The 2024 Trinity Innovation Awards, celebrated exceptional achievements in research and innovation at Trinity College Dublin. Hosted by Trinity Innovation & Enterprise, the event recognised pioneering work across a range of disciplines, with Professor Carl Vogel receiving the prestigious Trinity Inventor Award.
The Trinity Inventor Award is presented to an academic whose innovative research has led to the creation of intellectual property which has subsequently licensed to Industry/or a campus company. Prof. Vogel is a computational linguist and professor at the School of Computer Science and Statistics and key researcher involved in the creation of three Trinity campus companies. He is at the forefront of the Generative AI revolution in text processing through LLMs. His intellectual property has been licensed into Trinity spin outs and MNCs including Microsoft and Digital Linguistics Ltd.
Reflecting on the award, Professor Vogel said:
"As an interdisciplinary researcher, I enjoy the occasions when I see opportunities to use knowledge I have created through my work to solve problems in other spheres of existence. It is a pleasure to collaborate with entrepreneurs in extending such solutions into wider opportunities for employment of others. I am grateful to the Trinity Innovation Knowledge Exchange Team, in particular Dr. John Whelan, for vigilant efforts in enabling and fostering such interactions. I thank the Provost and College for recognising the value of my work and collaborations by acknowledging me with the Trinity Inventor Award"
Dr. Linda Doyle, Provost of Trinity, highlighted the university’s innovation impact over the past five years:
"Trinity College Dublin is a powerhouse of innovation. In this time, 25 spin-out companies have been formed, 14 of which are High Potential Start-Ups. We've completed 288 invention disclosures, filed 88 patents, and agreed on 124 licenses. Trinity has also engaged in 530 industry collaborations, 45% with SMEs. Our annual Innovation Awards ceremony is an opportunity to celebrate this fantastic dynamism. I am delighted, in particular, to see so many disciplines represented among the awardees - from genetics to transport, from biodiversity to education. "
Dr. Michelle Olmstead, Chief Innovation & Enterprise Officer, praised the university's commitment to fostering groundbreaking ideas:
"The Trinity Innovation Awards celebrate the extraordinary talent and vision that drives innovation across our university and teaching hospitals. As we move into a new phase of innovation maturity, public/private partnerships will be key to fostering impactful research and collaborations."
The event underscored Trinity’s role as a leader in translating research into solutions addressing societal, environmental, and economic challenges, cementing its reputation as a hub for innovation.