Identifying Funding

Sources of Funding European Union Sources National Sources SMEs collaborating with HEIs

EU Sources SMEs collaborating with HEIs

Seventh Framework Programme SMEs collaborating with HEIs Overview of the FP7 Whats going on in Ireland FP7 case study – wavebob

What’s going on in Ireland? FP7…  4070 applicants to date  955 successful bringing in over €300 million  ICT, health, nanotech and Marie Curie account for 60% of it  Higher education remains the primary beneficiary (61%) with 4 universities in EC Top 250: TCD 83, UCC 100, UCD 131, NUIG 186  Funding to industry - €75 million (double FP6) and providing access to >€1bn worth of R&D; most going to SMEs (74%)  Funding to public bodies - €18 million

*Source: European Commission eCORDA release 7 Ireland versus other Member States…

Key learning - responding to change… 43 participants receive over €1M for participation in a single proposal, totalling €72M 2010 is Ireland’s most successful year in the ERC programme. Ireland’s grants to date: 4 Advanced Grants and 8 Starting Grants Ireland trebles its SME-specific funding in An Institute of Technology Initiative stimulates 15 Irish led proposals from newcomers to the SME-specific programme calls bringing funding of €2.5million to IoTs and SMEs Ireland secures 5.7% (€2.4M) of the available budget in the latest Science in Society call. Proposals include marine issues in Mobilisation and Mutual Learning 1342 Irish experts sign on to the Commission Evaluators database

FP7 Case Sudy “STANDPOINT” WAVE ENERGY PROJECT

STANDPOINT Project European Commission FP7 funded project Full-size grid-connected WEC in Portugal Kick-off November 2009 €8.1 budget, €5.1m EC contribution Focussed on demonstration of best practice in design, deployment, operation and maintenance

Wavebob: the Coordinator Privately owned Irish technology development company 10 years of research, testing and sea trials All IP owned by company and protected in 45 countries 10

11 Build a little; Test a little; Learn a lot! Calculate; Design; Simulate; Test; Verify;… Fail early; fail often; learn quickly.. Wavebob product development

Wavebob: the WEC 12 Offshore deep water Axi-symmetric point-absorber Oscillating, self-reacting Tuneable Accessible 25+ years lifetime Survivability High installed power

STANDPOINT Objectives 13 Efficiency in energy absorption and conversion Adaptability to changing sea conditions Reliability and modularity Survivability in extreme seas Standards and guidelines for certification Demonstrating advancement of the state-of-the-art in:

Basic Principles observed & reported Technology concept formulated Proof of concept validated Laboratory sub-system validation Sea going sub-system validation Sea going full system demonstration Sea going full system operations System complete Commercial array

€50,000 €500,000 €1,000,000 €5,000,000 €15,000,000 €50,000,000

€15,000,000 €50,000,000 To date Wavebob has raised circa. €13m (inc. ~€5.5m in grants) Now need the next €15m…

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Local Sources of Funding - NI Invest NI Knowledge Transfer Programme Innovation Vouchers Intertrade Ireland SMEs collaborating with HEIs

Invest NI support for Innovation Collaboration Technical Advisory Unit (TAU) - Who & How Technical Development Incentive (TDI) Scheme Innovation Vouchers Summary/contact SMEs collaborating with HEIs

TAU - Who are they? Engineers (mechanical; electrical/electronic; manufacturing) Scientific Advisors Management System (eg. ISO9001) advisors Intellectual Property/ Technical Information specialists SMEs collaborating with HEIs

TAU - What do they do? Guidance & support on a wide range of technical issues: Technical information and problem solving Advice and information on technical and legislative issues Intellectual Property advice Management Systems (quality, environmental, safety etc) Technical Compliance Issues eg CE Marking Financial support: Technical Development Incentive (TDI) Scheme Innovation Vouchers SMEs collaborating with HEIs

Technical Development Incentive Financial support to SMEs to address technical and quality related issues such as: New technologies or processes Product & process problem resolution Product approval/ type testing Intellectual Property Improved product design & performance Quality/Integrated management systems Max grant of £5,000 (at up to 50% of project costs) Projects costing between £500 and £15,000 Further information – Kieran McGuinness SMEs collaborating with HEIs

Innovation Vouchers £4000 voucher to encourage small registered enterprises to engage with a Knowledge Provider to develop an innovative solution to a business issue Companies can apply for up to 3 vouchers for different projects but may only have 1 ‘live’ voucher at a time Pooled voucher option for collaborative projects (up to 10 companies) Around 700 vouchers issued to date SMEs collaborating with HEIs

Knowledge Providers 41 public sector Knowledge Providers throughout Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland Universities, Colleges, Institutes of Technology and other research bodies eg Loughry, Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute Full list of Knowledge Providers and initial point of contact for innovation vouchers at The company chooses which Knowledge Provider to use SMEs collaborating with HEIs

How to apply Company completes application form – available on website Straightforward application process - Company Profile - Issue to be solved - Skills required to solve the issue - Outputs for the company as a result of the project Current/next calls for applications: - November 2011 and February 2012 SMEs collaborating with HEIs

In Summary Technical Advisory Unit Technical information and problem solving Management systems (quality, environmental, H&S) Intellectual Property Technical Development Incentive grant Innovation Vouchers Contact: Ian Wilkinson tel Grant for R&D and general Invest NI info Contact: SMEs collaborating with HEIs

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) SMEs collaborating with HEIs Knowledge Transfer Partnerships is Europe’s leading programme helping businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within the UK knowledge base.

What is KTP? How does it work? Aims and objectives? KTP at Ulster Case studies SMEs collaborating with HEIs

Funded by the Technology Strategy Board with 19 other funding organisations (AHRC, BBSRC, Defra, DoH, EMDA, EPSRC, ESF, ESRC, Invest NI, NERC, The Northern Way, One North East, Science & Technology Facilities Council, SEEDA, Scottish Government, SWRDA, WAG) £32M grants committed; each £1M generating –32 jobs –189 people trained –£3.6M profits 1,000 live Partnerships (65 in NI) Invest NI contribution 2008/09 = £1,000,000 SMEs collaborating with HEIs

Features Project length months At least 1 Graduate (KTP Associate) Associates recruited jointly and employed by the University Project located on company premises with joint company and academic supervisor Academic Supervisor spends ~ ½ day per week on the project Funded by Government grant and the company partner SMEs collaborating with HEIs

Project Criteria Strategic relevance to the business Stimulating and challenging for the academic team Intellectually challenging for the Associate Sound business case Clear knowledge transfer Clear additionality Benefits likely to accrue SMEs collaborating with HEIs

KTP Costs - 1 Associate for 1 Year + Graduate salary available (company decides) £27k + Associate Development circa £6k + Travel and Subsistence + Equipment and Consumables + University Expertise circa £10k Total package circa £43k Cost to SME per year ~£17k Cost to Large Company ~£26k SMEs collaborating with HEIs

Company Benefits Achieves business goals faster Transfer of knowledge/expertise Recruitment of the “right” people Embedding of innovation culture Long-term, strategic relationship with KB partner SMEs collaborating with HEIs

Associate Benefits One of Europe’s largest graduate recruitment schemes Competitive salary Employment within chosen academic discipline Fast-track career development Opportunity to register for higher degree during project 73% Associates employed by host company Training and development with qualification in Management to National Standard SMEs collaborating with HEIs

The Associates Recently qualified First degree ~76% hold 1st or 2(i) All disciplines Average age 28 years Recruit on open market Normally work at the company Salary decided by the company Terms and conditions of the company Backed up by the facilities and expertise of the University SMEs collaborating with HEIs

The Process Contact the Knowledge Transfer Office – marriage broker Process Company visit – check eligibility Complete an outline form (2 pages and includes company accounts) Support to facilitate completion of the full proposal KTO – liaises with the KTP Adviser and various sponsors KTO – leads the recruitment process KTO – sets up and attends all LMC meetings KTO – ensures all reports are submitted and on time! KTO – provides all financial management and reporting SMEs collaborating with HEIs

Intertrade Ireland Fusion FUSION, support packages worth up to £29,500/€33,150 are available for you to undertake a 12 month innovation project. Partnered with a third-level institution with the specialist expertise you need and a high calibre science, engineering or technology graduate. A graduate is employed by you and is based in your company throughout the project with mentoring from the academic partner and InterTradeIreland FUSION consultant. SMEs collaborating with HEIs

Fusion Video Lg1szI&feature=player_embedded SMEs collaborating with HEIs

Fusion Benefits On average, each company taking part on the FUSION programme benefits from over £1 million worth of sales or efficiency savings in the three years following the project. The programme can help your business to: Develop or improve products, processes or services Streamline business processes to increase efficiency and performance Develop and implement new technologies, systems or processes Improve capabilities in innovation, design and technology Reduce costs Increase sales SMEs collaborating with HEIs

Questions & Answers? SMEs collaborating with HEIs