An inventor of an energy-efficient method of generating nanobubbles claims his fellow inventor and University College Dublin have conspired, along with a businessman, to damage his efforts to commercialise the invention.

Professor Niall English of UCD’s School of Chemical Bioprocess Engineering, and a company he set up to commercialise the technology, AquaB Nanobubble Innovations Ltd, are suing UCD itself, co-inventor, Dr Mohammed Reza Ghanni, businessman Dr John Favier and Nanobox Ltd, which was also set up to commercialise the invention.

Nanobubble technology is used to oxygenate water, a costly process which many commercial bioprocesses require.

The new technology reduces the amount of energy required.

In proceedings admitted to the Commercial Court, Prof English seeks injunctions restraining UCD from granting a commercialisation licence to the rival Nanobox company or to revoke or suspend any licence already granted.

He seeks an injunction restraining the defendants from using commercially sensitive information they gained as well as damages for tortious interference with economic relations.

The claims are denied.

Prof English said in an affidavit that Dr Ghanni was part of his research group into nanobubbles. Dr Ghanni went on to play a notable role in the research and in recognition of this he was listed as a co-inventor with Prof English, he said.

AquaB was incorporated as a UCD “spin-out company”, a system whereby the college gets a shareholding with the inventors for any commercialisation of research inventions.

But, Prof English said, around August 2021, UCD, Dr Ghanni and Dr Favier “conspired to act with the predominant purpose of damaging the economic interests of Prof English and AquaB”.

In an affidavit seeking entry of the case to the Commercial Court, Dr Favier said the allegations are and will be strenuously denied.

Mr Justice Denis McDonald, who was told the case could be admitted to the Commercial Court on consent between the parties, approved directions for the progress of the case and said it could come back in July.