Walton Institute

📣 Walton Institute and South East Technological University (SETU) are seeking an industry partner to help commercialise an innovative autism exercise platform. The Activity Intelligence Platform (AIP) is an Extended Reality (XR) exercise tool designed to make physical activity more engaging and accessible for autistic children.

The platform originated from the doctoral research of Mark Power. Recognising its potential, Mark worked with SETU’s Technology Transfer Office (TTO) to explore commercialisation opportunities. This led to the development of a commercialisation pathway and an Enterprise Ireland Commercialisation Fund feasibility study, led by Dr Frances Cleary at Walton Institute in collaboration with colleagues from SETU’s School of Health Sciences.

The project team is now seeking commercial partners to help shape the next phase of development and explore routes to market. They are particularly interested in engaging with organisations working in inclusive health technologies, digital health, rehabilitation, education, and assistive technologies.

To learn more about the opportunity, or to discuss potential collaboration, please contact Walton Institute or the SETU Technology Transfer Office.

SETU seeks partner to turn autism exercise project into business Activity Intelligence Platform (AIP) is an Extended Reality (XR) exercise tool designed to make physical activity more engaging and accessible for children with autism.

Walton Institute at South East Technological University (SETU) is proud to be part of the AI-DAPT EU Project, helping to shape the next generation of trustworthy, human-centric AI in Europe.

AI-DAPT is tackling one of the biggest challenges in artificial intelligence today, moving beyond model-centric approaches to truly data-centric, reliable, and adaptive AI systems. By combining advanced AI Operations (AIOps), explainable AI, and human-in-the-loop methodologies, the project is building intelligent data pipelines that continuously learn, adapt, and deliver real-world impact.

From healthcare and robotics to energy and manufacturing, AI-DAPT is demonstrating how next-generation AI can:
✅ Improve decision-making through explainable insights
✅ Enhance efficiency with adaptive, automated pipelines
✅ Ensure trust through robust, human-centred design

Learn more at: https://www.ai-dapt.eu/

🧾 We’re pleased to share our latest research publication 'RSDD: Resilient Statistical Drift Detection for vSDN Hypervisors' written by Mohamed Khalafalla Hassan. PhD, Dr. Ilias Cherkaoui and Dr Indrakshi Dey (Walton Institute, South East Technological University) and Ibrahim Y. Alshareef (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia), Habib Hamam (Université de Moncton) is now available in early access on IEEE Networking Letters.

This work introduces a resilient statistical drift detection framework designed for AI-driven virtual SDN hypervisors, enhancing adaptability, robustness, and intelligent resource management in highly dynamic network environments.

By addressing drift in real time, the approach supports more reliable and efficient network operations. This is particularly important for emerging applications in 5G/6G, edge computing, and autonomous systems, where maintaining consistent and reliable network behaviour is critical.

🔗 Read more: https://waltoninstitute.ie/news-and-events/news/publication-rsdd-resilient-statistical-drift-detection-for-vsdn-hypervisors

WaltonInstitute

Publication: RSDD - Resilient Statistical Drift Detection for vSDN Hypervisors This research explores how future communication networks can automatically adapt when traffic patterns suddenly change.

🌍 Earth Day 2026 reminds us that tackling climate challenges requires more than awareness; it demands action, collaboration, and forward-thinking solutions. This year’s theme, 'Our Power, Our Planet', highlights the critical role that communities, organisations, and technology play in building a resilient, low-carbon future.

At Walton Institute, South East Technological University, we’re proud to showcase how research and technology are helping to shape that future. Our latest blog explores how cutting-edge ICT innovation is delivering real-world impact from reducing food waste and supporting sustainable farming, to enabling greener AI and healthier communities.

Read the full article to learn more about just some of the projects the team at Walton Institute are driving to support sustainability goals: https://waltoninstitute.ie/news-and-events/news/earth-day-2026-innovating-for-a-more-sustainable-future

Earth Day 2026: Innovating for a more sustainable future We’re highlighting a selection of Walton Institute projects that demonstrate how digital innovation can help address some of today’s most pressing environmental challenges.

Walton Institute at South East Technological University looks forward to taking part in the Waterford Chamber of Commerce Business Expo next Thursday April 23rd at George Corbett Motors.

Stop by the Innovation Zone hosted by SETU Lean Industry 4.0. and hear more about Walton's cutting-edge research in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Extended Reality (XR), Quantum, Cybersecurity and more. Plus speak to the ICS Technology Gateway and ENTIRE EDIH team at Walton about the funding and innovation supports available for businesses in the south east. We look forward to seeing you there! 🇮🇪 🇪🇺



Southern Regional Assembly | Enterprise Ireland | EU Funds Ireland | Northern & Western Regional Assembly

🎉 We are proud to announce that Walton Institute at South East Technological University (SETU) will deliver a new national AI facility as part of a €17 million investment by Research Ireland.

This significant milestone will see the development of an advanced artificial intelligence and high-performance computing (HPC) platform, designed to strengthen Ireland’s research and innovation ecosystem while supporting industry adoption of AI at scale.

The Walton AI Facility will significantly expand our existing infrastructure delivering up to 100x current computing capacity while improving energy efficiency. It will act as a shared national resource for researchers, SMEs, industry and public sector organisations, enabling large-scale AI model training, real-time data analysis and applied research across sectors such as healthcare, climate, agriculture and finance.

The facility will also foster collaboration at both national and European levels, help organisations test and adopt AI solutions with reduced risk, while building critical skills and capacity across the region.

🔗 Read more: https://waltoninstitute.ie/news-and-events/news/walton-institute-to-deliver-new-national-ai-facility-under-e17-million-research-ireland-investment

Irish Centre for High-End Computing | FutureNeuro

Walton Institute to deliver new national AI facility under €17 million Research Ireland investment The Walton AI Facility will be an advanced artificial intelligence and high-performance computing (HPC) platform designed to strengthen Ireland’s research and innovation capacity and support industry adoption of AI.

🎉 Happy World Quantum Day - an opportunity to celebrate the scientists, engineers and innovators working within the field of quantum!

Today, April 14 (4.14), is World Quantum Day. In quantum physics, there is a famous number called Planck’s constant. It is one of the most important numbers in science; it helps explain how the tiniest things in the universe - like atoms and particles - behave.

The number looks like this: 4.14 × 10⁻¹⁵

Scientists chose April 14 (4.14) as World Quantum Day to to celebrate quantum scientists, engineers and innovators on this day!

Today, we particularly recognise the IrelandQCI consortium of partners and celebrate the brilliant quantum minds that work on this project:
Walton Institute SETU CONNECT Research Ireland Maynooth University UCC UCD Trinity College Dublin Irish Centre for High-End Computing University of Galway ESB Telecoms Asiera

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Led by South East Technological University (SETU), in partnership with Frisby Group and Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, Glassworks will bring research, academia and industry closer together, creating more opportunities for collaboration and applied innovation.

Glassworks intends to build on SETU’s strong track record in research and development, with the University considered among the highest-performing third-level institutions in Ireland.

Walton Institute is proud to be an important part of SETU’s role in driving regional innovation having secured €155 million in competitive funding across areas like artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, next-generation communications, smart energy, agritech, digital health and smart cities.

📰 Read more about the exciting future of Glassworks in The Irish Times feature today: https://www.irishtimes.com/advertising-feature/2026/04/09/setu-and-glassworks-set-to-accelerate-innovation/



Southern Regional Assembly | Enterprise Ireland | EU Funds Ireland

SETU and Glassworks set to accelerate innovation The Glasswork campus sits near a cluster of multinational companies and in reach of local government, industry and education partners

Malik Faizan, a PhD student in the Programmable Autonomous Systems Division at Walton Institute, South East Technological University recently presented his research at the All Ireland Student Sustainability Research Conference 2026 in TU Dublin / OT Baile Átha Cliath.

AMITY 'Automated Music Therapy for Anxiety and Depression Management in Older People' explores how real-time adaptive music therapy is opening exciting new possibilities for supporting mental wellbeing in ageing populations.

By combining music with emerging technologies, this research focuses on developing personalised interventions that respond dynamically to an individual’s emotional and physiological state helping to reduce stress, enhance mood, and support cognitive health.

As global populations continue to age, innovative and scalable approaches like this are becoming increasingly important.

🔗 Read more: https://waltoninstitute.ie/news-and-events/news/real-time-adaptive-music-therapy-for-mental-health-in-ageing-populations

Real-time adaptive music therapy for mental health in ageing populations Malik Faizan, a PhD student in the Programmable Autonomous Systems Division at the Walton Institute, South East Technological University (SETU), recently presented his research at the All Ireland Student Sustainability Conference 2026, held at Technological University Dublin. The conference provided...