– Dr. Noel Gately is Centre Manager of the Applied Polymer Technologies (APT) Gateway, which is hosted at the Materials Research Institute at the Technological University of the Shannon. Leading Applied Polymer Technologies in industrial applied research, the gateway is consistently a top performing centre in the Technology Gateway programme. Driving industrially steered strategic research, building on key niche capacities to develop next generation plastics and raising TUS profile as a pivotal stakeholder in Ireland’s high performing polymer economy. Dr. Gately holds a first class honours degree in Toxicology and completed his PhD in Polymer science (drug delivery platform) in 2014. Following his PhD studies, Dr. Gately worked on an industry based post-doctoral research within APT before gaining extensive medical device experience as an R&D Engineer in Creagh Medical Ltd. / Surmodics Ireland.  Before returning to his studies, Noel had 12.5 years extensive industrial experience in Polymer (Athlone Extrusions), Engineering (Powerscreen Ltd.) and Electrical (Parkmore Switchgear) industries. Dr. Gately has coordinated the funding of €4.1 Million for cutting edge equipment in Enterprise Ireland Capital call as well as a leading role in a €2.67M DTIF funding for next generation Ostomy care products. He has contributed to 14 research articles, 1 book chapter and 2 patents.