Martin O’Connell - EU Programmes Manager - Tyndall National Institute

Martin is the Head of EU Programmes at Rinn Semiconductors, hosted by Tyndall National Institute, where he shapes the centre’s international strategy and leads major cross-cutting initiatives. An expert in advanced semiconductors, nanoelectronics and energy efficient technologies, he has played a central role in European research and innovation, contributing to Ireland's Silicon Island strategy and the EU Chips Act through the implementation of numerous EU-funded projects and the development of relevant strategic research agendas.   

Dr. Torsten Thieme - CDO - DEAXO

Dr. Torsten Thieme was appointed Chief Development Officer (CDO) of DEAXO GmbH in January 2021.

He is a board member of the association "Silicon Saxony e.V.", responsible for the topic "Smart Systems".

From 2005 to the end of 2020 he worked on "Smart Micro Systems" as Managing Director at memsfab GmbH in Chemnitz (Germany). From 1999 to the end of 2004 he was General Manager at Solid State Measurements Inc., Pittsburgh, PA, USA, in the area of measurement technology for the characterization of carrier profiles in semiconductors (front end).

Dr. Torsten Thieme studied "Biomedical Cybernetics" and did his doctorate at the Technical University of Ilmenau, Germany.

Darragh Gaffney - Business Lead - Leyton

I am a relationship driven R&D professional, with senior management experience, specialising in delivering market/customer focused research projects from Proof-of-Concept to Commercialisation especially in the agri-food and biotech industry. In particular, I specialise in using enzymes to move existing products up the value chain and developing processes to create new value chains from by-products/waste.

I enjoy interrogating data and extracting insights and trends from data sets and converting this into a format appropriate to the audience. I am comfortable presenting technical results to customers and have delivered many symposium and conference presentations.

I have extensive knowledge of the Irish and European innovation ecosystem, including funding options, IP management, Knowledge Development Box and R&D Tax Credits.

Valerie Heatherton - Senior Client Advisor - Enterprise Ireland

As a Senior Business Development Advisor at Enterprise Ireland, Valerie has been supporting Irish businesses in the High-Tech Construction sector for over 12 years.

Enterprise Ireland is the national agency for innovation and internationalization of Irish businesses, and I am proud to be part of its mission to make a positive impact on the economy and society.

Valerie has a master's degree in HR Strategies and over 24 years of experience in business development and human resource development. My core competencies include business planning, growth strategies, sales and marketing, and HR development. I provide tailored advice, funding, and market access opportunities to help my clients achieve their goals and overcome their challenges.

Valerie also collaborates with internal and external stakeholders, such as industry experts, research institutes, and government agencies, to foster a culture of innovation and excellence within the Irish business ecosystem. Valerie enjoy’s working in a dynamic and collaborative environment, where she can learn from and contribute to the success of my team and organization.