Wisar Lab & Technology Gateway

16/10/2026

The International AI Summit 2026 in Dublin provided an excellent opportunity to highlight the work of WiSAR Lab at Atlantic Technological University and the Data2Sustain European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH).

The summit brought together representatives from government, industry, academia and the wider European AI community to examine the opportunities and challenges associated with the continued development and adoption of artificial intelligence.

For WiSAR and Data2Sustain EDIH, the event provided a valuable platform to engage with stakeholders, showcase the supports available to businesses and explore opportunities for collaboration.

Following the summit, WiSAR Engineering Manager and Commercial Lead, Sean Keys, also visited JFC Agri in Tuam, where he met with Andrew and the team to strengthen industry connections and discuss potential opportunities for collaboration.

Through applied research, technical expertise and industry engagement, WiSAR and Data2Sustain European Digital Innovation Hubs Network continue to support enterprises in adopting emerging digital technologies, strengthening innovation capacity and advancing digital transformation.

15/10/2026

Dr Karla Muñoz Esquivel, Principal Investigator at WiSAR, recently presented at the “Healthcare 5.0 in Practice: Digital Solutions and Cooperation for the Future of Patient Care” stakeholder meeting, held on 9 October in Szekszárd, Hungary.

Organised by the Interreg Europe HUMAN project, the event brought together stakeholders to explore innovative digital healthcare solutions, share good practices and identify opportunities for future collaboration.

Karla shared findings from the Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic-funded RemoTED project, highlighting the role of digital technologies in supporting healthcare delivery in remote and rural regions.

The event provided a valuable opportunity to exchange knowledge between European projects and explore how digital innovation can help shape the future of patient care.

Find out more about the RemoTED Project: https://www.interreg-npa.eu/projects/remoted/

12/10/2026

We are pleased to share that the submission deadline for the Sensors Special Issue, “MIMO Antenna Design and Performance Enhancement for Wireless Applications”, has been extended to 31 May 2027.

Guest edited by ATU WiSAR researchers Dr. Sahar Saleh, Dr. Tale Saeidi and Dr. Nick Timmons, this Special Issue invites researchers and academics to contribute original research exploring advancements in MIMO antenna design, performance optimisation and emerging wireless communication technologies.

This is an excellent opportunity to share innovative research and contribute to developments in next-generation wireless applications.

Find out more and submit your research:
https://www.wisar.ie/wisar-researchers-guest-edit-sensors-special-issue-on-mimo-antenna-design-and-wireless-applications/

08/10/2026

WiSAR Lab's Engineering Manager and Commercial Lead, Sean Keys, attended the Interreg Europe ENAIBLER Project Final Conference at CoLab North West, Letterkenny this week.

The conference brought together partners and stakeholders from across Europe to explore how regions can strengthen their capabilities and partnerships to support the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Discussions focused on regional AI ecosystems, research and innovation, digital transformation, robotics, IoT and the role of Digital Innovation Hubs in supporting businesses and public services.

A valuable opportunity to exchange knowledge, share best practices and explore how AI can drive innovation and support regional development.

Congratulations to ERNACT and all ENAIBLER project partners on a successful event.

06/10/2026

This week, the SPEAR Centre welcomed colleagues from Atlantic Technological University, Tyndall National Institute and Ulster University to ATU Letterkenny for the first face-to-face planning session involving the wider project teams.

The session brought together Principal Investigators, Postdoctoral Researchers, engineers, project officers and advisors for a productive morning focused on SPEAR Doctoral College and SME Engagement Planning.

The meeting explored the development of SPEAR’s four-year photonics doctoral programme, strengthening collaboration across the three partner institutions and establishing effective pathways for transferring knowledge between the academic partners and stakeholder SMEs.

Discussions covered doctoral framework alignment, curriculum development, peer-to-peer mobility and practical approaches to SME engagement, including industry workshops and collaborative activities.

Joining the session were Professor Paul Townsend, Head of Photonics at Tyndall National Institute, and his team; Professor Jim Harkin, Head of the School of Computing at Ulster University, and his team; alongside the WiSAR Lab team at ATU.

As well as progressing plans for the SPEAR College and SME engagement programme, the event provided an important opportunity for the teams who will deliver the project together to meet, exchange ideas and build relationships.

A very successful first partner planning session and a great foundation for the collaborative work ahead.

The SPEAR Centre is an €8.46 million cross-border initiative supported by the PEACEPLUS Programme and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) - European Funding. Led by Atlantic Technological University through WiSAR Lab, in partnership with Ulster University and Tyndall National Institute, with Seagate Technology as industry partner, SPEAR is building research capacity, skills and industry collaboration in semiconductor photonics across the North-West region.

05/10/2026

Congratulations to our friends and neighbours at ERNACT on an incredible 35 years of cross-border cooperation and innovation.

Over the years, WiSAR Lab has had the pleasure of working closely with the ERNACT team across a range of initiatives, as well as being neighbours here at CoLab North West on the ATU Donegal Letterkenny campus.

35 years is a fantastic milestone and a testament to ERNACT’s long-standing commitment to collaboration, digital innovation and building connections across the border and beyond.

Congratulations to everyone at ERNACT, past and present, on this achievement. We look forward to continuing to work alongside you in the years ahead. 🤝

ERNACT will mark 35 years of cross-border cooperation, digital innovation and community impact at a special anniversary event in Letterkenny next week.On Wednes...

30/06/2026

Through the Data2Sustain European Digital Innovation Hubs Network programme, WiSAR partnered with Carne Golf Links to further strengthen its data-driven approach to golf course management.

Recognising the potential of real-time data to enhance water conservation, turf health, course routing, and pace-of-play management, Carne Golf Links sought a scalable monitoring solution capable of delivering continuous insights across its unique coastal environment.

With support from the Data2Sustain programme, the team deployed an IoT infrastructure incorporating LoRaWAN soil sensors, GPS golfer trackers, and a directional golfer counter. A unified dashboard was developed to bring together real-time and historical data on soil conditions, golfer movement, congestion, footfall, and device status, while field testing helped optimise coverage and accuracy across the course.

The project has enabled more targeted irrigation, deeper insights into golfer movement and pace-of-play trends, and better-informed routing and maintenance decisions. It also established a scalable digital infrastructure for future expansion, demonstrating Carne Golf Links' commitment to innovation, sustainability, and evidence-based course management.

27/05/2026

It was great to see The Listening Bench included as part of Glenveagh National Park’s Biodiversity Networking Brunch celebrating Natura 2000 Day.

A big thank you to Glenveagh for providing the opportunity to showcase the project, with Roscoe Holt presenting the concept and development journey behind the initiative.

Developed through the Data2Sustain European Digital Innovation Hub, The Listening Bench is a collaborative project involving the Furniture Design Group (ATU Galway), WiSAR Lab and DICE Labs (ATU Donegal), exploring how digital technologies and environmental data can support new ways of engaging with the natural environment.

We look forward to sharing more updates with further installations taking place at Connemara National Park and Fort Dunree, Co. Donegal

22/05/2026

09/04/2026

Through the Data2Sustain European Digital Innovation Hubs Network programme, WiSAR partnered with Hillcrest Nursing Home to enhance reminiscence therapy through immersive digital innovation.

Hillcrest sought to address a key challenge: traditional reminiscence methods, such as photo albums and storytelling, offered limited engagement for residents - particularly those with cognitive challenges - and lacked scalability for diverse care needs.

With support from the Data2Sustain programme, the team, led by Dr. William Farrelly, developed 360° virtual reality content featuring familiar Irish beaches and rural scenes. Pilot trials were conducted to refine resident experiences, while staff were trained to create and manage an in-house VR content library, ensuring long-term sustainability of the solution.

The result was stronger emotional engagement among residents, increased digital confidence among staff, and the establishment of a cost-efficient, scalable model for reminiscence therapy - demonstrating how immersive technologies can enrich care experiences and support innovation across the healthcare sector.

Building on this success, the project has secured further research funding and is now expanding its impact across additional care homes in the region.

🔗 Explore the full case study: https://www.wisar.ie/case-studies/implementing-virtual-reality-to-enhance-reminiscence-therapy-for-older-adults/

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