26 February 2010
IET Lecture (Thu 26th Feb 2010)
I gave this talk to the IET on Thu 26th Feb 2010.
It gives an overview of the TSSG (Telecommunications Software & Systems Group). The focus is on the unique model of balancing basic research, applied research and commercialisation activity (roughloy equally) in a research centre in Ireland.
The next part was a call to arms to migrate to IPv6, giving the historical context of IPv4 depletion.
Finally a note was made of the TSSG's progress towards IPv6 deployment, and of our research activity since 199 in various research themes linked to IPv6, particularly SHIM6.
24 February 2010
TSSG hosts NGN Testbed Launch: Wed 10th Mar 2010 - Guinness Storehouse, Dublin
The TSSG is happy to announce that it is organising a launch event for its Next Generation Network (NGN) Testbed in the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin on Wednesday 10th March 2010. This all day event, starting at 9:00am. Register Here.
Speakers include: Willie Donnelly (TSSG), Ulf Olsson (Ericsson), Shane Dempsey (NGN Test Centre), Anastasius Gavras (Eurescom), Ioannis Fikouras (Ericsson Sweden), Philip Sharpe (ISIN, Danu Technologies), Brendan Kearns (Eircom), Cathal McGloin (FeedHenry), and Catherine Mulligan (Ericsson).
Panel discussion introduced and chaired by Chris Horn.
23 February 2010
In Praise of Shiny Old Things
Jon Udell argues that innovation is as much about inventive reuse of existing components, shiny old things, as it is about creating something completely new. I whole heartedly agree. Shiny new uses for familiar old things --- Jon Udell. Thanks to Miguel ponce de Leon for the tweet reference.
19 February 2010
TSSG at Mobile World Congress
Mobile World Congress, organised by the GSMA, is the biggest annual conference for those interested in mobile telephony in Europe. As usual the TSSG have an active presence at this trade show.
This year one of the TSSG's spin-in companies, GoMoNews, has been there this week in force covering the event, and organising one the main social mixer events on everyone's calendar, where more than 400 showed up to exchange formal and informal news on mobile technologies. Sinead Quealy has just returned from the event and the highligt for her was Stephen Fry presenting the GSMA awards on Tuesday afternoon.
The other main TSSG presence has been via our spin-out company FeedHenry, that has a demonstration hsoted on the Oracle stand. Richard Roger has also returned to base, and the highlight for him was meeting the BBC.
Next month CTIA in Las Vegas 23rd-25th March 2010 will be a similar event for the North American market, and anticipate a strong TSSG presence there as well.
4 February 2010
European Research Council (ERC)
Very well written article on European Research Council, why it is so different from EC research funding to date, and the challenges it faces Fork in the Road :The Scientist [2010-02-01]. Thanks to Brendan Jennings (@toofardown) tweet.
3 February 2010
Minister Cullen tuns sod on new TSSG Research Building
Last Friday we had Minister Cullen visit the TSSG to turn the sod on our new TSSG Research Building, funded by HEA PRTLI Cycle 4 capital programme, with matched funding from Waterford Institute of Technology. See the TSSG press release (copied below).
It is important to mention that the key people behind the original proposal were Willie Donnelly (the PI), myself, Brendan Jennings and Sven van der Meer. Of course like any large proposal this was team effort with many others contributing as well, and more subtly with the potential success based on the reputation of the TSSG that draws on an even wider set of people and achievements. The funding was won back in 2007 and this comprised a recurrent element, that funds the FutureComm project, and the capital element, that funds this new building.
As it happens we are conducting an internal mid-way review of the FutureComm project today in the Digital Hub. The key people in terms of actually delivering this work programme are Dmitri Botvich, who coordinates our research activity and manages the team, and Tom Pfeifer, who contributes his own expertise and acts as the logistics and support coordinator.
So these two events have given me the opportunity for reflection, and I am generally reminded of the good job we are doing, and of the importance of capturing this and promoting it publicly. This is actually very difficult given the complex nature of the inter-relationships between our various activities (126 funded projects in the period 1996-2010 to date, with nearly 40 active in 2010, and that doesn't include the 52 smaller Enterprise Ireland Innovation Vouchers we have done).
Martin Cullen TD, Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism, turned the first sod today (Fri, Jan 29) on a new 1,056m² four-storey research building at Waterford Institute of Technology’s West Campus at Carriganore.Funded by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) under the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI), the €5m development designed by Devereux Architects is being built by BAM Construction and represents the next phase of expansion at the campus where much of the Institute’s fourth level research, development and innovation activity is now concentrated.
Set for completion in 2011, the new building will be clearly visible from the Waterford City Bypass and is being developed to the northwest of the ArcLabs Research and Innovation Centre. With a maritime design, it will overlook the nearby River Suir and accommodate offices and meeting rooms for postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers as well as general office and laboratory space.
Speaking as work commenced on site, Minister Cullen said: “Continued investment in Ireland’s research infrastructure is a central part of our push towards delivering on the ‘Smart Economy’ agenda that offers the strongest prospects for economic recovery and a return to sustainable growth.
“Going back to my own time as Minister of State at the Department of Finance a decade ago when the land-bank here at Carriganore was acquired for Waterford Institute of Technology, I had always been convinced that the Institute would have – as it now does - one of the finest higher education campuses in the country.
“Following on from the refurbishment of Carriganore House, the development of ArcLabs and the National Biodiversity Data Centre, this latest phase of development marks another milestone in the rollout of the terrific vision that exists for this location where excellent sports facilities are also nearing completion. The West Campus is, of course, more accessible than ever to the entire region since the opening in October of the N25 Waterford City Bypass.”
Redmond O’Donoghue, Chairman, Waterford Institute of Technology, added: “In what is our 40th year, the Institute and the wider community in the southeast can be justly proud of the great strides that have been made by researchers here. This latest significant addition to our West Campus will allow that work to continue to grow in scope and depth.
“It is vital that we maintain investment in the research that will deliver the employment opportunities of tomorrow. The additional space to be provided by this latest campus expansion will allow further growth of our Telecommunications Software Systems Group (TSSG) which has won €40m in national and international research funding for 85 projects over the last five years alone. Specifically, the building will facilitate TSSG work on globally significant HEA-funded research where they are partnering with NUI Maynooth and University of Limerick on the ‘Future Internet’.”
Dr Willie Donnelly, Head of Research, Waterford Institute of Technology and director and< co-founder of TSSG, said: “Our research has enabled us to successfully create a mobile services cluster of high potential start-ups where almost 200 sustainable direct and indirect jobs have been created.
“Our research team continues to successfully compete for funding at a national and international level with the additional facilities now being provided with HEA support set to allow us grow further in the years ahead. As well as having a considerable economic impact for the southeast and ‘Ireland Inc’, TSSG research outputs will also increasingly generate products and services that benefit end users in society more widely.”
The project team for the new building also includes JODA Engineering Consultants; Michael Punch & Partners Consulting Engineers and Brendan Murray & Associates Quantity Surveyors.