Intellectual Property Strategy Offer - Start Grant

To complement Enterprise Ireland’s RD&I programmes, the ‘Intellectual Property (IP) Strategy Offer’ is an additional support to incentivise companies to develop an IP strategy, focused on capturing, managing and exploiting their R&D results to greater effect.

The focus on IP Strategy emphasises the importance of securing the full range of RD&I related IP assets (including patents, designs, trade secrets, copyright, trademarks etc) and deploying them strategically for the benefit of the business. The development of an effective IP strategy can assist companies in achieving their growth targets.

This offer seeks to assist companies to address common issues of (a) low IP awareness, (b) limited internal IP management capability and (c) the cost of obtaining external IP expertise. These capability and resource constraints are commonly reported by SMEs as key barriers to undertaking IP activity.

IP Start Grant

This grant supports companies to obtain the necessary external expert IP advisory and support services to address immediate IP issues e.g. prior-art research in support of an RD&I Technical Feasibility study; IP Audit of existing R&D output; draft and file a patent etc.

An enterprise is eligible to apply if it satisfies all of the following criteria:

• Irish owned firm operating in the manufacturing/ internationally traded services sectors.
• Client company of Enterprise Ireland, a Local Enterprise Office or Údarás na Gaeltachta.
• SME (Large companies may also request to apply for the IP Plus grant only and will be considered on a case-by-case basis provided that all other criteria are satisfied. Large companies must contact their Development Advisor before applying).
• An RD&I performing company - To be eligible to apply companies must be R&D active. Therefore, to satisfy this criterion applicants must reference at least one RD&I activity/project, linked in the IP Strategy application, and must provide an indication their in-company investment in R&D by referencing any of the following:
• R&D grants received within the past 7 years. Table 1 below outlines examples of EI R&D grants that qualify for the IP Start and IP Plus schemes.
• Qualification for the R&D tax credit scheme
• Level of investment in R&D from other funding sources, including from the company’s own resources.

Eligible Costs

• Consultancy – Cost of external IP advisory and support services, including costs for obtaining, validating and defending IP, if applicable.

All applications for funding should be discussed with your Enterprise Ireland Adviser prior to submission.

Apply via the Enterprise Ireland Online Application System. First time users of the system will be required to register.

Optionally, you may complete the Expression of Interest Form (.docx) and send by email to IPStrategy@enterprise-ireland.com. A relevant EI person will contact you to discuss it with you.