Today, Wednesday November 17th, Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources Mr. Eamon Ryan T.D., officially launched the wireless infrastructure component of SmartBay, the National Facility for Research, Test and Demonstration of Emerging Marine ICT and Environmental Technologies.
(left to right: Dr. Peter Heffernan, Minister Ryan and Dr. Martin Curley at the launch event in Dublin today)
SmartBay, a flagship project, is being advanced as a major innovation platform under the SmartOcean Strategy. This strategy aims to facilitate the convergence of expertise in areas in which Ireland has a strong and internationally recognised capabilities (e.g. informatics, communications, sensors, software, control systems, mechanical engineering and materials science) and link these with traditionally strong marine science expertise to enable Irish companies to deliver new products and services for global export markets.
The wireless communication infrastructure component of the project, which is led by Intel, was launched at the at the Globe Forum Dublin 2010 event at the Convention Centre, Dublin. The advanced Marine Wireless Network that Intel has deployed is a key component of the project ecosystem and is already enabling the development of new innovative ICT based products and services.
Speaking at the event Minister Ryan commented that “Projects such as this one are an important example of innovative partnerships focused on next generation research that will underpin our development as a Smart Economy. SmartBay is one of the six action areas identified in the ‘Technology Actions to Support the Smart Economy’ strategy and earlier this year the government approved a €3.8m award over a five year period to support the operation of the facility. Additional investments, such as that made by Intel in establishing the Wireless Communications backbone for SmartBay, demonstrate a major commitment by industry to collaborate with government and academia in order to drive innovation”.
The contribution of the WiMax high speed data network to SmartBay is significant in that it provides the platform for a wide range of new technologies to be developed and tested from early warning systems for pollution or naturally occurring toxins, to control and management systems for ocean energy devices, detection and surveillance systems (physical and biological) to monitoring systems that can detect long term shifts in ocean conditions that may be induced by global climate change.
“The need to understand, manage and develop our oceans in a sustainable manner has never been greater and increasingly requires accurate and timely information on climate, weather, water, ecosystems, biodiversity, energy resources, and natural/man induced disasters”, said Dr Peter Heffernan, CEO Marine Institute. “Technology has a key role to play in the provision of this information and to underpinning the development of new commercial opportunities associated with our global marine resources”.
Also speaking at the launch Dr. Martin Curley, Director of Intel Labs Europe, commented that “the Smartbay Wireless Communications Infrastructure, based on WiMax technology, will be a powerful, smart infrastructure system which will serve as a platform for emergence and derivative innovation. It is a great example of triple helix innovation where industry, government and academia work together to drive significant innovations and in this case hopefully catalyse the development of an Ocean Technologies cluster, which in turn will allow the further emergence of new ideas, services and indeed businesses”.
See YouTube link to view the short movie prepared for the event.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Sarah Sexton - Tel: 087 659 3984
Email: sarah.sexton@intel.com
Or
Dr. John Joyce - Tel: 087 2250871
Email:john.joyce@marine.ie
Notes to Editor
About Intel Ireland
Ireland is Intel’s centre of manufacturing excellence in Europe. Since 1989, Intel has invested US$7 billion turning 360 acres of the Collinstown Industrial Park into the most advanced industrial campus in Ireland. The Leixlip, Co. Kildare site is the most technologically advanced industrial location in Europe and over 4,000 people work at the campus.
About Intel Labs Europe
Intel Labs Europe (ILE) is a network of Research & Development, Product , and Innovation Labs spanning the European region as well as variety of Intel business units. ILE was formally established in early 2009 as a central means of coordinating activities across Intel’s diverse network of labs and to further strengthen Intel’s commitment to and alignment with European R&D. In addition to driving key technology innovations for Intel, ILE works closely with academic, industry, and government institutions to advance innovations and strengthen Europe’s technology leadership in the global community
SmartBay - National Marine Research, Test & Demonstration Facility
The SmartBay National Research Test and Demonstration Facility is being developed by the Marine Institute and partners (including DCU, NUIG, MUIM, UCD, Intel and IBM) in conjunction with a range of state agencies including the EPA, SEAI, Enterprise Ireland and IDA. The project received €3.8million in funding earlier this year under the HEA administered PRTLI Cycle IV Programme.
SmartBay is a unique marine and environmental test and demonstration platform involving a growing series of partnerships with Irish and overseas industries, third level research institutes and international centres of excellence. SmartBay is a flagship project linked to Ireland’s SmartOcean Strategy.
This strategy aims to put Ireland at the hub of ocean innovation leveraging the significant investments made by government and industry in ICT and in marine research and development. SmartBay is acting as a focal point for the creation of an industry oriented research grouping in the field of sensors, intelligent systems, platforms and communications.
Facilities for industry and university researchers will include a network of sensors, buoys, cables and shore based platforms providing a range of opportunities to trail and showcase new concepts, technologies and solutions in real world conditions.
About the Marine Institute
The Marine Institute is the state agency responsible for marine research, development and innovation in Ireland. The Marine Institute, headquartered in Oranmore, Co Galway provides a range of services to government, industry, the third level sector and the public.
The Institute provides policy and scientific advice on all aspects of the marine resource, undertakes research, stimulates development, and administers the national competitive research programme linked to the implementation of Sea Change - the National Marine Research, Knowledge and Innovation Strategy 2007-2013.
The Institute also operates the National Research Vessels and provides data and information services to support industry development and underpin the work of a range of government departments, state agencies and local authorities.
Globe Forum Dublin
Globe Forum 2010 is an international conference focused on matching people, ideas and business with sustainable innovation opportunities. The conference will focus on the power of Irish innovation, both at home and globally. The event will offer a unique programme which will highlight the emergence of Dublin as an Open City for Innovation and will look at how Dublin can become a global test bed for innovations and new ideas, a place where products and services can rapidly become prototypes.
Intel is a world leader in computing innovation. The company designs and builds the essential technologies that serve as the foundation for the world’s computing devices. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.ie