IBIS is a consortium putting together business and research centres. They form the Piemonte innovation hub for sustainable chemistry. Research underway deals with sustainable coating/paint, products based on renewable sources, transformation of biomasses, reduction/re-use of wastes, optimisation of processes. Two highly significant IBIS adherents are presented.

Bracco Imaging spa produces over 2,000 tons per year of chemicals for diagnostics. Sustainability is a research line and a main strategy for the company. The processes underway represent a top technological level; nevertheless they are subject to continuous innovation.

Novamont SpA was established in 1989 under the name of Ferteca strategic research centre , within the Montedison group, with the aim of integrating chemicals and agriculture according to environmental sustainability (the company's ambitious project, "Living Chemistry for Quality of Life"). It has been able to equip itself with technology required to ensure upstream integration, something which is at the basis of the bio-refinery. The concept of a bio-refinery represents an example of a new corporate model, a project which links the company to the local region and which creates a strong base from which to launch a company in the international market.

In an unprecedented move, ten leading European Research Institutes have taken up the challenge and founded the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) in October 2008. The key objective of the EERA is to accelerate the development of new energy technologies by conceiving and implementing Joint Research Programmes in support of the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) plan by pooling and integrating activities and resources, combining national and Community sources of funding and maximising complementarities and synergies. EERA is a direct answer from the European scientific community to the demand for innovation in the energy sector as some of the greatest problems of our time revolve around energy, namely security of supply, climate change and sustainability.

The creation of EERA triggered already further activities. For example, the European Universities Association announced the establishment of a new “European Platform of Universities engaged in Energy Research” as a mechanism to bring university-based research into EERA activities. The workshop will demonstrate how the initiatives initiated and carried out by EERA strengthen, expand and optimise EU energy research capabilities through the sharing of world class national facilities in Europe and the joint realisation of pan-European research programmes.

THE PIEDMONT RADHOME PROJECT

In 2008 the Piedmont Regional Agency for Health Services funded a research on a public domiciliary radiography programme for frail elderly and immobilized patients. Preliminary experiences indicated that the coupling of simple system, light-weight X-ray equipment with an advanced Direct Radiology, proves effective for domiciliary radiographic service.

A multidisciplinary team was involved in the development of the project. The aim was to evaluate the benefits and the cost-effectiveness of radiological examinations at home.

A randomized controlled study was conducted at the Geriatric Hospital at Home Service of San Giovanni Battista Hospital of Torino, a big University teaching and tertiary-care hospital.

Patients were randomly assigned to perform diagnostic imaging at home or in hospital. At home, the radiological examinations were carried out using a portable high frequency X-ray tube and a mobile radiological station with visualization and real-time processing of acquired images. All patients were examined using a standardized protocol. The results of the research will be highlighted during the session.

 

TRIL (Technology Research for Independent Living) Centre technology display

TRIL Centre will demonstrate the development of its technologies, designed with and for older people, to enable them to live independently in their homes for as long as possible.

TRIL is exploring the physical, cognitive and social consequences of ageing and developing technology solutions to address them.

TRIL is a team of multidisciplinary researchers

Irish Government strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation aims to develop Ireland as a knowledge based economy renowned for excellence in research. Graduate education is a critical component of this strategy. University-industry collaborations, such as the Tyndall-Intel partnership, provide students with opportunities to undertake research in leading edge technology development, gain relevant transferable skills and satisfy industry demand for postgraduates with key skills and knowledge aligned to current and future technology needs.

The Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology’s (IRCSET) Enterprise Partnership Scheme facilitates industry academia collaboration through awarding industry co-funded postgraduate and postdoctoral scholarships to the most promising and talented researchers. This proposal seeks to highlight the model adopted jointly by Tyndall, INTEL and IRCSET for best practice in PhD education.

Students hosted by Tyndall have access to top class facilities and work alongside internationally renowned senior researchers. They are supervised by Tyndall researchers and academics from University College Cork science and engineering departments, mentored by an INTEL expert and participate at the annual Intel European Research conference. The combinations of the nature of the research topics; access to both industry and academic experts and world class research facilities help students to produce original, highest quality research.

This session will highlight the most effective ways of accelerating innovation based on the experience of successful entrepreneurs who have been through the process as well as prospective entrepreneurs (Kauffman Post Doctoral and Global Fellows, selected through a very competitive process) currently going through the process. The objective is to have those who have actually been through the process describe what worked well and what did not in terms of commercializing technology and building successful high growth companies. This will include a discussion of the role of universities, policy makers and business in accelerating innovation as well as the issue of IP.

This panel will discuss innovation policies in varoius countries (Europe as well as other leading examples). The goal of the panel would be to describe the evolution of policy based on the fast changing innovation environment and highlight various policy approaches taken in countries which have done well in innovation indices and scoreboards.