Knowledge Transfer Ireland

Knowledge Transfer in Ireland (KTI)

Driving Innovation from Public Research

Enterprise Ireland’s Knowledge Transfer (KT) agenda helps Irish businesses innovate, compete and grow by ensuring that knowledge, technology, intellectual property (IP) and expertise generated through State-funded research deliver economic and societal benefits.

We support businesses and researchers to maximise innovation from publicly funded research by making technology, ideas and expertise accessible for commercial and public benefit.

As Ireland’s national hub for industry-academia collaboration and research commercialisation, Enterprise Ireland helps businesses, researchers, investors, Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) and funding agencies engage effectively with the research ecosystem.

Our Role in Knowledge Transfer

Transparency

Promote transparency in research engagement

Access

Simplify access to publicly funded research and expertise

Commercialisation

Support IP commercialisation

Collaboration

Encourage industry-research collaboration

Guidance

Promote best practice in IP management, licensing and research contracting

Innovation

Strengthen innovation, spin-out and High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) development.

Through trusted partnerships with the higher education sector, we accelerate the transition from research to commercial application

KT Boost: Accelerating Research Commercialisation

Knowledge transfer is funded under KT Boost, a €33.4 million programme co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund (2021–2027) and delivered through Ireland’s universities and technological universities. The programme supports a more competitive, innovative Europe by strengthening research and innovation capacity and encouraging the adoption of advanced technologies across the higher education sector.

Key Areas of Support:

Talent and Training

Recruitment and development of specialist knowledge transfer professionals.

Research Commercialisation

IP identification and protection.
Technology assessment and development.
Licensing and technology transfer.
Creation and scaling of spin-out companies.

Industry Collaboration

Streamlined research agreements.
Easier access to research expertise.
Faster commercialisation pathways.
Support for future HPSUs.

Ireland’s Framework for Research Commercialisation

Ireland’s National IP Protocol provides best-practice guidance for engagements between industry and State-funded Research Performing Organisations (RPOs).

It covers:

IP ownership and management.
Commercialisation pathways.
Spin-out company development.
Research agreements and contracting.
Industry-research collaboration.
Licensing arrangements.

The framework promotes consistency, transparency and fairness across the research ecosystem.

A Snapshot of Knowledge Transfer in Ireland

Ireland’s KT ecosystem generates impact through:

Increased industry-research collaboration.
Growth in licensing activity.
Expansion of spin-out companies.
Investment in research-based enterprises.
Commercialisation of new technologies.
Enhanced business competitiveness.

See the latest performance data demonstrating the value of public investment in research and innovation.

Technology Transfer Offices

Ireland's Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) connect businesses with research expertise, innovation, technologies, facilities and intellectual property to support collaboration, commercialisation and growth. View the list of Technology Transfer Offices below to find the right research partner.

Atlantic Technological University

Kieran Ryan

Head of Enterprise and Engagement

Knowledge Transfer Ireland

Knowledge Transfer in Ireland (KTI)

Our Role in Knowledge Transfer

Transparency

Access

Commercialisation

Collaboration

Guidance

Innovation

Through trusted partnerships with the higher education sector, we accelerate the transition from research to commercial application

KT Boost: Accelerating Research Commercialisation

Ireland’s Framework for Research Commercialisation

A Snapshot of Knowledge Transfer in Ireland

Technology Transfer Offices

Atlantic Technological University

Dublin City University

Dundalk Institute of Technology

Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design & Technology

Maynooth University

Munster Technological University

National College of Art & Design

Royal College of Surgeons Ireland

South East Technological University

Teagasc Food Research Centre - Oakpark

Technological University Dublin

Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands

The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies

Trinity College Dublin

University College Cork

University College Dublin

University of Galway