Explorer

Explorer, launched in 2020, is a cutting-edge deep-tech pre-accelerator program led by IPIC at the prestigious Tyndall National Institute. It aims to identify and empower high-potential startup ventures while promoting the commercialization of research as a viable and rewarding career path.

The program nurtures research-driven ideas that have the potential to create a meaningful impact in addressing societal and environmental challenges. It primarily focuses on early-stage projects within diverse fields such as health, well-being, green society, agriculture, transport, manufacturing and energy, power semiconductors, intelligent sensors, advanced optical and wireless equipment, and compound materials and applications.

Explorer equips researchers with best-in-class entrepreneurial training, providing them with the tools and knowledge to explore and validate the business case for new technologies and cultivate a commercial mindset. The program fosters a collaborative and supportive environment that encourages peer learning, cooperation, and the development of interpersonal networks, enabling participants to thrive in the competitive startup landscape.

This innovative initiative is a collaborative effort involving the synergistic partnership of government, industry, and academia. Program partners include renowned research centres such as CONNECT, Confirm, and IPIC, the IPCEI European Cluster Collaboration Platform, and international high-tech photonics and OSRAM Opto Semiconductors. Support for Explorer comes from organizations such as Science Foundation Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Munster Technological University, Dublin City University, Trinity College Dublin, and University College Cork.

Through its comprehensive and collaborative approach, Explorer is propelling the commercialization of research and driving the development of disruptive deep-tech startups, positioning Ireland as a global leader in innovation and entrepreneurship.