Tyndall to partner with Covidien in Advance Sensors Research programme

Cork, November 24, 2011 – The Tyndall National Institute, UCC today announced a strategic partnership with Covidien, a leading global provider of healthcare products. More than €2 million will be invested focusing on Advanced Sensors Research for medical device respiratory technologies.

Last week, Covidien announced that the Company and the Irish government [through its investment promotion agency, IDA] are jointly supporting several projects, which represent an investment of more than €25 million.

Professor Roger Whatmore, CEO, Tyndall National Institute said “We are very excited to work with Covidien on the Advanced Sensors Research programme and look forward to working with researchers from the Company’s international and Irish operations. Irish investment in research, development & innovation and in the Tyndall National Institute have made Ireland an attractive location where leaders like Covidien can continue to innovate new products and provide better healthcare for patients.” 

Professor Whatmore went on to say “The partnership will provide Covidien with access to Tyndall’s ISO certified semiconductor wafer fabrication facilities, advanced electronic and photonic packaging cleanrooms and to our advanced test and characterisation facilities.”

Roland Pfleger, Vice President and General Manager, Covidien Respiratory and Monitoring Solutions, EMEA, said that Ireland’s track record in successful innovation and research was key in deciding to locate the projects in Ireland. “Tyndall’s world-class research in Information & Communication Technology (ICT) and its strategy on the convergence of ICT into healthcare and medical device markets, were important factors in establishing the Advanced Sensors Research partnership with Tyndall in Ireland.”

Mr. Pfleger added that, “Both Tyndall and Covidien researchers will work together on developing new and next generation product innovation which is intended to feed into future Covidien product lines and R&D operations in Ireland.”

The announcement was made at Tyndall National Institute during a visit from Maire Geoghegan-Quinn, EU Commissioner for research, innovation and science.

About Tyndall National Institute
Tyndall National Institute, University College Cork is one of Europe's leading research centres, specialising in ICT hardware research, with ca 450 staff, students and academic & industrial visiting researchers. Tyndall undertakes internationally-leading research into information and communications technology. Tyndall uses its facilities and expertise to support industry and academia nationally and provides large numbers of highly qualified graduate students, key to the development of Ireland’s national economy. Tyndall has over 200 industry partnerships and customers worldwide. Several startup companies in Ireland have been based on technology originating at Tyndall. The Institute’s researchers include 125 PhD and 10 Masters students, and 38 nationalities are represented within the institute at all levels, with its research published in 200 peer reviewed publications last year. Income for 2010 was over €33m.