Georgia Tech Ireland and AIT Enhance Research/Education Collaboration

New agreement opens the door to joint research and degree programs

Athlone, Ireland (January 21, 2009) — The Georgia Institute of Technology, through Georgia Tech Ireland (GTI), and the Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) signed an agreement to explore collaborative research and educational opportunities.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) creates the possibility of joint research programs, joint/dual undergraduate and postgraduate programs, as well as collaboration on the ongoing development of a Midlands Gateway Research and Innovation Centre.

Over the course of the past year, AIT and GTI, which is located in Athlone, Ireland, have collaborated on various initiatives in nanomedicine, biomedicine/biosciences and food processing technologies. The MoU looks to the continuation of this development.

President of AIT, Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin, said that: “This strategic partnership between Athlone and Atlanta will involve the sharing of expertise and resources that will be to the betterment of all parties. An already strong relationship exists between our respective institutions and this agreement provides the necessary framework to progress in new and bold directions.

"In particular, our common interest in wireless systems and nanomedicine sets the platform from which we will further develop this trans-Atlantic partnership. In an era where collaboration is increasingly the norm, this agreement is marked by an uncommon distinctiveness and vision. We look forward to working with Georgia Tech in delivering ground-breaking research and providing innovative academic programs. At a time when hope is needed more than ever before, here is the germ of that promise,” he stated.

Dr Krishan Ahuja, director of GTI and a Regents Professor at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, said, “GTI is delighted to partner with AIT to promote science, education, research and development in the Midlands. GTI’s parent, Georgia Institute of Technology, has ranked in the top 10AMong public universities in the United States for 10 consecutive years and its applied research arm, Georgia Tech Research Institute, performs more than $100 million worth of applied research annually. These resources, along with GTI’s outstanding facilities and personnel in Athlone, will support the collaboration with AIT and provide countless benefits for the entire region.”

The agreement enables a joint research program in wireless systems, which will build upon GTI’s existing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) research programmes, and will use existing GTI and AIT facilities. Both parties will endeavour to jointly secure necessary funding to support sustainment of related test beds, infrastructure and research faculty to engage in translational research.

For prospective undergraduate and postgraduate students, the possible implementation of joint/dual programs in bioscience, nanomedicine, systems engineering and entrepreneurship is a very exciting development. The agreement envisages student and faculty exchanges between the US and Ireland.

The possibility of collaborating on continuing education/distance learning programs is also outlined. According to the parties, AIT and GTI will explore approaches to leverage Georgia Tech facilities such as the Global Learning Center (GLC) and Collaborative Visualization facility (CoVE) in Athlone.

AIT will also explore establishing a visiting fellowship for a senior Georgia Tech representative, who will be actively involved in developing joint research project initiatives. Research institutes on the Atlanta and Athlone campuses may also benefit from shared research leader expertise on their advisory boards. GTI will explore offering a suitable faculty title to leaders of key research institutes at AIT that have collaborative programs with GTI.

Athlone Institute of Technology is the only higher education institution in the Midlands of Ireland. Established in 1970, it has expanded in size, scope and influence over the period. There are currently 5,700 students in AIT studying a broad range of courses offered by the institute’s four schools of business, engineering, humanities and science. AIT has established partnerships and agreements with over 220 universities and third level institutions around the globe. The institute is a participant on the International Centre for Graduate Education in Micro- and Nano-Engineering (ICGEE), together with 13 other partners from Europe, America and Asia.

Georgia Tech Ireland was officially opened in 2006 at the IDA Business and Technology Park, Athlone. Established by Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), the applied research and real-world problem-solving arm of the Georgia Institute of Technology, it was GTRI’s first applied research facility outside the US. GTI partners and collaborates with Irish corporations, higher education institutions and research centres; the Georgia Tech research community and US companies. Supported by Georgia Tech’s research capabilities, these partnerships and collaborations provide businesses on both sides of the Atlantic with industry-focused research and development that bridge the gap between academic discovery and commercial success.

The Georgia Institute of Technology is one of America’s top research universities, distinguished by its commitment to improving the human condition through advanced science and technology. Georgia Tech’s campus occupies 400 acres in the heart of the city of Atlanta, where more than 19,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students receive a focused, technologically based education. Georgia Tech is consistently ranked in US News & World Report’s top ten public universities in the United States.

The Georgia Tech Research Institute

Over the past 75 years, the Georgia Tech Research Institute had built its reputation as a world-class applied research and development organization. Nearly 1,300 GTRI employees conduct more than $180 million in sponsored research each year. Since 1934, GTRI’s highly-regarded scientists and engineers have proven themselves to be real-world problem solvers using their vast technological expertise in to solve some of the toughest problems facing government and industry across the nation and around the globe. As an integral part of the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). GTRI is a tremendous contributor to, and supporter of, Georgia Tech’s mission to define the technological research university of the 21st century and educate the leaders of a technologically driven world. GTRI’s strong bond with Georgia Tech, and its academic units, opens the door to the vast intellectual resources of one of America’s leading research universities and provides unparalleled access to the world’s leading problem solvers.


Georgia Tech Ireland

Georgia Tech Ireland (GTI) is the Georgia Tech Research Institute’s first applied research facility outside the United States. Established in December, 2006 as an Irish non-profit organization, GTI partners and collaborates with Irish corporations, universities and research centers; the Georgia Tech research community; and U.S. companies. Supported by Georgia Tech’s research capabilities, these partnerships and collaborations provide businesses on both sides of the Atlantic with industry-focused research and development that bridge the gap between academic discovery and commercial success. Through its research testbeds and solution areas - which include digital media, radio frequency identification, sustainable energy and healthcare technologies - GTI aspires to create markets and opportunities for other companies to be successful.

Related Links

Georgia Tech Research Institute
http://www.gtri.gatech.edu

Georgia Tech Ireland
http://www.georgiatech.ie

Athlone Institute of Technology
http://www.ait.ie/