Have an Idea
If you wish to commercialise an idea and are not based in a research institute or higher education institute, visit the Start a Business section of our website.
You have an idea for a technology that has the potential to become a commercially viable service or product.
Have you checked that it is not already invented? Run a search through the Irish Patents Office and European Patent Office.
Enterprise Ireland supports/services available to assist you
If you are in a college, you may have a Technology Transfer Office (TTO) and they should be your first port of call. They can help you to assess the potential commercial application of your research and work out the best route to the marketplace. Go to our Technology Transfer Supports section for more information and to see a full list of TTO contact details.
If your college does not have a Technology Transfer Office (TTO), contact Peter O’Fegan who can point you to relevant information to help you start on the road of commercialisation.
Peter O'Fegan
Operations Manager - IoT's
Technology Exploitation Networks
Phone: +353 (91) 735921
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Peter O'Fegan |
License Your Technology
Technology and associated intellectual property developed out of research can be transferred to a new or existing company through the granting of a license. This brings financial rewards for the college and the inventor and can lead to longer term research relationships with industry.
Enterprise Ireland supports/services available to assist you
The Technology Transfer Offices in the colleges can help locate appropriate companies and direct the negotiation of a licence.
Enterprise Ireland’s Commercialisation Specialists work closely with the Technology Transfer Offices to assist with this process using Enterprise Ireland’s network of client companies.
If you do not have access to your own Technology Transfer Office, please contact commercialisation@enterprise-ireland.com directly for assistance.
Enterprise Ireland host two major annual events to showcase the commercial opportunities emerging from Ireland's Higher Education Institutes.
Useful Events
The Applied Research Forum event provides a complete overview of the technology transfer system in Ireland and offers attendees an insight into how basic research is translated into new technologies and companies. The event also profiles college research projects and licensing opportunities.
The Big Ideas Showcase presents the spin-outs and commercial opportunities emerging from Ireland's Higher Education Institutes.
These events are attended by venture capitalists, angel and private investors, entrepreneurs, innovators, international and Irish business executives.
Spin-out a New Company
In some cases it is feasible for researchers to progress to the point of establishing a spin-out company to exploit the intellectual property that has been created. Such researchers often become the Chief Technology Officer in the company, bringing in an experienced CEO to run the venture but there are many options that can be examined as part of this process.
Enterprise Ireland supports/services available to assist you
Our Commercialisation Specialists will work with you and your Technology Transfer Office to help build the company. Email us at commercialisation.fund@enterprise-ireland.com
We can use our Business Partner programme to bring in experienced entrepreneurs to lead the company and provide feasibility funding towards the costs of market investigations. Enterprise Ireland can also invest directly in the company via our Innovative High Potential Start-Up Fund if it has the potential to be a real winner.
Spin-out companies supported by Enterprise Ireland can locate in campus incubators and will receive dedicated support and advice on access to venture capital, targeting and servicing new customers and markets.
For more information, read more on our supports for spin-out companies.