Putting public research to work for Ireland : policies and procedures to help industry make good use of Ireland's public research institutions

Abstract

This document is about helping industry – from start-ups and small and medium enterprises to multinational corporations – to access the research and development done in Ireland’s universities, institutes of technology and other public research institutions (collectively termed ‘Research Performing Organisations’ or RPOs1). It sets out the Government’s policies to encourage industry to benefit from this research and development and describes the practical arrangements for this to happen. It deals primarily with collaborative research, where industry and RPOs work together and, in particular, where industry and the State share the cost of the research. It also deals with industry access to the results of research that is funded entirely by the State; and contract research where industry pays the full cost of the research it commissions. Throughout, it applies equally to all forms of research and development activity, from pure and applied research through to incremental and near-market development.

Maintenance and further development of this document will be in the hands of the Government’s proposed central Technology Transfer Office (the ‘cTTO’), working closely with the State research funding organisations.