NEW DCU TECH COMPANY PROTECTS TATE BRITAIN'S MASTERPIECES - AND PROCESSED FOOD
11 July 2005

A new DCU company technology developed to test packaged food and other sealed goods is now also being used to help protect priceless paintings.

It was revealed at the launch of DCU's €9m business "gateway" InVent today that the company, Gas Sensor Solutions, has signed up the Tate Britain Gallery in London - home of the UK's priceless Turner collection - as a customer for its unique product.

GSS is commercialising technology developed at DCU's National Centre for Sensor Research to test oxygen levels in sealed packs - without breaking into the pack.

The technology was packaged into a company as part of an investment agreement between DCU, Invent and Growcorp Group Limited and the European Bioscience Fund. Growcorp is a Life and Bioscience investment company.

The technology, protected by international protocols, has significant commercial potential in the processed food market, art conservation, insulated glass, limited play DVDs, water quality and medical devices, with projected sales targets of €20m over four years.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, TD, today launched DCU's InVent business incubation centre as the `commercialisation gateway' for the university.

The Taoiseach also opened three Biotechnology Labs within InVent that will facilitate the development and commercialisation of research carried out at DCU.

InVent is designed to provide a range of supports for start-up biotech companies including information on licensing and Intellectual Property rights, technology transfer and business development plans. This allows entrepreneurs, researchers and academics to transform academic research into successful commercial ventures.

There are currently 25 client companies employing 80 people at the facility on the DCU campus.

Gas Sensor Solutions (GSS) is the newest `tenant' and has just received substantial individual and venture capital funding.

Padraig Quinlan, Director of GSS, that this new company had no competitors. "Our company owns the Intellectual Property rights for this sensor know-how. Using a fluorescent scanner, we are now able to analyse and measure the oxygen concentration which causes decay and decomposition, whether it is behind the glass of an artistic masterpiece or within plastic food wrapping".

"GSS has negotiated a deal with the Tate Britain Gallery in London. The gallery intends using sensor expertise to prevent the fading of its priceless collection", he said.

Another possible spin-off of this technology is currently under trial in the US at the moment in the form of self-destruct DVDs. The concept is that once the DVD has been opened, oxygen in the air will cause the DVD to disintegrate. No more `overdue' fines - there will be no DVD to return.

In the case of the processed food, oxygen in the packaging accelerates degradation. The lower the oxygen concentration, the longer the shelf-life of the food. Food safety is a key international issue, and this technology will be used to meet compliance standards.

ENDS

For further details contact:
Tony Glynn
Director, Invent
Tel: 01 7005175
Email: anthony.glynn@invent.dcu.ie