Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics, University of Galway, held a thought-provoking full day event exploring the power of data, showcasing innovation, examining key challenges and opportunities and potential avenues for industry collaborations. Insight Data Connections: Seizing the Data Opportunity through Collaboration took place on Wednesday the 23 August and was attended by over 100 delegates a mixture of Insight researchers, alumni, industry partners and collaborators.
Co-creation was the word of the day with the morning session centred around a series of in-depth breakout interest groups brainstorming the key industrial challenges for Big Data and AI focusing on Generative AI, Trustworthy Decisions and Bias and the Digital Transformation of Healthcare. The breakouts were chaired by Karl Flannery, CEO, Storm Technology, Joe Smyth, SVP of R&D, Digital and AI, Genesys and Caitriona Walsh, Country President and Managing Director, Novartis Ireland. The results of these discussions will go forward to help inform future research goals and focus areas.
During the break delegates enjoyed tours of the unique Computer and Communications Museum of Ireland and had an opportunity to view the over 30 posters covering key research outputs of the centre.
The afternoon session looked at Horizon Europe funding opportunities with a presentation from Stephen O’Reilly, National Contact Point for Horizon Europe Cluster 4 – Digital, Industry and Space followed by a series of short presentations from those leading Horizon Europe funded projects to give their experience of the pros and cons of collaborating on such projects. The presenters included: Dr Aiden Flanagan, Senior R&D Fellow, Boston; Sean Ahearne, Senior Research Scientist, Dell Technologies; Aidan O Mahony, Senior Principal Research Scientist, Dell EMC; Andrew Marsh, Technology Business Development Executive, IBM Research and Dr Martin Serrano, Insight Research Lead, Internet of Things.
For the final part of the day the venue for the event moved to the PorterShed for an evening of networking with an expert panel discussion. The panel was chaired by Carmel McGroarty-Mitchell, Business Development Manager, Insight Galway who led an informative and engaging discussing around entrepreneurship, spinouts and the power of collaboration. She was joined on the panel by Rachel Kavanagh, Chief Marketing Officer, Siren; Gearoid Hynes, Head of Product, CitySwift; Emma Meehan, Founder, Precision Sports Technology; Arik Elberse, CEO & Founder, Ancient Oak Ventures and Prof John Breslin, University of Galway.
(Photo L – R: Ann Ryan, Director of Strategic Development, University of Galway; Joe Smyth, SVP of R&D, Digital and AI, Genesys; Prof. Walter Gear, Executive Dean of the College of Science and Engineering; Prof. Edward Curry, Director, Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics at the University of Galway; Carmel McGroarty Mitchell, Business Development Manager, Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics, University of Galway; Karl Flannery, CEO, Storm Technology & Caitriona Walsh, Country President and Managing Director Novartis Ireland)
