(Leagan Gaeilge) The commencement of a Collaborative Research and Development Project between Shimadzu Corporation, and NUI Galway s Applied Optics Group, has been formally announced by the Taoiseach Brian Cowen during a Government trade mission to Japan. The Shimadzu collaboration will focus on the field of imaging techniques, where the Applied Optics Group has a number of patents. Japanese firm Shimadzu is one of the world s leading manufacturers of advanced imaging systems and equipment for use in medical diagnosis and treatment. The company develops, manufactures and distributes a broad range of diagnostic systems in all areas of clinical application - CT, Digital Subtraction Angiography, Cardiovascular Systems, Digital Radiography and Fluoroscopy Systems, Ultrasound and general radiography equipment. Commenting on this and other Japanese Foreign Direct Investments for Ireland which have been supported by the IDA, An Taoiseach, Mr Brian Cowen, T.D., said: "I am delighted to announce these new investments in Ireland by Japanese firms. The size of this trade mission, the diversity of industry sectors represented and the Irish companies taking part, all testify to the eagerness and commitment of Irish companies to develop deeper relationships with Japan, a key player in the world economy. It also signals Ireland s intent to the international scientific community and knowledge based industry that Ireland is very much open for business". The Collaborative Research and Development Project will be under the direction of Professor Chris Dainty, who holds the chair of applied physics in the School of Physics at the NUI Galway. Professor Dainty has been active in the global optics community for several decades and was recently appointed a Vice-President of the Optical Society of America. According to Professor Dainty: "We are very pleased that Shimadzu has entered into this collaborative partnership with the Applied Optics Group here at NUI Galway. Shimadzu is a very distinctive scientific partner. We look forward to progressing and deepening our research collaboration with such a prestigious international organisation". NUI Galway President Dr James J. Browne welcomed the announcement: "This collaboration is an international recognition of the strength and relevance of R&D at NUI Galway. The University wishes the project continued success and applauds the Applied Optics Group, which has developed a strong reputation in its field, achieving a level of excellence on a global scale". The Applied Optics Group at NUI Galway was established in 2002, under the direction of Chris Dainty, and funded by a major grant from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI). The SFI funding was renewed for a further five years in 2007. The Applied Optics Group, which has 25 researchers, has significant interaction with industry in Ireland, Europe, the United States and Japan. The Group's research focuses in four areas: adaptive optics, vision science, imaging and scattering.

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Tionscadal Taighde & Forbartha Seapánach Fógartha ag an Taoiseach (View in English) D'fhógair an Taoiseach Brian Cowen Comhthionscadal Taighde & Forbartha idir Shimadzu Corporation agus Grúpa um Optaic Fheidhmeach OÉ Gaillimh le linn don Rialtas a bheith ar mhisean trádála sa tSeapáin. Díreoidh comhthionscadal Shimadzu ar theicnící íomháithe, réimse a bhfuil roinnt paitinní ag an nGrúpa um Optaic Fheidhmeach ann. Tá gnólacht Shimadzu, atá lonnaithe sa tSeapáin, ar cheann de mhórdheantúsóirí chórais agus threalamh íomháithe an domhain. Úsáidtear na córais agus an trealamh íomháithe seo i ndiagnóisiú agus i gcóireáil leighis. Forbraíonn, déanann agus dáileann an chuideachta raon leathan córas diagnóiseach d'fheidhmeanna cliniciúla éagsúla – CT, Angagrafaíocht Dealaithe Dhigitigh, Córais Chardashoithíocha, Radagrafaíocht Dhigiteach agus Córais Fluarascópachta, trealamh Ultrafhuaime agus trealamh radagrafaíochta ginearálta. Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag an Taoiseach, an tUasal Brian Cowen, T.D., le linn dó a bheith ag trácht ar an tionscadal seo agus ar Infheistíochtaí Díreacha Coigríche Seapánacha eile d'Éirinn a fuair tacaíocht ón IDA freisin: "Tá an-áthas orm na hinfheistíochtaí nua a dhéanfaidh na gnólachtaí Seapánacha seo in Éirinn a fhógairt. Tugann an misean trádála seo agus éagsúlacht na n-earnálacha tionscail agus na gcuideachtaí Éireannacha atá páirteach ann, léargas ar shuim agus ar thiomantas na gcuideachtaí Éireannacha gaol níos fearr a bhunú leis na tSeapáin, ar príomhpháirtí í i ngeilleagar an domhain. Is faoi stiúir an Ollaimh Chris Dainty, Ollamh le Fisic Fheidhmeach i Scoil na Fisice, OÉ Gaillimh a chuirfear an Comhthionscadal Taighde & Forbartha seo i bhfeidhm. Tá an tOllamh Dainty gníomhach i measc an phobail idirnáisiúnta optaice le blianta fada agus is le deireanaí a ceapadh é ina Leas-Uachtarán ar Chumann Optúil Mheiriceá. Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag an Ollamh Dainty: "Táimid thar a bheith sásta go bhfuil Shimadzu páirteach sa chomhthionscadal seo leis an nGrúpa um Optaic Fheidhmeach in OÉ Gaillimh. Comhpháirtí eolaíoch mór le rá é Shimadzu. Táimid ag tnúth le cur lenár ndeiseanna taighde leis an eagraíocht seo a bhfuil cáil dhomhanda bainte amach aici". D'fháiltigh an Dr James J. Browne, Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, roimh an dea-scéala: "Aitheantas idirnáisiúnta ar láidreacht agus ar ábharthacht an Taighde & na Forbartha in OÉ Gaillimh é an comhthionscadal seo. Tá an Ollscoil ag súil go n-éireoidh go breá leis an tionscadal seo san am atá le teacht agus is mian linn freisin ardmholadh a thabhairt don Ghrúpa um Optaic Fheidhmeach, Grúpa ar a bhfuil ardmheas agus a bhfuil ardleibhéal feabhais bainte amach aige go domhanda". Bunaíodh an Grúpa um Optaic Fheidhmeach in OÉ Gaillimh in 2002, faoi stiúir Chris Dainty, agus tá an Grúpa seo á mhaoiniú trí mhórdheontas ó Fhondúireacht Eolaíochta Éireann (SFI). In 2007 dearbhaíodh go mbeadh maoiniú SFI ar fáil ar feadh cúig bliana eile. Bíonn an Grúpa um Optaic Fheidhmeach, ina bhfuil 25 taighdeoir, ag obair le tionscail éagsúla in Éirinn, san Eoraip, sna Stáit Aontaithe agus sa tSeapáin. Tá taighde an Ghrúpa dírithe ar cheithre réimse: optaic oiriúnaitheach, eolaíocht físe, íomháú agus scaipeadh. -críoch-