Research teams begin five-month pre-commercialisation programme at NDRC with support from Enterprise Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland

  • NDRC, in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland to run five-month programme
  • Goal is to assist researchers to apply their intellectual activity to the marketplace
  • Researchers from 9 institutions nationwide taking part
  • This is the 3rd iteration of the programme by NDRC

18 January 2018: NDRC, which builds and invests in early stage digital and technology startups, has welcomed a cohort of researchers onto its 2018 Pre-Commercialisation Programme supported by Enterprise Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland.

NDRC's Pre-Commercialisation Programme prepares researchers to focus beyond academia and helps them to transition their intellectual activities into the marketplace.

14 teams of researchers descended on NDRC’s Dublin base this week, with participants from two SFI Research Centres - Irish Photonic Integration Centre (IPIC) and CONNECT Centre, Dublin Institute of Technology, Waterford Institute of Technology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University of Limerick, Maynooth University, Trinity College Dublin and Dublin City University.

The programme, which runs for five months, will see the teams develop key business skills, explore ways to commercialise deep research and, ultimately, connect academic researchers with the technological, entrepreneurial and business communities within the startup ecosystem.

Now in its third year, the programme plays a key role in NDRC’s mandate to ensure digital entrepreneurship is a growing and vibrant part of the economy. For participants, it plays a crucial role in progressing them on to next stage funding on the path to commercialising their research.

Ben Hurley, CEO, NDRC said:

“NDRC is delighted to welcome these teams onto our pre-commercialisation programme. With universities and institutes involved from Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Waterford and Kildare, this is a programme with national reach. We are particularly pleased to welcome four female-led teams on this year’s cohort.  The quality of previous participants has proven just how vibrant the research ecosystem is and we expect it to be no different this time. What is of paramount importance, now, is to help turn these pieces of research into viable, scalable businesses.”

Kevin Burke, Senior Commercialisation Specialist, Enterprise Ireland, said:

 “Enterprise Ireland supports the commercialisation of publicly funded research and builds connections between Research Performing Organisations, businesses and entrepreneurs. This pre-commercialisation initiative is well aligned with the range of commercialisation supports available from Enterprise Ireland and programme participants will acquire new skills and insights in developing high quality commercialisation fund applications. Enterprise Ireland’s commercialisation specialists will also work closely with the participant teams and institutes to help them achieve their commercialisation ambitions.”

Stephen O’Driscoll, Scientific Programme Manager, Science Foundation Ireland said:

“Science Foundation Ireland is committed to investing in the translation of world-class research from the laboratory to market. A key objective for Science Foundation Ireland is to increase the number of these discoveries that secure follow-on public or private investment. We recognise the very important role that entrepreneurship plays in this process and we strongly support researchers in developing entrepreneurial skills through participation in programmes such as this.”

About NDRC:

NDRC sources and builds digital start-ups to invest in and work with, providing them with an integrated offering of knowledge, experience and expertise and enabling them to become market ready faster, more successfully and more efficiently than otherwise. With a mandate from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, NDRC aims to ensure digital entrepreneurship is a growing and vibrant part of the economy.

About Enterprise Ireland:

Enterprise Ireland is the Irish Government agency that works with Irish enterprises to help them start, grow, innovate and win export sales in global markets. Enterprise Ireland partners with entrepreneurs, Irish businesses, and the research and investment communities to develop Ireland's international trade, innovation, leadership and competitiveness. In this way, Enterprise Ireland supports sustainable economic growth and regional development, and helps create and sustain employment in Ireland.

About SFI:

Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) is Ireland’s national foundation for investment in scientific and engineering research. SFI invests in academic researchers and research teams who are most likely to generate new knowledge, leading edge technologies and competitive enterprises in the fields of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). The SFI Research Centres have been transformative in fostering industry-academic collaborative research in Ireland.