NovaUCD

NovaUCD is the innovation and startup incubator of University College Dublin (UCD), one of Ireland’s premier research universities. Established in 2003 on UCD’s Belfield campus, NovaUCD provides a supportive environment for knowledge-intensive startups, particularly those arising from university research in life sciences, engineering, and ICT. The center offers modern incubation facilities, including lab space, prototype workshops, and offices set in a historic Georgian building refurbished for innovation. NovaUCD runs a 9-month VentureLaunch accelerator program to help researchers and students validate business ideas, build teams, and refine commercialization strategy. Startups benefit from UCD’s resources – access to faculty experts, graduate talent, and sometimes use of specialized equipment (for biotech, etc.). Over nearly two decades, NovaUCD has supported 450+ companies. Alumni include Evolution (Bio) – a UCD bioinformatics spin-out acquired by Evotec, Logentries (cloud logging, acquired by Rapid7 for $68M), and Equinome (equine genomics, acquired by Plusvital). These successes underscore NovaUCD’s strength in turning academic excellence into enterprise. A hallmark is its focus on knowledge transfer: NovaUCD works closely with UCD’s tech transfer office, so startups often license university patents or software as a basis. The incubator also facilitates seed funding through networks like Halo Business Angel Network (HBAN) and University Bridge Fund (a college-focused VC). The Irish government and Enterprise Ireland are key backers, aligning NovaUCD with national goals to foster high-tech industry. The incubator has expanded physically too – in 2022, it opened “AgTech UCD” on UCD’s Lyons farm for agri-tech startups, reflecting an effort to specialize. NovaUCD contributes hugely to Dublin’s startup scene, connecting academic founders with industry mentors and investors. Each year it hosts the UCD VentureLaunch Competition awarding cash prizes to the most promising spin-outs. Notably, NovaUCD companies have raised over €760M in capital and created thousands of jobs in Ireland. By offering an “on-campus home” for entrepreneurs, NovaUCD helps ensure that Ireland’s top research doesn’t just stay on paper, but translates into impactful businesses – from lifesaving medical devices to groundbreaking software – driving innovation and economic growth.