By Business & Finance 
Pictured are OxyMem co-founders, professor Eoin Casey and Dr Eoin Syron
University College Dublin (UCD) today honoured professor Eoin Casey and Dr Eoin Syron during an event held at NovaUCD, the Centre for New Ventures and Entrepreneurs.
The award was presented to them in recognition of the success and impact which OxyMem, a UCD spin-out, has achieved to date in the international, multi-billion euro wastewater treatment industry.
The company operates in Athlone, Co. Westmeath and employs over 40 people. It has already raised €2.5m from investors and Enterprise Ireland and secured clients in Ireland, UK, Spain, Sweden and in North America, Middle East and Far East.
OxyMem’s membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) technology is disrupting the global wastewater treatment sector, estimated to be worth €30bn, by servicing a compelling market demand for energy efficient wastewater treatment without increasing the cost of capital equipment.
Professor Andrew J Deeks, president, UCD, said: “The NovaUCD 2015 Innovation Award was presented to Professor Casey and Dr Syron in recognition of the successes they have achieved to date through the quality and impact of their research and through the impact of OxyMem in the global wastewater treatment industry. OxyMem, established to commercialise world-class UCD research outputs, is an excellent example of the quality of companies now emerging from the University. While only established in 2013, OxyMem has already grown significantly, employing over 40 people and already securing international clients.”
Professor Eoin Casey, head, UCD School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, commented: “On behalf of Dr Eoin Syron and myself we are delighted to receive this prestigious University College Dublin award. The award not only recognises the success of OxyMem over the last few years but also recognises the 10 years of research and development activities at UCD on which OxyMem is built.”
Wayne Byrne, managing director, OxyMem, added: “Since we established OxyMem it has continued to grow from strength to strength and we continue to look towards enhanced co-operation with UCD for 2016 and beyond. Looking to the future, the company, which recently opened an office in the US to service growing demand in the North American market, is planning to increase manufacturing threefold and to create at least 15 new jobs during 2016. We expect to have some very exciting announcements in Q1 2016 so please continue to watch this space.”
