Two University of Limerick researchers have been awarded fellowships through the SFI Industry Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) Fellowship Programme.
Dr Amit Kumar and Dr Andrey Bezrukov, both from the Department of Chemical Sciences in UL are among 15 people awarded a total of €1.4 million by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan TD.
The SFI Industry RD&I Fellowship Programme supports the temporary placement of academic researchers in companies, to conduct research across a variety of areas including energy efficient communications networks, electrochemical sensors for rapid medical diagnostics, seaweed extract for use in cosmetics/health products, moorings for offshore wind platforms, and reducing cement’s carbon footprint using new generation low clinker cement technology.
Dr Kumar will be working with Analog Devices on his project which will assess and improve polyimide for electrical insulation, as well as to optimise the thin-film production of polyimide with a view to reducing coating variation, polyimide voiding, metal-polyimide interaction, and post-cure profile.
Dr Berzukov will be partnering with NEG8 Carbon on the ChemiSorb project. This will see development of advanced sorbent materials for use in carbon dioxide (CO2) capture. In order to address the ongoing global climate crisis, we need to reduce atmospheric CO2 levels by removing it directly from the air using Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology. This process is challenging due to the extremely low CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere, as low as 0.042%. To effectively capture CO2 at such trace levels, the development of these materials is essential.
Welcoming the investment Minister Patrick O’Donovan said: “I am delighted to announce the SFI Industry RD&I Fellowship Programme recipients, connecting academic researchers and industry partners to collaborate and mutually benefit from each other’s invaluable knowledge and expertise. Academic-Industry collaborations maximise the economic and societal impact of Irish State-funded research and resources and foster impactful innovation. I look forward to seeing the achievements that will shape the years ahead.”
The industry partners collaborating on these awards will provide co-funding with a total value exceeding €1 million. Industry partners will benefit from the expertise of the Fellow, while Fellows are provided with an opportunity to be immersed into industry and gain relevant business knowledge and experience.
Dr Siobhan Roche, Director, Science for the Economy at Science Foundation Ireland said: “Science Foundation Ireland is really pleased to support these academia-industry connections. This funding supports colleagues in academia to bring their research knowledge and skills to an industry partner and work collaboratively on solutions to industry‐informed challenges. The SFI Industry RD&I Fellowship Programme provides a unique opportunity for researchers, drives research excellence through knowledge exchange, and enhances the industry partners’ competitive advantage.”
Examples of the other projects include:
- Rapid medical diagnostics using a smart sensing interface, in collaboration with Analog Devices Inc (ADI)
- Seeking new, sustainable alternatives to reduce environmental impact of composites for renewable energy devices, in collaboration with ÉireComposites
- Accelerating the reduction of cement’s carbon footprint, in collaboration with Ecocem
- Improve detection and understanding of the small signalling particles that respond to cancer cells, in collaboration with Beckman Coulter Life Sciences
- A seaweed compound to improve the cosmetics and health product industry, in collaboration with Bantry Marine Research Station
- To develop and commercialise a load reduction device to reduce the cost of the moorings for offshore wind platforms, in collaboration with Dublin Offshore Technology
- Exploring new sources or technologies to meet future bandwidth requirements of networks in an energy efficient manner, in collaboration with Eblana Photonics