Tag: ATU

Innovation Meets Tradition: Belleek Pottery’s Digital Leap with ATU Donegal

Belleek Pottery, one of Ireland’s most historic and renowned pottery manufacturers, has successfully completed a groundbreaking digital transformation project in collaboration with WiSAR Lab, Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Donegal. This initiative, funded by the InterTradeIreland Innovation Boost programme, has not only enhanced Belleek’s operational efficiency but also strengthened cross-border industry-academic collaboration.
Leveraging ATU Donegal’s expertise in computing and digital systems, Belleek Pottery has integrated cutting-edge technologies into its business operations. The project focused on enhancing data management, automating essential processes, and advancing the company’s digital infrastructure. By replacing outdated systems with a fully integrated platform, Belleek has improved operational efficiency, refined inventory management, and strengthened supply chain performance.
“Founded in 1857, Belleek Pottery is deeply rooted in Ireland’s cultural and commercial heritage. In today’s fast-changing and challenging business environment, it’s crucial for us to continuously evolve our processes to ensure the company’s success and preserve its legacy,” said Raymond Wallace, IT Manager at Belleek Pottery. “The funding from InterTradeIreland as well as the support from ATU has been instrumental in modernising our operations, making them more efficient and scalable for future growth. This project is a testament to the power of cross-border collaboration and the innovation potential within the region.”
A key project milestone was transitioning to a modern cloud system, replacing outdated software and improving data integration at Belleek. Advanced APIs, automated shipping, and a Shopify-based e-commerce platform were also introduced, enabling real-time stock updates and streamlined order management.
“This project has provided ATU Donegal with an invaluable opportunity to apply research and academic expertise to real-world business challenges,” said Dr. Kevin Meehan, Principal Investigator at WiSAR Lab, ATU Donegal.
“Working with Belleek Pottery has not only strengthened industry-academic ties but has also enriched our curriculum, offering students hands-on experience in digital transformation.”
The initiative has driven significant business growth, enhancing Belleek’s partnerships with major global retailers. The investment in digital infrastructure is expected to drive sustained growth, with sales projected to increase by 40% over the next three years.
Lisa McManus, the Innovation Boost Project Manager, has also been retained as Belleek’s Integration Project Manager, ensuring that the expertise gained remains within the company.
Encouraged by the success of this collaboration, both Belleek Pottery and ATU Donegal are exploring future opportunities to drive innovation and digital transformation.  “This project exemplifies how innovation and tradition can work hand in hand,” Dr. Kevin Meehan concluded. “Belleek Pottery has not only modernised its operations but also set a new standard for digital transformation in heritage industries. We are excited to see how this momentum continues to drive change and create new opportunities for the future.”
Joanne Deighan, Programme Manager at InterTradeIreland, highlighted the importance of the InterTradeIreland Innovation Boost Programme, saying: “Collaboration with partners across the island fosters meaningful advancements, improving processes, refining products, and enhancing services. The partnership between Belleek Pottery and ATU Donegal has had a lasting impact and created exciting new opportunities for future growth.”

ATU Launches Innovative VR Project to Enhance Elderly Care

Atlantic Technological University (ATU) and residential care group Riada Care Ltd. have unveiled an innovative new project that uses Virtual Reality (VR) technology to enhance the quality of life for elderly residents. Supported by the Data2Sustain European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH), the initiative introduces 360° VR videos to convalescent care homes, offering residents immersive experiences that rekindle outdoor memories and foster deeper emotional connections.

The program allows family members, carers, and staff to create personalised 360° videos, which residents can enjoy using Meta Quest 3 VR headsets. These immersive experiences bring cherished moments to life, such as walking along Donegal beaches, revisiting family farms, or exploring local landmarks.

“Over a 12-week pilot, we introduced 360° immersive videos to residents at our Hillcrest and Archview care homes in Letterkenny, designed to evoke nostalgia and bring joy to the residents,” said Luke Gavigan, Director of Riada Care Ltd. “This initiative combines two key elements: creating immersive content that brings cherished outdoor experiences into the facility and empowering staff and family members with the tools and training to create personalised VR content for their loved ones.”

Project Lead Dr. William Farrelly of WiSAR Lab, ATU Donegal, part of the Data2Sustain network, explained the transformative potential of this collaboration:
“This project demonstrates how technology can foster connection and joy among residents who may otherwise feel isolated. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from the initial trials highlights the transformative potential of VR in elder care.”

Residents participating in the pilot reported significant emotional uplift, enhanced engagement, and reduced feelings of isolation. To ensure the program’s sustainability, the team has developed a comprehensive training program with instructional videos helping guide carers and family members in creating and editing 360° video content. Care home staff have also been equipped with Meta Quest 3 VR headsets, Insta360 cameras, and editing software, enabling them to continually expand the VR content library.

Dr. Stephen Seawright, Technology Gateway Manager at ATU Donegal, emphasised the importance of collaboration in the project’s success:
“The project exemplifies a successful collaboration between academia, healthcare providers, and funding bodies like Data2Sustain EDIH. It underscores the potential of emerging technologies to address complex challenges in healthcare and improve quality of life for many.”

Looking ahead, the team plans to expand the technology to additional Riada Care facilities across Ireland, conduct further research into its long-term benefits, and explore new applications of VR, including guided relaxation and physical therapy.

“Immersive technologies have the potential to transform physical and psychological outcomes in social care settings,” said Dr. Farrelly. “By integrating this technology into everyday care, we’re enriching residents’ lives while also empowering carers to offer innovative, personalised support.”

Teen-Turn Student Awarded Trane Technologies Thermoking Scholarship to Pursue Engineering at ATU Galway

Orlaith Heaney, from County Mayo, and a former student at Mount Saint Michael Secondary School, has been awarded a prestigious €24,000 scholarship from Trane Technologies Thermoking. This scholarship, designated for students in Teen Turn, will provide Orlaith with €6,000 annually over the course of her four-year engineering degree at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Galway City.

Orlaith, a former student at Mount Saint Michael Secondary School, has been engaged with Teen-Turn since she was in first year. She was introduced to Teen-Turn’s afterschool program by a friend. Orlaith had many successful projects during her years of attendance at the afterschool programs participating in Technovation, Scifest and BT Young scientist. Most recently she was honoured with a National Garda Community Safety Award. Orlaith progressed to attending Teen-Turn PLUS Saturday clubs, which deliver advanced learning in subjects that are not universally offered in all-girls’ secondary schools in Ireland, providing participants with foundational skills critical for engineering and technology courses at the university level. It was through Orlaith’s participation in  Teen-Turn’s PLUS program that she discovered a strong passion for engineering, with a particular interest in robotics, automation and manufacturing engineering. Securing a ‘Teen-Turnship’, a 2 week summer work placement in Trane Technologies in Galway in the summer of 5th year further cemented Orlaith’s desire to study Engineering.

Orlaith applied to the common engineering programme at ATU Galway City, which will allow her to experience various branches of engineering in her first year before deciding on her specialisation. Orlaith says “Teen-Turn gave me opportunities I never would have had, from coding to building robots and learning from real engineers. These experiences showed me that engineering is where I want to be and I am excited to bring what I have learned into my studies at ATU. Teen-Turn’s programs helped me discover my love for robotics and automation and I am  eager to explore all branches of engineering in my first year at ATU. I cannot wait to dive into a career where I can make a real impact.”

The Trane Technologies scholarship is designed to provide financial support to young women like Orlaith and also to offer them access to invaluable professional resources. Scholarship recipients will benefit from mentorship and guidance from engineering experts throughout their studies and will have the opportunity to complete co-op rotations at the state-of-the-art Thermo King facility in Galway. This unique combination of financial assistance and professional exposure is intended to reduce financial and academic barriers, empowering scholarship recipients to excel in their STEM careers. This initiative aligns closely with Trane Technologies’ “Sustainable Futures” Global Corporate Strategy, which aims to increase access to STEM education and careers for underrepresented groups. By empowering talented young women like Orlaith, Trane Technologies hopes to inspire future leaders who will drive innovation in engineering and make a positive impact on our world.

ATU Unveils New Partnership to Explore Economic Opportunities in the Global Semiconductor Supply Chain

A multi-stakeholder event, spearheaded by ATU, in partnership with Tyndall National Institute (Tyndall) and Ulster University (UU), was held at the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) campus, Letterkenny on Monday, September 18, exploring the economic opportunities presented by the newly adopted EU Chips Act.

Semiconductors are the essential components of electronic devices, playing a vital role in the modern digital economy from healthcare to food security, global communications and future mobility. However, recent supply chain disruptions have led to a critical supply shortage, exposing Europe’s over-reliance on imports.

Through the European Chips Act, designed to boost self-sufficiency, the EU aims to double its current global market share to 20% by 2030.

Using case studies and panel conversations, “NW of Ireland and the Opportunity in the Global Semiconductor Value Chain” brought together prominent business leaders, policymakers, academia, and elected officials in Letterkenny to explore how Ireland can position itself as a leader in photonics and semiconductor research and manufacturing while simultaneously addressing the deficits in high-value employment and research infrastructure in the Northwest. Industry representatives in attendance included Eblana Photonics, Cirdan, Yelo, Causeway Sensors, Allstate, Kelsius, Firecomms, and Nuprint.

During the event, invitees got a chance to engage with distinguished speakers and international experts who shared their knowledge and expertise including Dr Wyn Meredith, Chair of the South Wales Compound Semiconductor Cluster, and Valerie Moreau of the Laval Mayenne Technopole in France.

ATU President, Dr Orla Flynn said: “This cross-border initiative unites universities, research institutes, and industry across Ireland to catalyse research, develop new technologies, drive productivity, create jobs, increase STEM diversity, and strengthen the regional economy. With the generous support of stakeholders including the IDA, Enterprise Ireland, local authorities, and industry partners, this consortium has the potential to play a pivotal role in boosting the competitiveness of the semiconductor industry across the island of Ireland.”

Professor Liam Maguire, Pro Vice-Chancellor Research at UU highlighted how the collaborative provision of cross-border education could significantly boost the regional semiconductor talent pool: “This is an exciting knowledge exchange opportunity to further cooperation between third-level institutions in the Northwest. Through collaborative research and development initiatives, as well as training and education programmes, we can support resilient semiconductor supply chains that foster innovation and investment into our communities through an inclusive workforce.”  

Speaking on behalf of the Smart Nano NI cluster, led by data storage company Seagate Technology, Matt Johnson, Senior Vice President Wafer Process Engineering and Systems, commented: “This new all-island collaboration will complement the Smart Nano NI cluster in developing advanced prototyping and smart manufacturing technologies across Northern Ireland. Key to success will be the combined expertise of our companies and the advancement of talent and research infrastructure. We are delighted to be involved in this exciting project which has the potential to put the border region on the global map for semiconductor technology.”

Professor William Scanlon, CEO of leading semiconductor research institute, Tyndall, said: “The recent adoption of the EU Chips Act presents a unique and timely opportunity for Ireland to bolster its leadership in semiconductors and photonics. 

As a longstanding innovator in semiconductor technology, Ireland must act now to build on its well-established strategic advantages in the sector, and mobilising public-private R&D partnerships to lead and leverage cumulative expertise is critical for our future economic success. 

Our alliance with ATU and UU represents a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to accelerate north-south research and innovation in support of a diverse and growing, internationally competitive semiconductor industry.” 

Shared electric bike company Bolt partners with Sligo council, Atlantic Technological University, An Garda Síochána & NCBI to discuss safe and responsible cycling with ATU students

European shared mobility leader Bolt has joined forces with Sligo County Council, Sligo Gardaí, ATU Sligo and the National Council for the Blind of Ireland to develop and put on a training school at the university where students can learn and practise how to use shared electric bikes safely and responsibly.

The Bolt Safety Academy will be open 12-2pm on Wednesday 4th October at “The Fish” on the ATU Sligo campus and will be the first of its kind in the country.

Attendees can test their knowledge with a localised online test about how to use and park a shared electric bike safely and responsibly across Sligo. In a move that demonstrates fruitful cross-industry collaboration, the content of the test was jointly developed with the NCBI, ATU Sligo, ATU Students’ Union and Sligo County Council. Attendees will then be able to put their knowledge into practice by cycling around campus with guidance from Sligo’s Community Garda team.

The Safety Academy is expected to be busy as it’s part of the Universities’ “Connect for Success”: Your First Five Weeks” orientation programme which is dedicating a week to highlighting the various health and wellbeing resources available to students on campus. To further encourage attendance and learning, Bolt is rewarding those who complete the test with 20 minutes of free Bolt cycling which can be used at a later date, whilst those who partake in the test ride will be given a free helmet. In order to encourage usage, attendees can personalise their helmet on-site.

The Estonian-based company is also taking the opportunity to debut a brand new safety feature called the reckless rider score. Bolt’s software will calculate if a bike is being ridden recklessly according to sensors which can recognise multiple behaviours such as skidding or abrupt braking. A user’s reckless rider score is evaluated every five rides. If it falls below a certain threshold, they will receive education, a mandatory lower speed and a suspension according to how long the score remains.

The objective of the Safety Academy is two-fold. It’s intended to teach students and locals how to use a shared electric bike service responsibly – Bolt’s service has received a warm reception since arriving in June 2022. The academy is also intended to educate how to engage safely with light electric vehicles more generally, with the legalisation of shared electric scooters expected by the end of the year. Bolt is the largest scooter provider in Europe with over 260,000 scooters and e-bikes in operation.

The credentials and presence of the Tallinn-headquartered firm continues to grow in Ireland. Though Sligo was the first town to embrace the shared electric bikes, there have been launches in Kilkenny, Wexford, Bray, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, and Carlow just a couple of weeks ago. Bolt intends to roll out the Safety Academy everywhere it has operations in due course.

In addition to the reckless rider score, it has a strong suite of technology that encourages safe, responsible usage. For those with no or little experience of bicycles with pedal assisted motors, Beginner Mode limits the top speed to 15 km/h, down from the normal 25 km/h. Though the service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the company employs an in-app cognitive reaction test 11pm-5am. This means prospective riders have to prove they are in a fit state to ride a bicycle through their reaction time and, if they’re unable to do so, are encouraged to take a taxi instead (including Bolt’s very own on-demand service in Bray and DLR).

Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Gerard Mullaney said: “Sligo County Council have been impressed with the usage of the Bolt e-bike scheme. Since launch in June 2022, Sligo has had almost 7,000 unique users, with almost 200,000 kilometres travelled on the bikes. This usage is contributing to modal shift away from the private car, which is very positive in our endeavours to reduce emissions from transport. Sligo County Council welcomes the launch of the Safety Academy in conjunction with Bolt and ATU. This is a significant opportunity to promote safety and awareness, and encourage correct usage of the e-bike system.”

Sligo Councillor Marie Casserly said: “The Bolt e-bikes have been a great addition to the whole town, but especially for providing students and staff at ATU with better access to hassle-free transport. We want to make sure the bikes are being used in a safe and responsible manner so I’m delighted to be working with Bolt, ATU, NCBI, the Students’ Union and the Council to educate students and help keep them safe.”

Head of Public Policy for Bolt Ireland, Aisling Dunne, said: “It’s been fantastic to see our shared electric bike service be so embraced in Sligo. With darker, wetter winter months approaching, and the regulation of shared electric scooters expected this year, it’s especially crucial to continue to remind riders how they can keep themselves and pedestrians safe. We’ve been delighted to collaborate on this important work with such respected partners.”

Healthy Campus Coordinator ATU Sligo, Yvonne Kennedy said: “ATU Sligo, through our Healthy Campus initiatives, aspires to create a learning environment and organisation culture that enhances the health, wellbeing and sustainability of its community, and enables our campus population to achieve their full potential.

“Our partnership and support of the Bolt e-bike scheme, along with Sligo County Council, has been a very positive one for us. We have embraced the Bolt e-bike service with open arms – we have several Bolt bike stations located all around our campuses, making them a convenient and alternative mode of transport. There are obvious health benefits (both physical and mental) to using an e-bike – as a mode of transport to get to and from the college campus – but it is also much more sustainable, which aligns with our Green Campus goals.

“The ATU Sligo campus population is one of the biggest users of the Bolt e-bikes and we want to ensure that they do so in a safe and responsible way. Healthy Campus, along with ATU Sligo Students Union, were delighted to work with them in the development of the Bolt Safety Academy, and are honoured to have them here at ATU Sligo for the launch. It is crucial that our campus population use the Bolt e-bikes in a safe, responsible, and respectful manner and I would encourage all our on-campus users to take part.”