| 2002 |
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YEAR BOOK |
MATERIALS IRELAND
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Materials Ireland – bridging the interface
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Why is there an interface?
It is widely acknowledged that the level of R&D investment is not as high as is desirable and is a weakness of Irish industry. Only by moving up the value chain can companies remain competitive. However, the best R&D is in the third level sector and not in industry. In order to best utilise this expertise and make it available to industry, Materials Ireland provides access to networks of expertise and acts as an interface and conduit between industry and the third level sector.
Role of Materials Ireland
Materials Ireland (MI) is the national programme in industrial materials. Our role is technology transfer and technology management in industrial materials technologies, particularly on the processing of industrial materials. This requires us to both manage the development of technologies as well as transferring them to solve the problems, and help to support the development and use of technologies in Irish industry.
How does it work?
A new model of operation is being implemented. In place of our traditional research centres will be a network of technology transfer and technology development managers. As the research programmes develop, this network will play an increasingly important role in ensuring that the outputs are exploited to the benefit of Irish industry. This network will grow in line with the breadth of the research being funded. The technology base covers the materials out of which products are actually made – adhesives, bio-materials, coatings, ceramics, composites, glasses, metals, nano-materials and polymers. Additionally, MI promotes and organises national technology networks of expertise in order to promote collaboration and linkages both between researchers and Irish industry in the widest possible sense. For example, there is a very well defined Bio-Engineering/ Materials network, a Plastics Industry network, and a Nanomaterials network is being developed.
That’s not all!
Materials Ireland has very close links with AMT Ireland, which fulfils the same role for advanced manufacturing technologies. There is a clear synergy between what a product is made of (materials technologies) and how a product is made (manufacturing expertise).
To continue to support Irish industry with leading edge expertise and technologies, Materials Ireland undertakes and invests in strategic research projects. In 2001, four new strategically important research projects (see Table), were funded to the total amount of €0.8 million. This is in addition to the €2.8 million worth of projects funded in 2000. These are targeted so as to develop technologies which address the current and future needs of Irish industry.
The future
Materials Ireland will continue to bridge the interface between industry and academia, by developing and supporting leading edge research in order to develop Irish industry, thereby playing a key role in securing its long term viability.
| MI Strategic Research Programmes |
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| College | Research Programme | Main targeted Industrial Sectors |
| DCU | An application of plasma diagnostics | Electronics |
| TCD | Intelligent multifunctional materials | Healthcare, Chemical &Pharmaceutical Industries |
| TCD | Surface treatment for better adhesion | Engineering, Electronics, Healthcare |
| TCD | Reactive additives for ‘smart’ materials | Consumer Products&Healthcare |
| TCD | New purification technologies for solvent mixes | Green Manufacturing |
| TCD, DIT | Nanomaterials for new industrial applications | Electronics, Engineering, Medical Diagnostics |
| TCD, ITT | Modelling and simulation of bulk metal forming | Engineering |
| TCD, ITT | Modelling and simulation of sheet metal forming | Engineering |
| CRC-EI | Utilisation of waste starch in polymeric materials | Food processing, Paints |
| CRC-EI | Self stratifying coatings technology | Paint & Coatings |
| UL, NUIG | Innovative processing for composite structures | Aerospace |
| UL, GMIT | Effects of sterilisation on polymers | Medical Device, Healthcare |
| UL | Development of new materials for vascular grafts | Medical Device, Healthcare |
| UL | Glass based dental restorative materials | Medical Device, Healthcare |
| UL | Novel polyphase polymers and adhesives | Engineering, Aeronautical Subsupply |
| UL | Ceramic inkjet decoration process | Giftware, Ceramics, Print |
| UCD | Precision engineering (process modelling and control) | Precision Engineering, Toolmaking |
| UCD | Construction materials programme | Construction Products |
| UCD | Simulation of composite manufacturing processes | Engineering, Aeronautical & Automotive Subsupply |
| UCD | Spinal disc materials | Medical Device, Healthcare |
| UCD | Irish foundries in the 21st Century | Foundry, Castings |
| PDC | Injection moulding initiative | Plastics sector |
| PDC | Rotational moulding initiative | Plastics sector |
| CRC-EI = Coating Research Centre – Enterprise Ireland; PDC = Polymer Development Centre |
Contact: Jim Lawler or Joe Healy;
Tel: (01)-808-2418;
Web: http://www.mat-irl.ie Tel: (01)-808-2418;