Elevate

ELEVATE is a dynamic 4-year initiative designed to strengthen the IADT Research and Innovation Office. ELEVATE’s primary goal is to cultivate a dynamic research and innovation ecosystem for the Creative Industries, propelling Ireland to the forefront of the sector and solidifying IADT as a global leader in creative research and innovation. With the support from the TU Rise programme, our initial emphasis will focus on Screen, Design and Policy for the Creative industries, bolstered by overarching themes of sustainable innovation and Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI).

IADT’s TU RISE ELEVATE is co-financed by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Southern, Eastern & Midland Regional Programme 2021- 27

  • Government of Ireland Logo
  • Funded by the European Union Logo
  • Southern Regional Assembly Logo
  • Higher Education Authority (HEA) Logo
Photograph of the front of The National Film School @ IADT

The overall motivation of the ELEVATE project aligns with the scope and outcomes of TU RISE and European and National strategies as it seeks to establish and grow dedicated research and innovation offices, amply research and innovation for the creative industries and broaden IADTs engagement with regional enterprises, with a particular focus on SMEs. IADT is ready to take the next big step in our vision to be Ireland’s campus for the creative industries.
IADT’s new Strategic Plan (2024-2028) will express IADTs ambition to be Ireland’s campus for the creative industries. As a relatively young, yet ambitious, Institution with an outstanding national and international reputation in the provision of innovative, studio-based and professionally oriented programmes of study that address the future skills and needs of the Creative Industries. A strategic priority for the next phase of our evolution is to provide a world-class research environment.

  1. Develop Regional Creative Industries Research and Innovation Ecosystem
  2. Strengthen IADT’s Research Capacity and Expertise
  3. Expand IADT’s Pathway for Research Outputs into Industry
  4. Develop and Improve Support Structures for Research and Industry Engagement
  5. Promote Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Photograph of the front of The National Film School @ IADT at dusk

Work with Stakeholder groups and produce research that impacts society, bridges knowledge and expertise and its translation to industry and the regions and find creative solutions for the most pressing cultural and societal issues pertinent to our shared future.

Creation Bridges will transform our campus into a “live studio” in these areas:

Creation Bridge: Screen

Growing IADT’s existing expertise in Animation, Expanded Screen Practices, Cyberpsychology, Creative Computing, AR/VR, Immersive Media Technologies, Gaming/Digital Content and Production.

Creation Bridge: Design

Consolidate IADT’s expertise in Communication, Information, Strategic and Organisational Design, 3D Design, UI/UX, Spatial, Speculative, Environmental Design, Visual Arts, Critical Design Approaches, Design Thinking and Artistic Research.

Creation Bridge: Policy

Promoting evidence-based research to inform debate on policy impacts in the Creative and Cultural Sector through EDI, Social Sciences, and Strategic Planning. Integrated with IADT’s strategy, this ecosystem supports its vision of transformative creative practices, enabling IADT to revolutionise the future of Creative Industries.

Creation Bridge: Grow

Is the research growth, training, engagement and impact engine, which will host our academics, teams of researchers, and a suite of training packages, and develop networks for our Academic Residency and Industry Fellowship programmes to seed and grow the next areas of specialisations.

These bridges are gateways and generators to other areas of research specialisation and expertise, and they coalesce as a force for positive social change.

Ethical screen practices and responsible content creation produce beneficial outcomes for society, forging pathways to a more cohesive future. Critical design methodologies lever imaginative and daring problem-solving approaches to the biggest challenges facing society, such as Climate Change. Creative approaches to leadership produce an informed and persuasive model for policy making, impacting significant challenges facing the CCSI in such areas as EDI and Sustainability.

The foundation for nurturing, and shaping the above, is IADT’s demonstrable excellence in Psychology, Technology and Critical Humanities research in Art, Design, Performance, Screen and Textual Histories and Theories, Visual, Material, Public and Popular Cultures. This transdisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and profoundly collaborative ecosystem is powered by the multifaceted and nuanced approaches emancipated when rigorous creative practices and critical research combine.

IADT Students walking by Dun Laoghaire Pier

ELEVATE includes a diverse array of research and industry engagement initiatives including:

Creative Industries Analysis

• Mapping the creative economy of the Southern Eastern Midlands.
• Development of a strategic plan for engaging industry partners.
• Introduction of a Toolkit for Research in the Creative Industries.

Research Leadership Development

• Dedicated academic Discipline Leads will undertake focused research projects.
• Completion of two Postdoctoral Researcher projects in specialised areas.
• Completion of two structured PhD’s in specialised areas.
• Completion of three Masters by Research projects with industry placements in specialist areas.
• Validation of one 5 credit Special Purpose Award (Level 9) in Cultural Entrepreneurship.
• Provision of bespoke training and mentoring for academic staff and researchers.

Innovate Vision Lab

The establishment of a cutting-edge Innovation Vision Laboratory with dedicated technical support. The Innovation Vision Lab will facilitate collaboration between researchers and industry partners utilising state of the art audio visual technology.

ELEVATE Events

ELEVATE will deliver a series of events designed to initiate and nurture industry/academia collaboration. These will include showcase events, student events, the IADT Accelerator programme and two events focusing upon female founders in the creative and cultural industries.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

ELEVATE will develop a conscious and inclusive approach to research and research culture through strengthening understanding of equality, diversity, inclusivity (EDI) and belonging amongst our IADT community.
Completion of one Postdoctoral Researcher project in EDI.

Decorative arrow

Dr Rachel Clarke

Programme Manager ELEVATE

Dr Rachel Clarke is programme manager for the ELEVATE programme. Prior to joining IADT, Rachel was previously employed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the Irish Research Council (IRC) where she managed two Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) programmes (CAROLINE & DOROTHY). She also...

Head of Research at the Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Dun Laoghaire

Dr Tina Kinsella

Head of Research

Dr Tina Kinsella is a senior academic leader, researcher, and educator. She is a member of IADT’s Senior Management team. As Head of Research, she provides strategic leadership for all research functions at IADT, including research leadership, postgraduate research (Masters by Research and PhD...

Rachel Gallagher

Enterprise & Innovation Manager

Rachel Gallagher is Enterprise & Innovation Manager at the Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT). Rachel manages the IADT incubator centre, The Media Cube, and Enterprise Ireland’s New Frontiers programme team at IADT (an entrepreneurial development programme for early-stage start-ups)....

Headshot of Claire McGing EDI Manager at IADT Dún Laoghaire

Claire McGing

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Manager

Claire McGing is the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Manager at IADT Dún Laoghaire. At a European level, she leads the EDI Office of the FilmEU - European Alliance for Film and Media Arts (co-funded by the European Union Erasmus+ Programme). She is a member of several sector-wide EDI...

Headshot of Dr. Michael Glennon Industry Engagement Officer Elevate IADT

Dr Mike Glennon

Industry Engagement Officer

Dr Mike Glennon has a background spanning academic research, creative practice and third level education. Mike was awarded his PhD by TU Dublin in 2021 for his research on Mix-Based Modes of Making Music. He has presented his research and composition work at locations including the Research Pavilion...

Dorota Zurek

Research Officer

Dorota Zurek is a dedicated Research Officer at the Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT). Originally from Poland, she holds a Master of Science in Political Science and has pursued further education through postgraduate courses, including a Diploma in Financial Advice from University...

Marie O'Neil

Professional Research Systems Officer

Marie O'Neill is the Professional Research Systems Officer at IADT with responsibility for the Pure research management system. She has over thirty years of experience in librarianship, having worked in the libraries of various institutions such as IADT, King's Inns, Technological University Dublin,...

Headshot of Andrew Edgar Technical Assistant - ELEVATE Programme

Andrew Edgar

Technical Assistant ELEVATE

Andrew Edgar is technical assistant for the ELEVATE programme. Andrew is a creative technician, audiovisual practitioner and artist-producer. Before joining the ELEVATE team, he worked as a technician across various disciplines in IADT’s Faculty of Film, Art + Creative Technologies. He also has...

Headshot Eileen Cahill, Research Officer for Elevate

Eileen Cahill

Research Officer (ELEVATE Support)

Eileen Cahill is the Research Officer for Film & Animation, Art, Design, Psychology, Creative Technology, Humanities, and Entrepreneurship. She works in the Directorate of Creativity, Innovation + Research at IADT. Her role involves managing the day to day operations within the Research Office,...