Technology Transfer Framework
Defining Projects
As the relationships between the CTVR and its industrial affiliates grow, it is expected that the capabilities of CTVR will become mapped to the future needs of our affiliates. This mapping is simply a translation process that will take different amounts of time for different parties and will depend on the changing research directions and the changing needs of telecommunications companies and their customers.
Once the needs and capabilities of the parties become aligned on a specific theme, then discussions about timeframes, resources and costing can help to formulate objectives and a project plan. The plan is then reviewed for both academic content and value for money to allow adjustments that will appropriately size the project and clearly identify the expectations of each party.
In some instances research projects that have no industrial partner may generate important Intellectual Property (IP) and this can be commercialised either through a licensing agreement or the establishment of a campus company. In these instances it is often mutually beneficial to develop a relationship with a company that may want to have access to the IP or to the company that will develop the IP further.
Funding Projects
There are many different ways to secure funding from state agencies such as Enterprise Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland and the IDA. The funding mechanism that is appropriate for a particular project can be identified and further project refinement may be required through discussions with the funding agency.
Probably the most applicable grant scheme for industrial collaboration is the Innovation Partnerships Initiative from Enterprise Ireland, which offers typically up to 75% subvention for a maximum project cost of €200,000 for R&D collaboration between industry and third level institutions such as the CTVR member institutions. The industry contribution here can be mainly given in terms of labour, equipment of other “in-kind” options, leaving as little as 5% cash contribution.
Typical Relationship Phases: steps to joint-commercialisation
- Establish contact with the appropriate expertise within the CTVR team and develop an understanding of each other's needs and constraints.
- Jointly develop the project concept and find the appropriate funding source.
- Jointly develop a work-plan that will satisfy the academic and industrial needs of the partners.
- Negotiate the details of Intellectual Property sharing such as joint-ownership or the separation of IP ownership.
During the execution of the project it is expected that companies will have a significant degree of interaction with the research team and benefit from the mutual learning environment of collaborative research. Upon completion of the project several outcomes are possible including:-
- licensing agreement,
- campus start-up company,
- joint venture or
- apply for further funding.