Intel and Trinity College Dublin sign first ever Partnership to Boost Innovation

Posted on: 16 September 2015

Trinity College Dublin inked a strategic partnership with Intel, one of Ireland’s largest employers last week. A memorandum of understanding was signed by the head of Intel’s Irish operations, Eamonn Sinnott, General Manager Intel Ireland & VP Technology Manufacturing Group, and Trinity’s Provost and President Patrick Prendergast. The partnership will further connect Intel and Trinity researchers and students to help fuel the innovation economy here in Ireland and create jobs.

The new partnership will focus on three areas: talent, research, and national policy associated with research and education. Students will also benefit from mentoring programmes provided by Intel; such as an undergraduate business accelerator programme called Launchbox. It will support a structured PhD programme to ensure Trinity PhD students have the training needed to be successful in their careers. In research the partnership will identify new areas of development and provide a strategic framework of investment and recruitment that will be mutually beneficial to both Trinity and Intel; and deliver for Ireland globally.

The new partnership is the culmination of a long and deep collaboration between Trinity and Intel through Science Foundation Ireland- funded research centres such as AMBER, CONNECT and ADAPT; the funding of PhD studentships; public outreach initiatives such as the Science Gallery; the acquisition of campus companies such as the games company Havok, and through the provision of high quality graduates who have worked in Intel Ireland.

Commenting on the significance of the new partnership Eamonn Sinnott Intel Ireland, General Manager & VP Technology Manufacturing Group said:

“Intel has been proactively developing the research and innovation footprint of its operation in Ireland over the last 25 years through the strong relationships it has built with academic institutions and the innovation community. Its partnership with Trinity has been multi-faceted and has contributed to many of the recent innovation successes for Intel Ireland. Today’s signing signals a new strategic approach to our engagement which will consolidate and build on that longstanding relationship.”

Provost & President, Dr Patrick Prendergast said:

“Trinity is at the heart of the national push to attract talent to Ireland, nurture existing talent, and turn good ideas into sustainable jobs. This agreement is part of Trinity’s commitment to partner with industry to ensure together we can deliver for Ireland; through producing highly skilled graduates which contribute to the growth of the economy; through our research enabling new products and services; and through ensuring the Trinity educational experience will be valued by both our students and their future employers.”

About Intel at Trinity:

Phd Programme Intel has hired 22 PhD students from Trinity College, out of a total of 122 PhD hires. This represents 18% of the total.

Case Study of   Trinity PhD candidate & currently Intel Researcher in Residence at Trinity

Dr Alan Bell PhD, Researcher in Residence, AMBER at Trinity and Intel Ireland (mobile 086 835 2224)

My time in Trinity began with a four year undergraduate degree in what is now called Nanoscience, Physics and Chemistry of Advanced Materials in September 2003.  On graduating in July 2008 I started a PhD under the supervision of Professor Boland in the School of Chemistry and CRANN. This research centered on fabricating nano devices. As part of the PhD I was involved in the Intel integration group. Here, I assisted other groups who were working with Intel in both imaging and fabricating devices that had the potential to be introduced to the Intel factory out in Leixlip.

After completing my PhD in 2012 the position of tool owner for the Helium Ion Microscope became available. My role here involved assisting researchers with using the instrument to its full capability. One of the projects involved was with Professor Morris from UCC and Matt Shaw, an Intel researcher in residence, studying the morphology of a new and exciting material called Block Copolymers.

In January 2015 I joined Intel. After a short stint in the factory in Leixlip as a technician I started the position of Intel researcher in residence in CRANN. I am working with multiple world class researchers trying to find and make the next wonder material to follow on from silicon.
 

Other Intel involvement at Trinity

CRANN  Intel was the founding industry partner of the Science Foundation Ireland funded nanoscience institute, CRANN.  It remains the largest partner of the newly founded SFI centre AMBER. Trinity has aligned its investment in infrastructure and new faculty around research topics compatible with Intel’s interests.

TRIL Intel worked with Trinity researchers and other partner institutions, around the development of novel sensing technologies to support increased independent living for the elderly.

CTVR Intel partnered with the National Telecommunications Centre in assessing different applications for its new Quark chips designed in Ireland.