Striking up global partnerships for cutting-edge research projects

A multimillion-euro pan-European project with the aim of digitally transforming Europe’s agri-food sector is being led by Kevin Doolin, director of innovation at the Telecommunications Software & Systems Group (TSSG), an internationally recognised centre of excellence for ICT research and innovation and part of the Waterford Institute of Technology.

The European Union has identified smart farming as a key component in supporting sustainable agriculture and food production, protecting natural resources and boosting food safety. At the heart of this is the need for new technology and standards to achieve full supply chain interoperability. This is the subject of Demeter, a ¤17.7 million Horizon 2020 project involving 60 partners across 18 countries, 6,000 farmers and 38,000 devices.

“The situation now is that you have various different elements in the agri supply chain – machinery, warehouses, trucks, sensors and so on – but none of these systems ‘talk’ to each other so it’s impossible to get a holistic view from farm to fork,” says Doolin. “With Demeter we’re trying to connect those elements, so we’re developing new industry standards, writing software for platforms and building interfaces.”

Co-ordinating 60 partners from multiple jurisdictions is quite a challenge but one that is mitigated by having good work package leaders, according to Doolin. “Each Horizon 2020 project is structured into a number of work packages with specific roles. If you have a good team of work package leaders, you can leverage them very heavily to co-ordinate the overall effort.”

The challenges are offset by the benefits. “Horizon 2020 enables us to engage in large-scale work, with a substantial group of partners from across the agri-supply chain. We have access to technology providers, research and academic experts, real works users and policy makers,” Doolin adds.

Consortium

AIT and LIT are part of a new initiative that aims to establish a new European university. A consortium including the two institutes has been successful in its application to join Run-EU (Regional University Network), a new education alliance intended to enable students to obtain a degree by combining studies in multiple EU countries. The network will be integral to promoting the kinds of future and advanced skills necessary for social transformation across the EU.

The AIT-LIT consortium will work with its partners to create one of several new European universities capable of transcending languages, borders and disciplines. The first phase of this ambitious project is expected to be completed by 2024.

“Internationalisation has always been at the heart of our educational approach, as it provides opportunities for growth and learning and gives our student body a well-rounded, holistic educational experience,” says AIT president Prof Ciarán Ó Catháin. “We are looking forward to continuing to collaborate with like-minded higher education institutes across Europe, who see, as we do, the value in sharing knowledge for the benefit of all.”

“The selection of Run-EU is not just a recognition of the standing of technological higher education, but also a recognition of role of regions in the EU’s future,” says LIT president Prof Vincent Cunnane. “As we move towards TU status, this is a clear endorsement of our approach.”

Research by Maria O’Donovan at Limerick Institute of Technology will support the establishment of transnational teacher training and strengthen co-operation between European teachers and education institutions.

The project examines how technology in postprimary education can be a catalyst for inculcating creativity in the curriculum and explores the extent of ICT practice in the Irish postprimary visual art classrooms in comparison with a sample of its European counterparts. The study will assist in the exchange of good practices to enhance the quality of teaching and support the use of digital technologies to improve teaching and assessment methods.

GMIT and a consortium of European higher education partners have been awarded funding of ¤4.4 million under the EU Erasmus+ programme to continue delivery of the international master of science in marine biological resources (IMBRSea). The two-year joint master programme, organised by 11 leading European higher education institutions in the field of marine sciences, is supported by the European Marine Biological Resource Centre.

GMIT has been delivering this prestigious programme since 2010, welcoming graduates from all over the world to study for two years at its Marine and Freshwater Research Centre. There are 200 postgraduate students from more than 35 countries in the first and second year of the programme.

Marine biology

With an emphasis on marine biological and ecological processes, the IMBRSea programme links biology of marine organisms and environmental studies with subjects in marine policy and planning.

“The IMBRSea programme recognises the huge importance of healthy marine environments to mitigating climate change and to sustaining marine industries,” says Dr Rick Officer, vice-president of research and innovation at GMIT. “GMIT’s marine research staff and students are similarly focused on enabling sustainability, conserving biodiversity and improving the productivity of aquatic ecosystems. Our renewed involvement in the IMBRSea programmes ensures that GMIT’s expertise will extend worldwide.”

[ thea.ie/Impact2020 ]