Irish startup Restored Hearing lands €2.3M to commercialise its sound-absorbing technology

Irish startup Restored Hearing has been awarded €2.3 Million in funding through the competitive EU Horizon 2020 SME program. This funding will help the Irish startup to commercialise the SoundBounce technology and launch globally across construction, automotive, power generation, and aerospace industries.

EU’s Pass By noise regulations

A lot of industries are facing increasingly stringent regulations from the EU as a result of increased noise pollution and consumer demand for quieter products. For example, the new Pass By noise regulations is introducing big changes to European vehicle laws.

By 2027 only 30% of today’s cars will meet the new standards. Everything on EU roads will have to become quieter in response – this is a significant challenge for the industry.

Striving to enhance the quality of life! 

Founded by Eimear O’Carroll, and Rhona Togher in 2009, the Dublin-based company aims to deliver products that use their research to enhance the quality of life.

Sound Bounce parent company Restored Hearing was founded in 2009 with its first product, Sound Relief, a tinnitus therapy, to help reduce the hearing condition. Notably, the Sound Relief was showcased at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2009, where the duo won the runner-up prize.

The company uses meta-materials to create a material that absorbs sound while remaining lighter than traditional noise reduction solutions.

Performs 100-1000 times better than traditional materials.

It can be tailored to react optimally at certain frequencies allowing SoundBounce to be custom-built to tackle whatever noise challenge is presented. As per the company claims, the SoundBounce is thinner and performs 100-1000 times better than traditional materials. This product is particularly useful in the aviation, military, and construction industries.

Collaboration with research institutes!

At present, Restored Hearing is working with research institutes and labs, in Trinity College Dublin and the University of Limerick, collaborating on the refinement of the acoustic meta-materials.

TCD and UL are at the forefront of material science and mathematical modeling, respectively, providing fantastic opportunities to work with SMEs at a national level. Also, the company is expanding its workforce with 18 new jobs in its Dublin office for various roles.

The company is backed by investors, including SOSV and Enterprise Ireland, right from the start.

Bill Liao, General Partner and Managing Director at SOSV, has been involved since 2013 – 

Customers are now making decisions based on environmental impact and pollution, including noise pollution. We love that SoundBounce has solved this problem at a moment when the market most needs it, as demonstrated by the traction they have with high caliber international companies who seek out their technology.

Speaking on the announcement of the funding, Garrett Murray, National Director for Horizon 2020 at Enterprise Ireland said – 

Restored Hearing is a great example of a High Potential Startup with global ambition, which has gone on to win significant innovation funding at a European level. Ireland’s highly innovative SMEs are excelling in Europe through the competitive Horizon 2020 SME Instrument, which is now known as the European Innovation Council (EIC). The team at Enterprise Ireland is keen to support companies in building on this success for the remainder of Horizon 2020 and beyond.

Stay tuned to Silicon Canals for more European technology news.

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