research

Can clay help us to counter the heat?

Anonymous — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 10:36:29 +0000

Can clay help us to counter the heat?

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Heatwaves

Responsible Research and Innovation

Climate Action

Topic

Heatwaves

Climate Change

research

Heatwaves instantly result in increased use of air conditioning, which already accounts for considerable energy consumption. Is there a better option?

Written by

Ellen Albertsdóttir & Adrian Grist

Turning on the air conditioning is the logical response for many to counter the heat.

However, it is not just a burden to the environment but also a financial blow to the pocket. It is an issue which prompted architect and researcher Marwa Dabaieh at Malmö University in Sweden to develop an eco-cooling system.

Air conditioning is the norm in Egypt, where Dabaieh tested her cooling system despite being very expensive to purchase and operate. Another issue in such countries is that many residents live outside the electricity grid.

Furthermore, the need for cooling systems will also increase in countries with modest average temperatures as heatwaves become more commonplace, as we are experiencing this already.

Marwa Dabaieh is a researcher working on the eco-cooling system made out of clay; Docent and associate professor at Malmö University.

As an expert in sustainable and environmentally conscious architecture, Dabaieh’s innovation relies on a self-assembly concept. This solution aims to keep indoor temperature and humidity low by using traditional ‘shisha funnels’ made of clay to construct a cooling system.

The goal is to lower the indoor temperature by 10 °C by combining clay funnels, water, and the natural power of sun and wind.

The experimental attempts so far have been promising. In a recently published scientific article, Dabaieh presents a reduction of the indoor temperature by 2 °C during an experiment in Cairo. Since then, she has achieved a decrease of 6 °C.

The next step for Dabaieh is to continue the development of the sustainable and passive cooling system.

“Clay is not expensive, which makes the construction price affordable. But it is expensive to develop the method. I am driven by pure passion for this but still need resources to take the pilot project further.

Now I hope to find innovation support that would allow me to scale up the project,” says Dabaieh.

The next step for her is to continue the development of a sustainable and passive cooling system with economical benefits.

“Some people, such as pensioners, the unemployed and refugees, cannot afford air conditioning. This means that mortality risks increase when heat waves become more common. Tragically, this happens when it could be resolved by being better prepared,” adds Dabaieh.

"This passive eco-cooling solution does not require any extra energy or electricity and can offer a practical solution to enhance the living conditions of low-income populations."

Using traditional ‘shisha funnels’ made of clay to construct natural cooling systems can help manage extreme heat.

This project is being developed at the Malmö University, which has close collaboration ties with the Forum for Social Innovation Sweden, the national knowledge and collaboration platform for social innovation and social enterprise.

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July 2022

ADAPT Research Centre

Szilvia Szabó — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:06:06 +0000

ADAPT Research Centre

Location

Ireland

https://www.adaptcentre.ie/

Reach

Europe

ADAPT’s research vision is to pioneer new forms of proactive, scalable, and integrated AI-driven Digital Media Technology that empower individuals and society to engage in digital experiences with control, inclusion, and accountability with the long-term goal of a balanced digital society by 2030.

ADAPT is pioneering new Human Centric AI techniques and technologies including personalisation, natural language processing, data analytics, intelligent machine translation human-computer interaction, as well as setting the standards for data governance, privacy, and ethics for digital content.

The ADAPT Centre utilises an interdisciplinary ethos to advance and propel learning and research, incorporating leading experts from the complementary fields of, Social Sciences, Communications, Commerce/Fintech, Ethics, Law, Health, Environment, and Sustainability.

Creating better innovations with the Ethics Canvas framework

You can structure ideas about the ethical implications of innovation projects and visualise them in order to resolve them.

Research

April 2019

Focus

research

Innovation

Responsible Innovation

Platform :: Partner categories

Innovation | Research

ISINNOVA

Szilvia Szabó — Sat, 11 Sep 2021 20:36:00 +0000

ISINNOVA

Location

Italy

https://www.isinnova.org/

Reach

Europe

ISINNOVA, the Institute of Studies for the Integration of Systems, is an independent research institute that supports international, national and local public bodies, as well as private organisations, as they pursue sustainable visions and policies. They supports communities, authorities and industries, developing research-based and collaborative solutions to complex challenges.

It ideates and runs cross-discipline and cross-sector research and innovation projects that bring together public authorities, industries, research institutions and civil society. Co-creating long-term visions for sustainability and advising on the development of coherent systemic (or strategic) plans, ISINNOVA delivers concrete solutions in response to complex challenges

Focus

research

Responsible Innovation

Responsible Research and Innovation

Business

Sustainability

Sustainable Development Goals

Platform :: Partner categories

Innovation | Research

Networking | Events | Community

Living Innovation

Szilvia Szabó — Wed, 18 Aug 2021 15:22:59 +0000

Living Innovation

Location

Austria

https://www.living-innovation.net/explore

Reach

Europe

The Living Innovation Horizon 2020 project aims to develop responsible, smart home solutions that tackle societal challenges and respond to pressing societal trends.

Focus

Responsible Innovation

research

Responsible Research and Innovation

Platform :: Partner categories

Innovation | Research

Networking | Events | Community

Open calls for proposals on Gender Equality research with cash grants

Business Spirit News reporting — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 11:19:51 +0000

Open calls for proposals on Gender Equality research with cash grants

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Topic

Citizen Social Science projects on Gender Equality are invited to submit applications to receive up to €20,000 grant and other supports.

Civil society initiatives can apply for a grant of up to €20,000 to conduct Citizen Social Science research on the topic of Gender Equality as part of the Co-designing Citizen Social Science for Collective Action (CoAct) research project.

Three open calls for proposals are available for non-profit organisations registered in the EU until September 30th 2021, with specific topics and regional focus.

“The CoAct Open Calls on Gender Equality are a way for us to both share our findings with the civic sector and learn from their feedback, ensuring that our research stays closely connected and responsive to the needs of civic actors," said Cédric Lombion, Data and Innovation Lead at Open Knowledge Foundation, a member organisation of the CoAct consortium.

"Gender Equality is an ongoing major societal issue that constantly affects our daily life."

Cédric Lombion, Data and Innovation Lead at Open Knowledge Foundation

The first call is for projects addressing initiatives on “Sustainable cities and communities” in the Berlin-Brandenburg region in Germany that aim for making cities and villages inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable for all their inhabitants.

The second call is focusing on “Decent work and economic growth”.

It is open for organisations from Eastern Europe, and projects from Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia are invited to apply for support.

The third call is open to international civic organisations operating within the European Union working on topics related to “Opportunities and risks of digitalisation”.

Proposals under this call should address issues relevant to gender inequalities in online spaces, such as gender dynamics of online platforms and exposure to online harassment.

Applications from a broad range of backgrounds are welcome, including feminist, LGTBQ+, none-binary and critical masculinity perspectives that tackle gender inequalities in their various manifestations.

Besides the maximum of €20,000 cash grant, selected projects will benefit from other supports provided by CoAct, like research mentoring program, peer networking and access to tools and resources.

CoAct is a research project exploring Citizen Social Science and started in January 2020, funded by the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.

CoAct is a Horizon 2020 research project exploring Citizen Social Science

This project seeks to move beyond its own co-research activities and invite other actors to benefit from the project and its support mechanisms by connecting with experts at the grassroots level while exploring the opportunities and challenges of citizen-led research.

A transdisciplinary consortium of nine research institutions and civil society organisations from Barcelona, Wien, London, Buenos Aires, Berlin, and Potsdam is collaborating to achieve the project's objectives.

According to Cédric Lombion consortium partner, the CoAct project aims to contribute to the field of Citizen Social Science by implementing research programmes dealing with various social issues, from youth unemployment to mental health to environmental justice.

“We believe that Citizen Social Science is not just a research field: it is also a set of strategies and practices developed within activist communities and civic organisations to support citizen mobilisation and community building projects,”

Lombion adds.

Citizen Social Science combines collaboration between citizen groups and academic researchers to address pressing social issues from the bottom up, finding solutions embedded in their social contexts, building on robust research methods.

Headline image: Adam Wingler from Unsplash

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August 2021

Citizens are invited to shape the future of parks across Dublin city

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 09:34:36 +0000

Citizens are invited to shape the future of parks across Dublin city

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A new research survey aims to find out what people want to see in Dublin’s parks.

The reality of “social distancing” and “self-isolation” became the new norm as part of consecutive lockdowns, and we were all faced with a sudden and radical change in our daily routine and lifestyle.

However, parks in Dublin and nationwide in Ireland have remained open, providing an important outlet for people to support their physical, social and psychological needs.

Dublin City Council (DCC), in partnership with Dublin City University (DCU) are hosting an online survey to identify what roles and functions the parks fulfilled for all Dublin citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The research will also focus on how these features can be maintained after the pandemic and what future developments people would like to see in the parks.

This is an opportunity for the public to share their opinions and experiences, shaping the development of parks across Dublin in the coming years.

The research team behind the project highlight that there are significant insights available in terms of the frequency, type of usage and volume of activities that have taken place in the capital’s parks during this time.

“People access parks for a whole variety of reasons, for exercise, to enjoy nature, for their overall wellbeing and by hearing from them it will help to inform the ways in which parks should be improved and developed and, crucially planned as a space that all generations can enjoy together”, said Research lead Dr Carol Barron, DCU School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health.

Parks have provided a safe haven for many during COVID-19; Image: Pexels

This study may have a direct benefit to individuals by helping to identify the specific reasons people are using parks during the era of COVID-19 and plan for the future development of parks as sites of recreation, play, leisure, health, socialisation and biodiversity.

“Parks have provided a safe haven for many during COVID-19, and undoubtedly, the volume of people using their local park has increased substantially.

While the country remains under current restrictions and people are using their parks frequently, we want to find out from respondents what they would like to see developed in their park”, added Dr Marcos Dias from DCU School of Communications and Joint Research Lead.

Organisers want to consult with as many people as possible who use Dublin parks to identify what visitors currently like about Dublin parks and what services, facilities, and events they would like to see in the parks in the near future.

Launching on 15th March, the survey seeks responses from people across Dublin city and county until Sunday 28th March 2021.

The findings will be used to help inform planning and development policy concerning public parks by DCC. It is envisaged that the results will be disseminated via Dublin City University communication platforms.

This project is being funded by the School of Nursing, Psychology and Community Health Publication Grant and a COVID-19 Research Network seed funding grant.

The survey is a collaboration between DCU’s School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health, DCU School of Communications and Dublin City Council.

Headline image: Mina-Marie Michell from Pexels

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March 2021

Mainstreaming Responsible Innovation is crucial to Build Back Better

Anonymous — Sun, 04 Oct 2020 12:23:02 +0000

Mainstreaming Responsible Innovation is crucial to Build Back Better

Tags

Responsible Research and Innovation

Topic

Leaders of change will come together virtually for 2 days to make change happen

The 4th edition of the Responsible Innovation Summit aims to facilitate collaboration and knowledge exchange to 'help build back better' from the Covid19 pandemic. This virtual event will take place on 20-21 October where innovators can come together to discuss game-changing trends and learn from each other.

The coronavirus has shown how much we rely on global communities, nature and Innovation. It also revealed the vulnerability of businesses and the global economy. However, this situation offers a unique opportunity to implement new business practices and inspire innovations that lead to a more resilient and sustainable economy.

Responsible Innovation plays a vital role in Covid-recovery

“The world is facing an unprecedented test. And this is the moment of truth.

We must respond decisively, innovatively and together to suppress the spread of the virus and address the socio-economic devastation that COVID-19 is causing in all regions.

Finally, when we get past this crisis – which we will – we will face a choice.

We can go back to the world as it was before or deal decisively with those issues that make us all unnecessarily vulnerable to crises. The recovery from the COVID-19 crisis must lead to a different economy.” said António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations at the launch of the report on socio-economic impacts of coronavirus.

The Responsible Innovation Summit is a 2-days event, which is not only an online conference but a meeting point for innovators to cross-pollinate ideas and facilitate future collaborations.

The event aims to inspire business leaders, policymakers and researchers to find innovative ways that could help to build a more sustainable and just economy.

Expert panel discussions will be featured around four key areas:

Roadmap to Build Back Better
Changing the narrative
Building resilient and sustainable businesses
Making Profit with Purpose the new Buisness as Usual

There will be a particular focus on financing positive change, leadership skills and methods to deliver sustainable growth, and the business case of Responsible Innovation and Circular Economy practices.

“The power to change the world is in the hands of every innovator, but we need to cross-pollinate ideas, raise awareness and act collaboratively to deliver a just transition to a sustainable economy. We want to generate positive change by using the power of communication and empower cross-sectorial knowledge sharing," says Szilvia Szabó, co-founder and organiser of the Responsible Innovation Summit.

Responsible Innovation Summit, 2019, Dublin

“We are definitely going to miss the personal meetings, but the virtual edition presents a great opportunity to be more inclusive, open up the discussions and disseminate the content afterwards on multiple channels”, adds Szabó in regards to running the event online this year due to coronavirus.

The unique lineup of speakers presents an opportunity to hear war stories, learnings and raise questions about defining a new business as usual.

More than fifty speakers from all over the world are coming together to discuss actual topics and share best practices that could help decision-makers to lead the way forward.

“Using research papers and case studies as a starting point, we have identified nine ways in which Responsible Innovation can be beneficial for different stakeholders.

If you are a researcher or a practitioner interested in this field, we invite you to discuss if and how Responsible Innovation increases innovativeness and competitiveness, creates new market opportunities, helps to mitigate risks and avoid losses, trust and corporate image and helps attract the best employees,” says Dr André Martinuzzi, Head of the Institute for Managing Sustainability Vienna University of Economics and Business, who will lead one of the workshops at the summit.

Dublin City Council supports this not-for-profit event which traditionally was held in Dublin, and the core team behind the conference is located in Ireland.

“Dublin is seeking to develop as a hub for Responsible Innovation – we already have a strong Economic and Enterprise eco-system that support Innovation. One of the reasons why we are supporting the Responsible Innovation Summit is that we recognise the need to drive awareness and engagement in creating Innovation that results in economic growth and social good at the same time.

Dublin is a leading Hub for Innovation

We see this event as a great opportunity to connect, engage, learn and commit to further action to advance this agenda for Dublin and those who live and work in our beautiful capital city.” says Mary Mac Sweeney, Deputy Head of Enterprise and Economic Development, Dublin City Council.

She adds that "Raising awareness of what these changes will mean for each individual business is essential. It is clear by now that the European Green Deal introduced in 2019 by the European Commission will play a critical role in the process of recovery. This is Europe’s new agenda for sustainable growth which aims to transform our cities to become cornerstones in building a climate-neutral economy by 2050 in Europe.”

Delegates can join various sessions discussing Responsible Innovation trends, emerging business models making a 'Profit with Purpose' and learn from value-driven enterprises.

Organisers are passionate to make this event educational, inspirational and accessible to all innovators who want to generate a positive impact.

Attendees can book tickets to access all sessions, visit virtual expo booths, join launch events and embrace networking opportunities. Bursary tickets are also available to innovators who could benefit from attending but lack the resources.

This two day offers a chance for innovators to actively get involved in shaping the future by turning major challenges into opportunities.

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October 2020

The impact of coronavirus on brand trust

Szilvia Szabó — Sat, 09 May 2020 12:06:10 +0000

The impact of coronavirus on brand trust

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Topic

The Edelman Trust special report reveals the expectations of brands in the time of coronavirus pandemic.

Edelman conducted a 12-market study on the critical role brands are expected to play during the coronavirus pandemic where they interviewed 12,000 people in Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Africa, South Korea, the UK and U.S.

From protecting the well-being of employees to shifting products and pricing to creating a sense of community, there are several areas where respondents recognized the need for specific brand action. 71 per cent agree that if they perceive that a brand is putting profit over people, they will lose trust in that brand forever.

The results call for value-driven leadership and that brands need to prove that people come first, not profit.

Respondents believe that brands can and should make a difference throughout the coronavirus crisis and the majority with 90 per cent globally want brands to do everything in their power to tackle this challenge and actively get involved.

There is a clear desire for them to become partners and collaborate with governments (90%) and provide a safety net by stepping where governments cannot respond appropriately to the virus (86%).

It is a great expectation that brands must focus their messaging on finding solutions instead of sales. 84% said they want to see how brands help people to cope with pandemic-related challenges.

Brands also need to consider that people want experts to be associated with messages. 78 % rating medical doctors as credible spokespeople for the brand’s virus-related actions, with celebrities (26 %) and influencers deeply discounted (28 %).

Eighty-four per cent of respondents globally said that they want brands to be a reliable news source that keeps people informed. There is more belief in earned media (national media at 64 % and local media at 62 %) than in brand advertising (53 %) and brand social media (51 %).

Image: Pexels

83 per cent want to see brand messaging that focuses on empathy, compassion and support with the struggles they face. Hearing from brands they use about what they are doing in response to the pandemic is comforting and reassuring to them (65 %). This the chance when brands can create a whole new level of connection with their consumers or in fact, lose their relationship forever.

Sixty-five per cent of respondents said that a brand’s response in the crisis would have a significant impact on their likelihood of purchasing it in the future. Over one-third of consumers said that they have started using a new brand because of the innovative or compassionate way that it has responded.

On the other hand, there is a massive risk to brands that are perceived to be acting unsympathetically. One-third of respondents have already convinced other people to stop using a brand that was not acting appropriately.

"At this moment of deepest global crisis, the public wants brands to step up, keep us safe, guide us and help us. Brands that act in the interest of their employees, stakeholders and society at large will reinforce their expertise, leadership and trust and immeasurably strengthen the bond they have with consumers," says Richard Edelman, CEO of Edelman about the new role of brands.

The full report can be downloaded from the Edelman website.

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May 2020

Profit with Purpose magazine launch

Anonymous — Fri, 08 May 2020 11:01:46 +0000

Profit with Purpose magazine launch

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Promoting Responsible Innovation and value-driven business practices to 'help build back better' from the Covid19 pandemic.

The 'Profit with Purpose' print magazine aims to inspire innovators from business, research and policy to 'build back better' after the Covid19 pandemic adapting Responsible Innovation and sustainable business practices. It features overviews of recent trends, research projects, business practices, and inspiring stories about leaders. The first edition was launched on International Day for Biological Diversity, 22nd May.

The Covid19 pandemic has shown how much we rely on global communities, nature and innovation. This situation offers a unique opportunity to implement new business practices and inspire innovations that lead to a more resilient and sustainable economy.

Illustration: Getty Image

“The world is facing an unprecedented test. And this is the moment of truth. We must respond decisively, innovatively and together to suppress the spread of the virus and address the socio-economic devastation that COVID-19 is causing in all regions. Finally, when we get past this crisis – which we will – we will face a choice. We can go back to the world as it was before or deal decisively with those issues that make us all unnecessarily vulnerable to crises. Our roadmap is the 2030 Agenda and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The recovery from the COVID-19 crisis must lead to a different economy.” said António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations at the launch of the report on socio-economic impacts of coronavirus.

The Profit with Purpose magazine was created with the support of Dublin City Council in collaboration with the Business SPIRIT Platform, Responsible Innovation Summit and a group of acknowledged experts from business and academia, including Ali Sheridan director of Sustainability Works; Dr. Roisin Lyonns, assistant professor of entrepreneurship and innovation, Dublin City University; Zoe Hertelendi, CEO of EdamameEco. (See the list of contributors at the end of the page.)

Dublin is working to restore its economy and to strengthen its capacity as an innovative, resilient city where people can thrive. They are actively collaborating with entrepreneurs who want to adapt and future-proof their business models.

"I believe raising awareness of what these changes will mean for each individual business is essential. It is clear by now that the European Green Deal introduced in 2019 by the European Commission will play a critical role in the process of recovery. This is Europe’s new agenda for sustainable growth which aims to transform our cities to become cornerstones in building a climate-neutral economy by 2050 in Europe.” says Mary Mac Sweeney, Deputy Head of Enterprise and Economic Development, Dublin City Council.

Mary Mac Sweeney, Deputy Head of Enterprise and Economic Development, Dublin City Council

She adds that Dublin City plans to create several opportunities, such as events or training, where companies can learn from experts and from each other about what they could be doing to respond to global and local changes. The new Dublin City Council Corporate Plan shares the mission of making Dublin the ‘best place in which to be, to live, to work, to do business and to enjoy’ and for the first time, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are incorporated into this plan.

The Profit with Purpose magazine will be published biannually covering Irish and international news, and readers can access it free of charge. Besides the print format, the Business Spirit Platform offers an open access online platform for innovators to learn and connect.

Profit with Purpose magazine

“We want to generate positive change by using the power of communication and empower cross-sectorial knowledge sharing," says Szilvia Szabó, managing editor of the Profit with Purpose magazine.

The magazine provides ‘easy-to-digest’ content related to value-driven business, responsible research and innovation, sustainable finance, circular economy, climate change, sustainable development and everything in the intersection of People, Planet, and Profit.

The first edition is focusing on topics like Responsible Investments, what Sustainable Development Goals could mean for a business, interviews with entrepreneurs who successfully embedded sustainability and ethics into their business strategy, like Java Republic, Wild by Water, The Ethical Silk Company, The Upcycle Movement and more.

“The power to change the world is in the hands of every innovator, but we need to cross-pollinate ideas, raise awareness and make news more actionable in order to deliver a just transition to a sustainable economy,” explains Szilvia as her motivation to start this new magazine.

The editorial team welcomes contributions from writers, researchers, agencies, business leaders and innovators who want to share their work and expertise to inspire value-driven change. You can easily apply online to become a contributor and join the community.

Szilvia Szabó, managing editor, Profit with Purpose magazine

Full list of contributors:

First edition - Profit with Purpose magazine

Ali Sheridan director of Sustainability Works; Dr. Roisin Lyonns, assistant professor of entrepreneurship and innovation, Dublin City University; Zoe Hertelendi, CEO of EdamameEco; Theodor Cojoianu, postdoctoral research fellow, University College Dublin; Faye-Walsh Drouillard, impact investor and founder of WakeUp Capital; Deirdre Garvey, CEO of The Wheel; Leslie Maleipaard co-founder of Planet Calls; Tim Graham, Stakeholder Engagement and Marketing Manager, Dublin Place Brand; Laura Costello marketing strategist at THINKHOUSE; Dr. Joanne Rourke, Resource Efficiency Officer int he Eastern-Midlands Waste Regional Office, Ireland; Giulia Bubbolini, COO, Agency of the Chamber of Commerce of Romagna, Italy; Jessica Huntingford, Head if European projects at Resolvo; Karen Coughlan, EU project officer at Southern Regional Assembly;

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May 2020

From test lab to the market

Szilvia Szabó — Wed, 03 Jul 2019 21:23:00 +0000

From test lab to the market

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Trailblazer researcher becoming a business leader to help millions of people.

Report with Dr Conor Kerley founder of Setanta Nutrition Science

The issue is that there are so many supplements available on the market with little no science behind them. During my PhD, I uncovered how plant-based food components could lower blood sugar and blood pressure.

Creating a game-changer product

I have very personal reasons to become interested in nutrition and health.

Before I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2003, shortly after my 16th birthday, I was hospitalised with major balance issues. It was scary enough, but there was a middle-aged man in the bed beside me, he had a stroke while playing golf. The stroke caused by uncontrolled high blood pressure left him paralysed from the neck down. Although he could talk, eat, drink and was mentally very able, he couldn't move the rest of his body. When he needed a nurse, he would ask me to ring the bell for him.

One of my aunts has a long-standing type 2 diabetes. I don't see her too often as she spends 18 hours a week hooked up to a dialysis machine in a hospital. She travels one hour to dialysis and one hour back - three times per week. Also has heart failure, nerve issues and eye problems all caused by unchecked blood sugar levels.

All these experiences made me realise that prevention and awareness are key and inspired me to do something about it. After my honours graduation in dietetics and doctorate in nutrition, I was keen on helping people improve their diets.

My vision was to have a safe, natural, affordable option to help control blood sugar, blood pressure and brain health – however, this seemed to be very close to a fairy tale.

I won a major award from the British Hypertension Society which got me to attend as a presenter at the 2017 Australian Blood Pressure conference. Afterwards, I spent six weeks travelling around Australia and speaking at conferences, meeting with leading experts. I also spent a lot of time on planes and trains by myself, which gave me time to think:

As a single clinician, there is a limit to how many people I can see and help in a year. With a nutrition supplement, I can help millions!

So when I came back from Australia, I completed a “Start your own business” course run by the Local Enterprise Office. I also started a new job as a lecturer but spent my evenings and weekends finding out more about building a business.

I knew there was much potential for my business idea, so I left full-time employment to create a company. That's how Setanta Nutrition Science was born.

A simple but ambitious mission

I want to provide a solution to millions of people around the world by providing nutrition supplements, based on research, to help prevent and treat diabetes, and high blood pressure.

My preliminary research in tests tubes and on myself has shown a remarkable effect. As a crazy scientist, I started with self-experimentation, assessing my blood sugar and blood pressure responses to meals with specific added components.

I noticed some beneficial components, then I tried these components together, and they have shown an even greater response!

The breakthrough: Transforming research findings into a viable product

My strength is science and research, but to make this solution widely available, I have to build a business. That isn’t straightforward and comes with lots of learning.

At the moment I have many wonderful mentors, but practically I’m the only person working full time within the business. I’m building up a team although it takes time until then I try to keep my focus on the end goals and work towards them every day. Chasing funding is exhaustive, as are other elements of starting a business by yourself.

I’m naturally energetic and enthusiastic, also eat and sleep healthy, which helps. When there is a setback or a delay, I can think of the big picture: there is vast potential to help people around the world. Lots of supports are available. The real issue is trying to find the right one.

The Local Enterprise Office Louth, Ireland was a great starting point, they have been very supportive of me and my business idea. We obtained maximum feasibility funding which is helping to accelerate the process of building a company. Besides, I won Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur in the Louth region.

The other big help came from the Dublin Business Innovation Centre (BIC), namely Conor Carmody investor-ready manager, who has been so friendly, open, and honest. He was one of the judges at the Business SPIRIT Award and has helped me so much figuring out my strategy.

I decided to leave full-time employment in November 2018, just a few weeks after the Responsible Innovation Summit, where I presented my project, as a finalist for the Business SPIRIT Award.

This was a tough decision. It’s complicated enough to launch a business anyway and almost impossible to do while being employed. I am pleased with this decision although there are ups and downs, I am excited about the future!

Believing in the impact

Our product treats the underlying causes of diabetes and therefore, could help prevent diabetes and also treat it.

Worldwide there are 800 million diabetics and pre-diabetics at a treating cost of $727 billion. Only in Ireland, there are 250,000 people with diabetes and pre-diabetes which cost the Health Service Executive (HSE) $845 million per year.

Our product designed to improve diabetes control and decrease these risks, therefore the potential is massive. Making it available to people on a global level keeps me going.

Diabetes can lead to eye, kidney and nerve problem and even heart attacks and strokes. There are so many people at risk of diabetes that preventing or even delaying diabetes would reduce suffering and also costs.

We are about to start our first manufacturing run. Following this, we will conduct a human research study where we invite people who are overweight or worried about their health to visit our clinical facility while fasting.

We will measure blood sugar, cholesterol, inflammation in the blood as well as blood pressure. Breakfast with our supplement will be provided and we’ll measure the impact. On another occasion, we will repeat this but with a placebo instead of our supplement.

First will target diabetes prevention and treatment, later high blood pressure. In the future, we plan to expand our focus on solutions for brain disorders such as dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.

We are more than open to get feedback, collaborate or share our findings. Please feel free to get in touch on social media - Twitter, LinkedIn.

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July 2019