Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael)
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Each of the groups will have a chance to summarise. I welcome the witnesses again This is an exciting time, as I mentioned in the earlier session. There is a wealth of opportunity for research and innovation Ireland and this country is definitely well placed to run with that. At the end of the session, I will ask the witnesses what their vision of success is for research and innovation Ireland four or five years from now. They may wish to comment on that in making their summary statements.

As a graduate in history from the University of Galway, I am a very proud arts graduate. I previously worked in Enterprise Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland and the research office in Galway. I have worked as a contract researcher with many different colleges across the universities. I very much understand the needs and concerns around contract research because I have been that person. I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work as a project manager on the Horizon 2020 award in the University of Galway as a leader on that. It just shows the excellence across so many areas. It was the college of nursing in University of Galway that led on that world-class European project on dementia. In terms of the health sphere, and Professor Taylor is in that field, it is incredible to see the amount of research being done, its cross-disciplinary nature and the impact it has on saving lives.

At a very basic level so many projects have an impact or research can be developed. That can be through spin-outs and commercialisation. People on these teams with PhDs and postdocs have the opportunity to develop research further and perhaps make a difference. Sometimes, when making a difference, urgency is required. Urgency is important to be able to make a difference to people who are suffering and who are able to get the impacts and benefits of research that may be developed into a campus spin-out. I am thinking of some I saw when I worked in Galway where there were some incredible spin-outs. They came through BioInnovate Ireland, which was on the campus. Origin Medical is looking at atrial fibrillation and cardiac implants, there are all the stents and the incredible medtech fields in Galway and in many areas in the country. It is, however, very difficult for groups to succeed in this. There is a valley of death when it comes to commercialising and campus spin-outs succeeding and their research coming into being and having an impact. It is not a case that something that is discovered that will make an impact and where the field studies and clinical trials have been done, or it is thought they can be, always gets to the patient or the person. I am very focused on the success of innovation, Irish research having an impact, from bench to bedside, and how our university systems are doing that.

In Professor Livesey's role as vice-president of research and innovation in the University of Galway, how long does it takes around negotiating spin-outs? When it comes to negotiating contracts around research, do universities have a timeline? That can have an impact on the success of a campus spin-out. What are the challenges there? What is the average time? Galway has been very successful but I think there could be a lot more success.