University College Cork highlights ‘dynamic year’ for its researchers

University College Cork (UCC) has published its Innovation Impact Report for 2024, highlighting the achievements of UCC researchers as they work to develop economic and societal impact from their expertise, research, and creativity.

A total of €3.2m of UCC licence income has been distributed university-wide over the past five years, with €1.3m distributed to inventors and a further €920,000 distributed to inventors’ schools and research centres.

Ten patents were filed in 2024, and 28 patents have been granted in the last five years, including one in the area of semiconductors to Professor Cian Ó Mathúna, Tyndall National Institute and School of Engineering in UCC.

Advanced

The patent describes an advanced inductor device designed to improve power supply efficiency in microelectronics systems from smartphones to high performance computing for AI and data centres.

His patent leverages almost 30 years of Tyndall research in integrated magnetics technology, with the outputs being licenced to multiple international companies. Following additional proof of concept research over the coming year, Tyndall aim to licence this patent non-exclusively to Tyndall industry partners.

Dr Sally Cudmore, director of UCC Innovation, said that 2024 was a “dynamic year of innovation and entrepreneurial activity” across the UCC campus.

“UCC’s innovation pipeline remains strong, with several high-potential spinout ventures in development,” she added.