numbers of investments and jobs, and we are putting in place measures to ensure that we can deliver on that potential. The establishment of this world-class SFI research centre in data analytics, with a total investment of €88million supported by my Department, is a strong signal of our ambition in this area. Today’s announcement, in combination with the other measures we have put in place in this sector, will help attract the investment, support the business ideas and create the jobs in Ireland that we need”.
“The launch of Insight is an important step forward in the development of the skills base necessary for Ireland to harness and channel the current and future potential of Big Data,” said Minister for Research and Innovation, Sean Sherlock TD. “Insight is a major national investment in this new area of research and one that is essential for Ireland’s future success in the technology sector.”
The Insight centre will eventually create 300 direct jobs, as well as training new data analytics practitioners. Over the next six years, said the launch statement, Insight research is expected to result in 12 new spin out companies, approximately 50 patent filings, and over 50 technology licenses, leading to thousands of indirect jobs in the data analytics sector.
“Data analytics represents a huge growth opportunity for Ireland and we are perfectly positioned to take advantage of it,” said Professor Barry Smyth, CEO, Insight. “Spending on Big Data technologies is growing at 30% per annum as demand for data analytics skills continues to outstrip supply. In Insight we have brought together the country’s leading data analytics researchers to meet this demand and create new opportunities for Ireland and our industry partners.”
“Insight will provide Ireland with a new flagship national research resource in information and communications technology and underlines Ireland’s focused investment in excellent research with impact,” said Professor Mark Ferguson, director general, SFI and chief scientific adviser to the Government. “Insight is one of seven world-class SFI Research Centres of scale and excellence that involve significant co-investment by industry partners. Insight will be undertaking research that is fundamental to Ireland’s enhanced competitive positioning in the area of data analytics as well as our international standing in the overall ICT sector.”
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