An Taoiseach to Officially Open NexusUCD as Part of a Step-Change in UCD-Industry Engagement

An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, will this afternoon officially open NexusUCD, a new 5,250 sq.m. industry partnership centre at University College Dublin, as part of the ongoing evolution of the University’s innovation ecosystem.

NexusUCD offers high-quality modern office space, with flexible occupancy arrangements, and associated services, to established innovation-led companies collaborating with UCD’s world-class research base. By locating at NexusUCD companies will benefit from close proximity to UCD’s research capacity and the largest population of talented students in Ireland.

NexusUCD, which contains over 100 offices, is set to house up to 300 highly-skilled research and innovation jobs.
A video of NexusUCD is available to view via www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6xrOTqRy2s.

At the event, An Taoiseach will also formally open the offices and laboratories of ResMed Sensor Technologies Ltd at NexusUCD. ResMed Sensor Technologies, which plans to create up to 50 new jobs over the next 3 years, is ResMed Inc’s global centre for research and product development in sensor technology.

ResMed Inc is a leading sleep and respiratory medical technology multi-national company headquartered in San Diego, California.

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD said, “The Government’s aim, as outlined in our Action Plan for Jobs strategy, is to make Ireland the best small country in which to do business. To achieve this and to retain and create sustainable jobs, we must make Ireland even more competitive. By promoting innovation in Irish business and education, we will make Irish high-value goods and services more attractive across the world. Building closer links between industry and higher education institutions is essential as we continue to promote Ireland as the innovation island.

The establishment of NexusUCD, University College Dublin’s new industry partnership centre, is an important step in improving Ireland’s capacity for innovation. I welcome the decision of ResMed to locate its global centre for research and product development in sensor technology at NexusUCD. This development will help to establish Ireland as a leading location for international medtech and healthcare companies.”

Professor Peter Clinch, UCD Vice-President for Innovation said, “UCD’s vision is to be a driver of economic recovery in Ireland and as such the University is actively supporting the transition to a sustainable Irish economy based on innovation, education, enterprise and exports.”
He added, “Through the establishment of NexusUCD and by supporting technology centres such as the CeADAR (data analytics) and ARCH (connected health) based in the building, UCD is demonstrating its evolution into an enterprise campus with enhanced opportunities for leading businesses, like ResMed Inc, to engage with the University, its research capacity and with the largest population of talented students in Ireland.”

ResMed CEO Michael Farrell said, “ResMed is successful because of the innovation we bring to the marketplace. NexusUCD is host to key ResMed teams, focused on sensor technologies and beyond, that will significantly contribute to ResMed’s revolutionary products and solutions. The ultimate goal from this innovation is to make healthcare and wellness more accessible and to change millions of lives for the better.”

“ResMed has chosen NexusUCD based on the excellent facilities available and its proximity to UCD and affiliated research hospitals. Together they deliver an ecosystem that is vital to our innovation and growth,” added Dr Conor Hanley, Senior Vice-President, ResMed Ventures & Initiatives.

UCD already has secured over 350 research partnerships with industry partners. The establishment of NexusUCD also expands existing enterprise activities on campus such as NovaUCD, the Centre for New Ventures and Entrepreneurs, which is currently home to 35 high-tech start-up companies employing over 200 people and NIBRT, (National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training), a global IDA-funded centre of excellence for training and research in bioprocessing.

By adding the NexusUCD to its innovation ecosystem, UCD recognises the critical importance of actively participating, contributing and collaborating to exploit its leading-edge research and development outputs to enhance Ireland’s competitiveness and contribute to economic growth and job creation.