University Of Ulster

This has lead to over thirty patents filed and 6 new spin-out companies (over 100 employees). We have developed and licensed numerous devices such as PRIME ECG, Vital Signs Wireless Patch, 12-lead holter-telemonitoring, AED defibrillators, telemonitoring platforms, the world’s biggest selling ECG electrode and a range of licensed algorithms to companies such as Samsung, Tyco and Meridian Medical.

Close tri-lateral partnerships with industry (local and international) and clinicians will establish further market and clinical roadmaps for each product family along with field testing and rapid feedback.

We are now well experienced at Ulster in taking ideas to proof of concept (funded by Office of Innovation seed funding; University Challenge Fund or InvestNI/Halo) to early stage seed funding (venture capital, InvestNI or Wellcome Trust funding) and then to well-funded company formation with CEO & International Marketing structures. Good examples of advanced materials and sensors-related companies that are doing well under these models include; Heartsine; Heartscape, Intelesens and SiSAF (spin-in). More recently Lenis Aer and Axis Composites have been formed in the area sof metal forming and composites respectively.

As well as numerous industrial links already outlined at the Group level, seven INI Proof of Concept grants were awarded in the areas of biomaterials; photocatalytic materials; sensors, composites, barrier packaging and plasma based materials. NIBEC has received a range of innovation awards (Investment Belfast 25K Business Plan Competition) with three first-prizes and many top ten awards.

Over 28 ERI-related Cross-Border (NI-IRL) Industry-University Fusion Programmes are on-going and a range of KTP’s and Invest NI START programmes have been or were developed with companies such as TFX-Medical, Perfecseal, Seagate, and Courtaulds.