Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation Richard Bruton has officially launched Knowledge Transfer Ireland, a resource for helping turn state-funded third level research into viable business ideas.
The first resource of its kind in Europe, Knowledge Transfer Ireland (KTI) is operated by Enterprise Ireland in collaboration with the Irish Universities Association.
A key service for companies offered by the KTI is a new Web portal offering an overview of the research capabilities of all Irish Universities, Institutes of Technologies and specialist research centres in one place; searchable databases of research expertise and talent; details of over 160 pre-commercial technologies developed research performing institutions which are available to license; and gives access to all patents filed by Ireland’s publicly-funded research institutions.
Minister Bruton said: “Ireland has built up a substantial infrastructure, expertise and international reputation for scientific research and innovation over recent decades.
“Globally, we are currently ranked 10th out of 142 countries for innovation, while in Europe, we are ranked first out of 23 countries in terms of knowledge transfer performance of public research organisations. However as I have said many times before, the challenge now is turn more of this spending into viable business ideas and ultimately jobs… As of today, Ireland is the first and only country in Europe to give companies the opportunity to search multiple databases of the research talent, knowledge and technologies available in our publicly-funded research institutions.”
The government has already invested €30 million in knowledge transfer through Enterprise Ireland working in co-operation with the Technology Transfer Offices in higher education institutions, and a further €22 million is due to be spent by the end of 2016.
Director of KTI Dr Alison Campbell said: “Knowledge Transfer Ireland is a bold new initiative which aims to make it easier for companies to leverage the commercial potential of Irish research and innovation through connecting them with cutting-edge expertise and opportunities and guiding them through the process of engaging with the research base.”
KTI’s contacts with the private sector include an industry advisory board consisting of experts from companies such as GlaxoSmithKline, ACT Venture Capital, Intel and Storm Technology.
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