Keane, a UCD Psychology graduate, has been the university’s Chair of Computer Science at UCD since 1998. From 2004-2007 he was seconded to Science Foundation Ireland, where he was Director of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and interim Director General. He played a key role in implementing the foundation’s €700 million research investment in ICT and biotechnology, and in advising the government during the planning of the €3.7 billion Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation.
NovaUCD is responsible for the commercialisation of intellectual property arising from UCD research and for collaborations with industry and business. The centre has over 40 incubation units, including bio-incubation units ,and 24 companies are located there. NovaUCD was funded through a public–private partnership that includes AIB Bank, Arthur Cox, Deloitte, Enterprise Ireland, Ericsson, Goodbody Stockbrokers, UCD and Xilinx.