Launch of the University Bridge Fund at UCD

A well attended event to celebrate the launch of the University Bridge Fund at UCD attracted senior academics and entrepreneurs from across the campus.

Speaking at the UCD launch event, Professor Orla Feely, UCD Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Impact said, "UCD is working hard to maximise the commercial opportunities arising from our intellectual property portfolio. The establishment of the University Bridge Fund represents a major leap forward in this regard. It will combine with our existing support programmes and facilities to amplify our success in developing high-tech companies which can scale globally."
She added, "I believe there is now a golden opportunity for more UCD researchers to become entrepreneurs and to commercialise their world-class research outputs, with our support and access to this Fund. I know that our research community will respond with great enthusiasm to this opportunity and that we will see many excellent commercial outcomes in the years ahead."

Pictured: Dr Helen McBreen, Investment Director, Atlantic Bridge and Prof. Orla Feely, UCD Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Impact

Speaking at UCD, Dr Helen McBreen, Investment Director, Atlantic Bridge, said, "Generating ground-breaking research in high growth sectors Irish research institutions have huge potential to create global companies of scale through commercialisation. With an internationally recognised track record and global investment platform the Atlantic Bridge team is delighted to partner with UCD to deliver strong commercial outcomes and companies with global impact."

Pictured above: Mark Horgan, Partner, Atlantic Bridge; Brendan Cremen, UCD Director of Enterprise and Commercialisation; Dr Diarmaid O'Brien, Director, Trinity Research and Innovation; Dr Helen McBreen, Investment Director, Atlantic Bridge; Gerry Maguire, Partner, Atlantic Bridge; Prof. Orla Feely, UCD Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Impact and Ray Fitzpatrick, Head of Equity Investment, AIB