2005 IRISH SCIENTIST YEAR BOOK

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Enterprise Ireland
Martin Lyes
Research Commercialisation

Getting technology out of the research environment and into the market is not easy � but it is worthwhile. It can lead to better products and services for people across the world and to wealth creation in Ireland including, importantly, for you. Enterprise Ireland can provide you with funding, advice and support throughout the transition.



Client Teams

We have three teams working with researchers who are interested in seeing their research work put to commercial use. Each is focused on one of our priority areas:

� Biotechnology
� Industrial Technologies
� Informatics
We can provide financial and advisory support to bring your research closer to market, including expertise on a range of issues that are crucial to this, such as how best to protect intellectual property and how to handle technology transfer and licensing. Our skilled staff in our network of offices and on university campuses are ready to work closely with you.


Patent Fund

This can be accessed to help with patent costs and our specialists are on hand to advise you on all aspects of the patent process. They can also help you to identify and to connect with companies that may be interested in your technology.

Under the Patent Fund, financial support can be provided at any or all three stages of the process:

(i) Stage 1: Funding of up to �5,000 for the initial costs of patent protection;
(ii) Stage 2: Funding of up to �20,000 to protect your patent outside Ireland;
(iii) Stage 3: Funding for the later stages of the patenting process. Amounts will be determined on a case-by-case basis but will not usually exceed �50,000.
Applications for funding can be made at any stage of the patenting process but must be made three months in advance of outlay on patent costs. Once funding has been provided for one stage of a patent process, you will be able to apply for further funding by providing an updated commercial development plan which will need the support of the Industrial Liaison Office (or equivalent) of your third-level institution. You will not need to complete another formal application.


Commercialisation Fund

We provide funding for industry-oriented research under our Commercialisation Fund and follow through with expert support in bringing your technology to market: whether you are forming your own company or seeking to license your technology to industry partners.

The Fund operates in three phases:

  • �Proof of Concept

  • �Technology Development

  • �Business Development

These phases broadly match the progression of research work from the laboratory to the market. Funding can be applied for under any of these phases, depending on what point the research work has reached.


Company Creation

Our incubator programme offers space and support to entrepreneurs across the country who want to develop their projects within the supportive structure of a college campus. In addition to the well established centres in the universities, fifteen centres in the Institutes of Technology will all be fully operational shortly. The one near you may be just what you are looking for to help launch your company.


For further information on how we can help with research commercialisation please visit our website: www.enterprise-ireland.com or phone us on: 00 353 1 808 2000