In conversation with Knowledge Transfer Ireland’s Imelda Lambkin

Putting the structures in place so great ideas can become great companies

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Imelda Lambkin, Knowledge Transfer Ireland

Imelda Lambkin is manager of Knowledge Transfer Ireland (KTI). In this interview she discusses the workings of the organisation and how it helps turn ideas into companies.

In a nutshell, what exactly is knowledge transfer and how can businesses benefit from it?

There is a wealth of research and expertise available from across the third level in Ireland, in universities and similar research organisations, that companies can tap into to help build their own research and innovation activities. 

Knowledge transfer is the process whereby this happens, and it becomes commercialisation of public research.  Benefits can be manifold – returns to the company, returns to the university or academic research team and returns to society overall.

We know that companies engaging in R&D perform better than those that don’t, but it can be challenging for some businesses to find the necessary resources so it often makes sense – especially for smaller organisations – to partner with the expertise available to them.  We have seen examples of companies across various sectors from software to agritech, medtech, space-tech and more, that have developed new products, improved internal production processes and made other strides in their R&D activity. This ultimately improves competitiveness and positions them for further growth in Ireland and international markets. 

Knowledge Transfer Ireland is the national office that helps business to benefit from access to Irish expertise and technology by making it simpler to connect and engage with the research base in Ireland.

For companies operating in the tech sector, what advice would you give them about possible avenues to boost their business offering?

For companies interested in exploring the knowledge transfer opportunities available to them, I would suggest they visit the KTI website as a first port of call. KTI helps make the process of engaging with third level research and commercialising that research more simple and straightforward.

We are very fortunate in Ireland to have a rich landscape of public research organisations aligned with our universities and Institutes of Technology.  Enterprise Ireland Technology Centres, Technology Gateways and SFI research centres specialise in particular fields so it can be challenging to navigate the system, to find the right research partner organisation or academic research outlet to work with your company. KTI serves as a signpost that can help point your business in the right direction and the website has various practical tools and resources that can help; for example to identify the right research partner and the kind of State funding that might be available to support your research activity.

KTI has also produced a national directory of RD&I supports for enterprise that provides an overview of the key players across the research system in Ireland, and various funding programmes available.

Ireland was recently recognised by the EU for having best practice knowledge transfer protocols – is that something KTI has worked hard to achieve?

Ireland is one of few countries to have a national policy for research commercialisation – ours is called the National IP Protocol and was produced by KTI on behalf of the Dept of Enterprise, Trade & Employment. The Protocol provides best practice guidance for research related engagement between industry and State research performing organisations, as well as guidance on the formation of spin-out companies derived from State research. 

A copy of this policy and its associated resource guide is available to download from the KTI website.  It also links to template agreements and practical guides drafted by KTI that can help frame research commercialisation activity.

Technology Transfer Offices have an important role in enabling collaborations between businesses/start-ups and access to third level research – how they work?

KTI also works closely with the network of Technology Transfer Offices – also known as Innovation Offices – in universities and Institutes of Technology. These offices provide a conduit for industry and academics seeking to work together and they provide support and guidance along the way from the framing and agreeing of any research activity, to the management of any intellectual property that might arise from research being undertaken. 

The offices also work with academics seeking to establish a company to commercialise their research findings where real commercial opportunity has been demonstrated. These entities are known as spin-out companies and often operate at the cutting edge of their field. Many go on to become High Potential Start Up clients of Enterprise Ireland, from where they can be positioned for exponential growth and the creation of jobs.

In association with Knowledge Transfer Ireland