Research Landscape & Funding

Gerry Butler

ICT CommercialisationAAL NCP

Enterprise Ireland

Gerry.butler@Enterprise-Ireland.com01-7272738

R & D for Enterprise, Innovation and Growth

State investment in third level research ~ 5Bn by 2013

Commercialisation

http://www.forfas.ie/media/asc060618_sti_strategy.pdf

The Basis For Research Funding

EU FP6, FP7, AAL

Dept. Enterprise

Trade & Innovation

EI IDA SFI

Irish Industry (EI Clients, IDA Client & Others)

Research Establishments

Dept. Finance

CASH

VALUE

T A X ES

The Economic Model

Mechanisms by which research is commercialised

Primary Mechanisms

Transfer of skilled people (Employment)

Transfer of Knowledge (Licence)

New companies (Spin-out)

Spinouts Generated per Year

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009 (

e)

Year

No

. o

f S

pin

ou

ts

Table illustrates the increasing rate of spinout company creation. The 2009 figure is estimated with 14 generated to date.

So what makes a difference?

More commercial opportunity More technology More expertise More experience More people Better means to connect them:

at the right time and with the best blend

Two case studies.

Case 1 Lacks commercial expertise Relatively strong technology Takes two years to license

technology & get the company formed.

Relatively poor business plan. Still Looking for funding Works on this during summer

months Has issued sub-licenses,

which generate zero revenue Has no employees

Case 2 30 years commercial

experience Relatively weak technology Takes three months to build a

concept, & decide how to move it to market.

Has business plan suitable for investment in 6 months

Gets 1.5M investment Employs 8 people Customers fly their R&D

teams to Ireland to see his product.

Current Enterprise Ireland commercialisation funding

Commercialisation Fund1. Proof of Concept2. Technology Development3. Commercialisation +(for colleges only – commercialisation by way of licensing or creating spin-out company)

Innovation VouchersInnovation Partnerships

ILRPCompetence Centres

(for Industry only)

Res

earc

h C

omm

un

ity

Ind

ustry / M

arket

Commercial & Technical

Deliverables

Innovation Vouchers

Call currently open Lottery if applications exceed 200

Matched Vouchers You put up €5k We put up €5k Outside lottery system.

Grouped Vouchers A group of companies my get together and combine their vouchers for a

COMMON purpose.

Industry lead Research and collaboration

Competence Centres(~€1 million+ per annum over 5 years)

Industry Lead Research projects(~€1.5 million over 2-3 years)

Innovation Partnerships(~€200k over 18 months)

Innovation Vouchers(Once off payment of €5K) Size of

budgetNumber ofInd. Partners

CollaborationComplexity

What Industry wants

Business Partners Scheme

Why Business Partners? Historical perspective Need to have scalable approach for current & future business needs Past experience

Commercial Expertise & Cash Joined up thinking

Primary Objectives. Build new companies providing sustainable economic growth from previous state

investment in academic research, with strong commercial leadership. Facilitate access to research Support entrepreneurs looking at new opportunities Build interaction with the Business Community Culminates in a HPSU Application & Business Plan http://www.enterprise-ireland.com/StartBusiness/What+is+a+HPSU/BusinessPlan.htm

AAL Joint Programme

EU Supported Scheme Open to International Consortia Only All funding agreements are National Ireland will only fund exporting

industry, and possibly research institutions which are directly beneficial to industry

Ireland will not fund User Organisations, even if companies.

EU money to National Funding Agency – not to Participants directly

www.aal-europe.eu www.aalforum.eu

AAL Forum

Odense, Denmark, 15th – 17th September 2010 Combination Trade Fair, Conference, AAL Programme Meetings Website www.aalforum.eu has

News and Information and Discussion Boards

So where to from here?

We know Commercialisation of research is paramount without it the

economic system will cease to function There is scope for improvement in exploitation Support structures are in place

We need All researchers to have commercialisation high of their agenda Work with your TTO offices – they are there to support you Interested entrepreneurs Call me or my colleagues in EI if you want help to commercialise

research

Thank you !