Winners of NovaUCD’s 2022 Innovation Awards Announced – Irish Tech News

NovaUCD has announced the recipients of its annual innovation awards which highlight successes made in areas of knowledge transfer, consultancy, entrepreneurship and the promotion of an innovation culture, by members of the UCD research, innovation and start-up community.

A total of 8 Awards, including the main 2022 NovaUCD Innovation Award, were presented by Professor Barbara Dooley, Acting UCD Registrar and Deputy President during an event held in the UCD University Club.

Among this year’s awardees are the founders of BioSimulytics, NovoGrid, PEARlabs, TestReach and Wayflyer.

Professor Barbara Dooley, Acting UCD Registrar and Deputy President said, “The NovaUCD Innovation Awards which have become a key annual event at UCD, were established to recognise and highlight the successes being made by members of our research, innovation and entrepreneurial communities across the University.

“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all those who have received Awards today and I wish them ongoing successes in the years ahead as they continue to deliver impact on the economy and society through their commercialisation, consultancy, entrepreneurial and innovation activities.”

The 2022 NovaUCD Innovation Award, which recognises excellence in innovation or successes achieved in the commercialisation of UCD research or other intellectual activity over a number of years, was awarded to Professor Dominic Zerulla, UCD School of Physics.

Since he joined UCD in 2014 Professor Zerulla has disclosed 11 inventions to NovaUCD, 5 of which have been patented, and founded PEARlabs, a UCD spin-out company.

On receiving the 2022 NovaUCD Innovation Award, Professor Dominic Zerulla, said, “On behalf of myself and the wider PEARlabs team at UCD I am very pleased to receive this important Innovation Award.

“We are highly motivated to develop the best imaging methodology which will enable improved diagnostics and hence tailored therapies for highly relevant diseases to people.”

He added, “I would like to thank the NovaUCD team for all their continuing support over the last number of years.”

The recipients of the 2022 NovaUCD Founder of the Year Award are Sheena Bailey and Louella Morton, co-founders, TestReach.

TestReach, headquartered at NexusUCD, provides a cloud-based online assessment solution that enables end-to-end management of exam authoring, test assembly, exam delivery, marking, moderation and reporting. TestReach covers a wide range of question types and delivery options, including live remote invigilation for formal exams.

Louella Morton said, “We are absolutely delighted to have won this award, which recognises the great achievement of everyone at TestReach, who worked tirelessly in very exceptional circumstances.

“There is huge momentum within the company and we look forward to continued growth throughout 2022 and beyond.”

Sheena Bailey added, “It is wonderful to win this award as two female co-founders of a high-growth tech company. I’d like to thank the TestReach team who have been such a key part of the journey, and those at NovaUCD for their support over the last number of years.

“We have always had great ambitions for TestReach, and it is really fantastic to see those ambitions being realised.”

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