Professor Edward Curry has been appointed the new director of the NUI Galway site of Ireland’s national data research body, the Insight SFI Centre.

Dr Edward Curry is Established Professor of Data Science at NUI Galway and Vice President of the Big Data Value Association (www.BDVA.eu), a non-profit industry-led organisation with the objective of increasing the competitiveness of European Companies with data-driven innovation.

Prof Curry takes up the position as Insight passes the €200m funding mark, with more than 450 researchers working across a range of data research fields such as connected health, smart cities, data governance and sustainable and trustworthy AI.

The Insight SFI Centre site in Galway is networked to the regional, national and international business ecosystem through more than 80 partnerships providing innovative data-driven solutions to both SME and MNC partners based in the region and beyond.

Speaking about his new role Prof Curry said:

‘I look forward to working with the team in Galway to grow our local and national innovation ecosystem to be globally competitive in data and AI technologies. Along with the Insight directors in DCU, UCD and UCC, and our partners in Tyndall, TCD, Maynooth and UL, it is my objective to advance Ireland’s digital transformation. We are equipped to drive the development of a national data infrastructure that benefits businesses and enables Ireland to make better decisions on everything from health to climate to government.

Our team of world-leading AI and data researchers at Insight in Galway offers a unique opportunity for businesses based in the region to partner with global experts to deliver innovative data-driven solutions” said Prof Curry. ‘I look forward to engaging with businesses in the region and throughout the country who are seeking to innovate with their data. Our researchers are constantly advancing the state-of-the-art in data technologies and applying them to enhance the competitiveness of the companies that we work with. We are enthusiastic about doing more business with interested companies of all sizes from indigenous SMEs to large multinationals in any domain.’

The Insight SFI Centre is involved in over 60 EU research partnerships and researchers from Insight, including Prof Curry, are central figures in directly Europe’s data future.

The CEO of the Insight SFI Centre, Prof Noel O’Connor, welcomed the appointment saying: ‘I’m delighted to welcome Professor Curry into the role. His addition further strengthens  the already excellent multi-institutional leadership that is in place and that is needed to effectively run a successful national centre like Insight.’

Prof Edward Curry Bio

Professor  of Computer Science at NU Galway, Edward Curry has made substantial research contributions to semantic technologies, incremental data management, event processing middleware, software engineering, as well as distributed systems and information systems. Edward is co-founder and elected Vice President of the Big Data Value Association, an industry-led European big data community, has built consensus on a joint European big data research and innovation agenda and influenced European data innovation policy to deliver on the agenda. He serves as an expert for industry, the European Commission, FWO, FWF, SNSF, and the European Marine Board. He chairs the advisory board of the Big Data for Smart Society Institute (GATE) in Sofia, Bulgaria. Edward has worked extensively with industry and government advising on the adoption patterns, practicalities, and benefits of new technologies.