South East Technological University (SETU) has supported Irish healthcare company Ostomy Cubecare Ltd through a series of innovation-led collaborations with two of the University’s Technology Gateways, helping to advance the development of new healthcare product solutions.
The company recently completed two successful €10,000 Enterprise Ireland Innovation Voucher projects with Design+ and SEAM, providing access to specialist expertise in design innovation, product development, engineering and applied research.
The collaborations focused on supporting the continued development of a novel ostomy-related healthcare product designed to improve usability and patient experience. The work undertaken through the Innovation Voucher projects enabled the company to access research expertise, technical evaluation, and user-focused design support within SETU.
Advancing the Development of the Measure Plug
As part of the collaboration, SETU has also formally assigned intellectual property connected to the “Measure Plug” innovation to Ostomy Cubecare Ltd, supporting the company’s ongoing commercialisation activities. The device is described as “a plug used in the Ostomy sink, having volume increments marked on it so the user can measure the output of their ostomy bag before flushing the waste down the sink outlet.”
Innovation Vouchers are designed to strengthen collaboration between enterprise and higher education institutions, enabling companies to access academic knowledge and specialist facilities to support innovation and business growth.
Industry Perspective
Working with the teams at SETU has been an extremely positive experience for our company. The expertise and support available through both Design+ and SEAM helped us further develop our product concept and provided valuable insight that will support our next stage of growth."
Carolun Houlihan, Founder, Ostomy Cubecare Ltd
Speaking about the collaboration, Carolyn Houlihan, Founder of Ostomy Cubecare Ltd, said, “Working with the teams at SETU has been an extremely positive experience for our company. The expertise and support available through both Design+ and SEAM helped us further develop our product concept and provided valuable insight that will support our next stage of growth.”
Richard Whyte at Design+, said “This project highlights the important role that design-led innovation can play in healthcare product development. Collaborating with companies such as Ostomy Cubecare Ltd allows us to apply research and design expertise to real-world challenges that can make a meaningful difference for users.”
Dr Ramesh Raghavendra at SEAM, added, “Innovation Voucher collaborations are an effective way for companies to engage with SETU’s research capabilities. Through projects such as this, businesses can access specialist technical expertise that supports product development, innovation and commercial potential.”
University-Industry Collaboration Delivering Real-World Impact
SETU’s Technology Gateways work closely with companies across Ireland to support applied research, innovation, product development and knowledge transfer. The collaboration with Ostomy Cubecare Ltd demonstrates how university-industry partnerships can help accelerate innovation while supporting enterprise growth and healthcare advancement.
The Enterprise Ireland Technology Gateway Programme is co-financed by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Southern, Eastern & Midland Regional Programme 2021-27 and the Northern & Western Regional Programme 2021-27.
