A research programme in cloud computing involving the Software Research Institute at Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT ) has received €1.2 million in funding from the Government.
The Cloud Computing Technology Research Centre is aimed at helping to make Ireland a world leader in this fast-growing area. The research consortium includes AIT, lead partner Dublin City University, University College Cork, and the Innovation Value Institute at NUI Maynooth.
The funding provided by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through Enterprise Ireland will be used to work with a group of software companies to establish ways to generate business and profit from cloud computing.
The four principal areas into which research will be carried out are cloud computing technology architecture, service management, business research, and cloud security.
AIT president, Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin, said: “Cloud computing is a €100 billion industry that offers considerable potential for Ireland Inc in terms of job creation and delivering our knowledge economy ambitions. This research consortium is a powerful case of linking academia with industry, building on the research and commercialisation strengths of AIT, DCU, UCC, and NUI Maynooth, and making that expertise available to industry.”
Director of AIT’s Software Research Institute, Dr Brian Lee, added: “The SRI has a considerable track record of working with industry, and in delivering innovative solutions for industry problems. The Cloud Computing Technology Research Centre is a very exciting development, and one that will boost AIT’s growing reputation in this area.”
This initial research programme will last 12 months and is a significant step in the context of a Government-funded five-year investment in a technology centre for cloud computing.
