Research & Innovation

AMBER, the materials science institute headquartered at Trinity College Dublin has announced a new strategic partnership with Bell Labs regarding joint energy efficiency research projects.

The two organisations will be investigating ways to make data networks in communications and ICT more energy efficient in the face of exponential growth in traffic particularly in the fields of energy harvesting and energy storage.

As part of the agreement, Bell Labs will provide scientific and industry expertise around thermal science and energy efficiency while AMBER will provide deep fundamental materials science expertise and their characterisation facilities.

Furthermore, Bell Labs have hired four scientists working as researchers-in-residence at AMBER to accelerate impact from the collaboration with researchers of both organisations to work closely across a range of topics that are considered critical to enable future energy-efficient telecommunications products.

Bell Labs are now calling on Irish researchers to participate in their Bell Labs Prize where those involved have the possibility of winning a cash award worth as much as US$100,000 and the chance to further develop their ideas with the company where Bell Lab’s president Dr Marcus Weldon said at the launch of the partnership: “It will be fascinating to see the ideas that come to light through this process and I have very high hopes for Ireland given its vibrant and diverse research community.”

Also speaking at the launch, Professor Stefano Sanvito of AMBER said: “At AMBER, we are carrying out advanced energy research in areas such as thermoelectric and energy storage applications. This has the potential to significantly improve manufacturing and product-development for companies such as Alcatel Lucent Bell Labs and we are delighted to announce this research partnership today.”