Dr. Alan O’Riordan (Tyndall National Institute; Sensor-PI; male; FWCI – 2.12) is a senior research fellow at the Tyndall National Institute. He is an analytical chemist and his research focuses on developing solid-state sensitive and scalable smart sensors & systems. He has competitively secured >€15M in research funding. He has published >120 publications and has >2,000 citations. A key foundation of Alan’s research focus is to ensure its relevance to real-life applications by using a co-creation and co-design approach. To achieve the goal of development of ICT technologies, Alan conceptualises and implements a research strategy, successfully created national and international collaborations, which are now core partners, developed research opportunities and secured significant funding with key stakeholders, both nationally and internationally, to develop smart sensors and systems that are fit for use. Alan is a PI in a Research Ireland US-Ireland project, coordinated two Horizon projects, and is a co-PI in one national and three Horizon projects, with three further Horizon projects currently under review. Examples of impact include:

• Patented nanoelectrochemical sensor platform entitled “Nanowire Electrode Sensor” (EU Patent 26/11/2012 & US Patent US20140145709), with a second patent “A working electrode, a reference electrode, a sensor and a method of manufacture thereof” (UK 2309536.7) currently at PCT stage. These patents are being leveraged by industry to develop several sensor systems.
• Licensing for a Nitrate Sensor (UK 2309536.7), developed in Phase I, is being actively pursued.
• Awarded an Enterprise Ireland Gold Medal for Most Innovative Technology Emerging from Third Level based on research from Phase I.
• Led the European team’s contribution on Smart Sensor Systems for the IEEE International Roadmap on Devices and Systems – More than Moore white paper (link). As a result, the requirement to develop digital technologies for the Agritech sector is now included alongside MedTech, automotive, and other sectors on this semiconductor industry roadmap.