TSSG Continues to Grow

In September last year the TSSG had just completed a recruitment blitz and for the first time, it was able to declare a staff of over fifty people. With a clear vision of its research challenge and a new management structure the TSSG was set to claim its rightful place as the largest telecommunications research centre in the country. One year later and still under the directorship of Dr Willie Donnelly who is also the Institute's Head of Research and Innovation the group is continuing to expand.

At a specially organised public information day hosted at WIT last Friday Dr Donnelly attributed the group's continued success to its culture of professionalism and creativity. "We now have a staff of seventy-five people and are continuing to recruit new members to the group", he said. "Our culture of professionalism and creativity allows people to grow within the organisation and we will continue to subscribe to this culture as the group expands".

Speaking also at the event Mícheál Ó Foghlú, Research Director described the work of the group as a "rich soup of interacting ideas across thirty different projects", reinforcing its strength in applied research, which is recognised by all of the strategic agencies nationally and internationally.

Barry Downes, the TSSG Commercialisation Director, outlined the growth of his unit within the group. "Fourteen months ago, when we started up the commercial unit we had three people", he said. "Now, we have thirty-two people and an estimated turnover of 3.7 million euro over the next two years, dedicated to taking the results of the group's research and turning them into viable businesses, outside of the TSSG."

A series of presentations followed, outlining in more detail the research work that is currently under way. For example, the work of M-Zones; SEINIT, and DAIDALOS was outlined. New products that have been developed as a result of the research at the group were also demonstrated.

Guest speaker at the event, Professor Kieran R. Byrne, Director of WIT, described the work of the group as a "pinnacle of international excellence", which acted as a catalyst for development in other areas within the Institute. "Success at this time has been critical to the way we view ourselves and how others view us", he said.