Guideline July 2011

EnterpriseIreland Patent Fund 2011-Guidelines for ILO/ilm or equivalent applicants

1. Overall Objective:

The role of EnterpriseIrelandin evaluating applications to the EI Patent Fund for stage 1, stage 2 or stage 3 funding is to be satisfied that there is a credible business case made by the applicant for the technology,that meets the EI criteria for commercialisation of publically funded research.

2. General Guidelines:

1. All communications to EI re the EI Patent Fund must be to the EI Patent Fund Manager (PFM).

2. Applications can be submitted at any time to the Patent Fund Manager. These will be reviewed internally and the PFM will inform you of the outcome of your application. Should your application be successful, the Enterprise Ireland Contracts Office will issue you a Formal Letter of Offer.

3.Applications must be complete and all questions addressed. Incomplete applications will not be evaluated.The PFM will contact the ILO/ilmor equivalent to inform them that their application is incomplete. Where EI deem that the information provided in the application form is not adequate to enable EI to evaluate the application, the Patent Fund Manager will contact the ILO/ilm or equivalent to request the specific additional information and the application will only be assessed once this information is supplied by the ILO/ilm or equivalent.

5.Applications must be submitted by email to . A signed hard-copy of the application is not required. It is understood that the application is being submitted with the authorisation of the Director of the ILO or equivalent office.

3. Specific Guidelines: The application must satisfy the following criteria to be eligible for evaluation:

1. Stage 1 applications must detail the following:

a. Overview of the commercialisation plan

b.Overview of the patent strategy

c.The development status of the technology, further R+D required to develop a license-ready technology, the associated timelines and the mechanism for funding the required R+D if relevant.

2. Stage 2 applications must detail the following:

  1. Draft commercialisation plan
  2. Companies in Ireland who could exploit the technology and details of engagements and feedback obtained to date
  3. The development status of the technology, further R+D required to develop a license-ready technology, the associated timelines and the mechanism for funding the required R+D if relevant.
  4. Development of and timelines to license-ready technology provided must be achievable within 2-3 years of stage 2 patent filing

3. Stage 3 applications must detail the following:

a.Commercialisation plan and route to market

b.Relevant licensees in Ireland must be identified

c. Engagements with licensees in Ireland must be at the stage where it is expected to close a deal in the short-term but with a max of 6-12 months from nationalisation date

  1. If the licensee is Irish indigenous company, name the contact/s, show evidence of the engagement and the feedback from the engagement and plan for future engagements/s
  2. If the technology is to be licensed to a “spin-out” or HPSU, name the promoters, describe the business plan and status of engagement with promoters and the feedback from the engagement and plan for future engagements/s
  3. If the licensee is an MNC based in Ireland- provide justification for this route to market instead of i. or ii. The applicant must name the contact/s, show evidence of the engagement and the feedback from the engagement and plan for future engagements/s

d. Status of development of technology should enable its transfer to third party within 6-12 months of nationalisation

e. Patent strategy must support the commercialisation plan

Contact Details:

Majella Maher P.hD,

EI Office, Mervue Industrial Estate, Galway.

Ph: 353 91735927, Mobile: 0870527289

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