National University of Ireland (NUI) Maynooth and chip giant Intel, which employs over 5,000 people in nearby Leixlip, have entered into a joint venture to create a research operation that will develop ways for IT and business executives to get better value out of IT investments.
The research centre, which will be known as the Innovation Value Institute (IVI), will deepen NUI Maynooth’s research links with Intel, said NUI Maynooth president Professor John Hughes.
“It is vital for the future of the Irish economy that multinationals co-operate with our universities,” he said. “This is a fine example of what can be achieved in that regard.”
Using open innovation, it is envisaged that the IVI consortium will provide the opportunity to achieve results far beyond what any one organisation could achieve on its own.
By operating at the intersection of academia and industry and alternative inductive and deductive methods, the consortium will leverage best practices to design for success, said Justin Rattner, chief technology officer of Intel.
Rattner sees the establishment of IVI as being of considerable importance to Intel and other organisations looking for better ways to manage IT.
“I have great confidence in the IVI and its ability to significantly impact the future of IT and in doing so help enterprises and governments worldwide maximise the value of their IT investments,” Rattner added.
Current projects in development include an IT Innovation Framework and IT User Experience Design Framework.
The operation will make multiple levels of membership available to public and private sector organisations.
“I am pleased to see further evidence of Intel’s commitment to Ireland through the funding of this institute and particularly that it is in the area of research and development for developing IT innovation in a broad range of application areas,” said the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Michael Martin TD.
By John Kennedy
