29 June 2016
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
A cork-based collaboration between Dr Brian O’Flaherty from Business Information Systems (BIS) at UCC and Mary Byrne, CEO of Statistical Solutions, was awarded the ‘Research2Business Collaborative Impact Award’, at the annual Knowledge Transfer Impact Awards at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin recently.
The ceremony celebrated successful collaborations and ground-breaking innovation between academia and business; while the ‘Research2Business Collaborative Impact Award’ specifically recognises endeavours which researchers play in knowledge transfer and delivered impact for businesses.
Statistical Solutions is a Cork based SME specialising in the development and sale of statistical analysist software used principally for statistical calculations in medical trials. Since 2010 the company has been engaged in a multi-project collaboration with Dr Brian O’Flaherty and his team in Business Information Systems at Cork University Business School, UCC. The research collaboration resulted in the development of an innovative new predictive analytics platform, called PX, which enhances opportunities for growth and employment.
Speaking about the significance of the award and application of PX, Dr O’Flaherty said “This is an example of high impact research, where UCC can collaboratively transform a company from software product to a predictive analytics service company, by enhancing innovation, competitiveness and market agility, while fulfilling its role in the regional economy by increasing employment.”
The collaborative research received significant funding support from the Enterprise Ireland Innovation Partnership programme, and Andrew Marsh, Technology Transfer Office, UCC was the case manager.
Dr O’Flaherty and Mary Byrne were presented with their award by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell-O’Connor TD.
