Investment Fund to take Research Worldwide

Atlantic Bridge one of Europe’s top performing growth technology funds, has announced a new €60 million investment fund for early stage companies with global potential that are built from world class research from all Irish third-level institutions and universities. The University Bridge Fund was initiated in a joint leadership collaboration between University College Dublin (UCD) and Trinity College Dublin (TCD).

Intended for scaling companies into the US, Chinese and other markets, this initiative will support the commercialisation of companies focusing on software, hardware, engineering, physical sciences, life sciences and agri-food. Funding partners include The European Investment Fund and Enterprise Ireland, as well AIB and Bank of Ireland, who are already strong supporters of UCD, TCD and the Irish technology ecosystem, along with contributions from both universities.

 Irish companies that have benefited from the ‘Bridge Model’ for scaling-up technology companies include Movidius, Swrve, Fieldaware, Glonav and PolarLake. The fund will enhance success at UCD and TCD - both ranked in the Top 1% of higher education institutes world-wide - in creating spin-outs and start-ups.  The universities are also ranked in the Top 5 of European universities for producing graduate entrepreneurs. Over the last 10 years, they have jointly spun-out over 60 companies, which have secured in excess of €200 million in investment, such as Equinome, Logentries and OxyMem from UCD and Genable, Opsona Therapeutics and Swrve from TCD.

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD said, “Innovation is a key pillar of Enterprise 2025 and I am delighted that this new University Bridge Fund has been launched. This additional investment in the third level sector will provide the support for more researchers to develop viable new businesses and spin outs from the sector."