Transcript Slide 1

Commercialisation Fund Programme 2011
Commercialisation Fund Programme 2011
• Overview of Programme
• Guide for proposal preparation
• Overview of the proposal evaluation process
Programme objective: Support the development
of technologies for licensing to a new commercial
enterprise or industry in Ireland in 2-5 years.
• Call Open:
December 23rd 2010
• Call Close:
NOON February 23rd 2011
• Project costs:
€80K- €350K approx.
Relevant Contact Details for assistance:
Commercialisation
Fund Manager
(General Queries)
Majella Maher
Tel: 091 735927
[email protected]
Project Areas:
Life Sciences
& Food
Ruth McMahon
Tel: 01 7272671
[email protected]
Information &
Communication
Technology
John Fagan
Tel: 01 7272784
[email protected]
Industrial
Technologies
Ann Dooley
Tel: 01 7272680
[email protected]
Website: www.enterprise-ireland.com/commercialisation
http://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/Funding-Supports/Researcher/Funding-toCommercialise-Research/Commercialisation-Fund.html
Commercialisation Fund Programme 2010-September Call
Breakdown of Proposals submitted and Proposals Funded
103 Eligible Proposals
31 Small Projects typically< €100K
11 ICT
10 IndTec
Funded
Funded
2=18%
3=30%
10 LS & Food
Funded
3=30%
8 Funded=26% of Small Projects
ICT=Information and Communication Technologies Projects
IndTec= Industrial Technologies Projects
LS& Food= LifeSciences and Food Projects
72 Large Projects >€100K
17 ICT
Funded
5=29%
27 IndTec
Funded
6=22%
28 LS&Food
Funded
6=21%
17 Funded=24% of Large Projects
Who can apply?
• Researchers in 3rd level institutions and non-profit research
performing organisations in the Republic of Ireland-colleges
in Northern Ireland can be collaborators but must have
their own funding
• Researchers on contract can apply. If you are the project
Principal Investigator, then a permanent member of staff
(usually the head of department or research centre) must
sign the proposal
• For a researcher on contract- should your proposal be
successful, the institution must agree to extend your
contract to cover the project period for which you will be
funded
What type of project is Enterprise Ireland looking for?
• Projects that will deliver an
innovative technology to meet
a market need in a 2-5 year
timeframe
• Projects that will deliver a
licensable technology
• Projects that develop a
technology that can be
commercialised in Ireland
• Projects that will generate
start-up companies in Ireland
Characteristics of Successful Proposals
• Commercial arguments well made-”gap” or
“need” for technology clearly articulated
• Validation of market need (consultation with
Industry, customers, clinicians)
• Value of the market and relevant market
segment for technology detailed
• Good exploitation strategy
• Patentability assessed/Good IP protection
plan
• Competitive advantage/innovative elements
clearly identified and bench-marked against
current commercially available technologies
• Clear detailed work-plan including
commercial and technical work-packages
• Clear validation methodology-end user trials
• Regulatory approval explored-provision for
consultants to support this activity can be
included if required
• Concrete quantifiable deliverables
• Value for money research
What type of project will not be funded?
Projects that do not have a clear
commercial case:
Technology will not be
commercialisable in Ireland
Technology will not be licenseready in 2-5 years
Technology is not innovative with
no unique differentiator from
competitors
No niche or sizeable market
opportunity for the technology
Basic or early stage investigations
Low risk technical projects
Characteristics of Unsuccessful
proposals
– Poorly written and constructed
– No commercial case for the
technology
– Naive or non-existent commercial
arguments
– No exploitation strategy
– No concept of IP management
– Straightforward development only –
not technologically innovative
– Aggregate of known technologies
with “glue” added
– Fuzzy deliverables
– Budgetary padding
– Excessive travel budgets etc
Project Structure
Projects will be structured in stages and can have one or more stages:
Small Project typically <€100K(one-stage project)
Close to commercialisation and technology can be license ready in 2 years
Large project typically >€100K (multi-stage project)
Earlier in the commercial pipeline and more technology development required
Expected to be commercialisable in a 2-5 year timeframe
Each stage will have technical and commercial work-packages with
quantifiable milestones, deliverables including go/no go technical and
commercial deliverables:
– Each stage will have an independent contract
– Continuation of funding is dependent on delivery of the technical and
commercial go/no go deliverables at each stage
Preparing the Application: General Advice
•
Use the Application Form-Commercialisation Fund 2011 Proposal
Application Form
•
Read the Guidebook- Commercialisation Fund 2011-Guidelines for
Applicants and Evaluators
•
Consult the “Frequently asked questions” section on the
Commercialisation Fund website
•
Seek assistance from the EI Commercialisation Specialists AT LEAST 1
MONTH BEFORE CLOSING DATE and your local TTO or equivalent office
in good time
•
Stick to the ALLOWED LENGTHS for each section of the application
•
Do a final check to ensure you have followed the guidelines for
submission before you post and email your application
Section 1: Applicant Details
•
Enterprise Ireland assesses proposals
under three technology areas. Please
select the ONE area that is relevant for
your proposal
•
Provide details of all Informal
collaborators including those based in
3rd level and not based in 3rd level
institutions or research performing
organisations in this section
Please indicate if ethical approval is
required for the project and the
timeframe to obtaining same
•
Name the commercialisation
specialists with whom you have had
detailed discussions regarding your
proposal
•
Please provide details of previous
project funding that is relevant for the
technology development proposed in
this project
•
List any companies or end-users you
have consulted regarding the
technology which is the subject of the
proposal
•
Provide a summary of the number of
Stages in your project and the costing
•
Indicate any planned sabbaticals
•
Indicate if you have submitted this
proposal for funding to another
funding programme.
•
Indicate a proposed start date for the
project (projects must start within 90
days of signing the contract)
•
Fill in Principal Investigator and
collaborator details
•
If the collaborator is not receiving
monies for the project please indicate
this by using “informal” after the name
•
Section 2: Commercial Potential and Technology Development
Section 2 is critical to the Phase 1 evaluation of your proposal-You
need to make a convincing commercial case for the project or your
application will not progress to a technical evaluation
•
Read each question (Q 2.1-Q 2.9) on the application form thoroughly
•
Read the Guidebook pgs 8-11-Details on the information requested in
each question is described
 Additionally, for Q2.6 and Q2.9 websites are listed that might be helpful when
preparing answers
 For Q2.7 you are advised to consult with your technology transfer office to seek
their guidance
 You might also consider whether researchers/students in your marketing and
business schools could help you in finding the information to address some of
the questions in this section of the application
•
Read “ The Evaluation Process” section of the guidebook (pgs 1925) and the questions the evaluators will consider. Have you made
a convincing commercial case for the project?
Section 3: Principal Investigator and collaborators
Section 3 describes the experience and capability of the team to perform the
project and their availability to undertake the project
 Section 3.1: Describe the team members, their skills both technical and
commercial and the role they will have in the proposed project-include a 1 page
CV for each team member in the body of the application after the signature
page.
 Section 3.2: Describe each team members current work commitments and the
planned commitment to this project
Informal collaborators not based in 3rd level institutions or research performing
organisations who are part of the project team should submit a letter stating
their role in and support for the project. The letter should be included in the
application after the signature page (they do not need to complete the
commitments table)
 Section 3.3: Describe the teams track record of achievement on previously
funded EI projects in terms of the technical outputs achieved and their
commercialisation (where applicable this will be considered by the project review
panel and EI Industrial Research and Commercialisation Committee)
Note: First time applicants will not be disadvantaged
Section 4: Project Management
Section 4 describes the detailed work-plan and the project costs
•
Templates for describing the work-plan are provided including:
1. Project Overview/summary
Number of stage/s and aim of each project stage
Start Date for each project stage
List of the technical and commercial work-packages for each
project stage
List of Deliverables for each project stage
List of go/no go deliverables for each stage
Costs per stage
2. Project Stage 1 plan
3. Overview plan for subsequent stages of multi-stage projects
•
Projects should comprise a balance of commercial and technical work-packages
•
You must include a Gantt chart showing the timing, work-packages and tasks,
interdependencies of work-packages and tasks and project milestones and
deliverables
•
For multi-stage projects you must provide a detailed work-plan for Stage 1 and an
outline plan for subsequent project stages
Section 4: Project Management
Project Work-plan Stage 1:
Using the template provided for Stage 1
describe:
 the aim of each of the technical and
commercial work-package/s in Stage 1
 the tasks/activities of each work-package
 details of the team members contributing
to each work-package and the personmonths to be spend on each task of each
work-package
 the milestones and deliverables for the
work-package
 the technical/commercial risks for Stage 1
 The go/no go commercial and technical
deliverables for Stage 1
Project Work-plan Stages 2+3:
Using the template provided describe:





the aim of the subsequent project
stage/s
an outline of work-package/s in
each subsequent project stage/s
an outline of contributors to workpackages of each subsequent stage
the milestones and deliverables for
the subsequent project stage/s
the go/no go commercial and
technical deliverables for the
subsequent project stages
Project Management
Milestones and deliverables
Milestones and deliverables should be realistic quantifiable, stating
specifically what will be achieved within the timeframe indicated.
A milestone is used as a project checkpoint to validate how the
project is progressing and can signify some other work that has to be
completed.
A deliverable is any measurable, tangible, verifiable outcome, result,
or item that must be produced to complete a project or part (stage)
of a project.
Go/No Go Deliverable defines a critical point in the project which
determines the technical and/or commercial feasibility of the project.
The Go/No Go deliverables must be set to be delivered 2-3 months
before the end of the project stage.
Examples of typical quantifiable milestones and deliverables
for Molecular Diagnostics-Real-Time PCR tests
COMMERCIAL (See Guidebook page 12
for other examples)
TECHNICAL:
Milestones
Milestone at Month 12: DNA
sequencing of the target gene in
5 strains of each of 3 target
species and 3 strains of 10 nontarget species will be completed.
Milestones
Milestone at Month 18: Ten
companies contacted and
meetings to discuss the
technology of the project
completed with 5 companies.
Agreed follow-up actions.
Deliverables
Deliverable at Month 18: Realtime PCR test developed for one
target species.
Deliverables
Deliverable at Month 12: Market
Offering flyer prepared for
circulation to companies.
Go/No Go
Technical
Deliverable
Deliverable at Month 18: Realtime PCR test for one target
species, developed with 100%
specificity and a limit of detection
for the test of 1-10 cells of target
species per ml of biological
sample.
Go/No Go
Commercial
Deliverables
Deliverable at 12 month: IP
strategy for the technology
defined.
Deliverable at Month 24: Report
on clinical testing of real-time PCR
test.
Preparing the Application: Section 4: Project Management
Sections 4.2/4.3: Project costs:
Costs must be detailed and justified for each
project stage and for each institution
collaborating on a project stage
Financial support for Ph.D and Masters is not
eligible as a cost
Typical breakdown of costs includes:
Salaries-60% or greater
Note: Consult your Research Office
regarding the rules that apply to
charging pension costs.
Materials-20-25%
Travel – not more than 10%
Consultancy/sub-contracting-not
more than 10%-requires EI approval
and where possible work should be
sub-contracted in Ireland
Equipment: Only essential specialist
equipment necessary for the project
will be considered.
Ineligible costs include but not limited
to:
Advertising
Recruitment costs,
Interview expenses
Student fees
Redundancy costs
Relocation costs
Subsistence payments to visiting personnel
who are not on the payroll of the institute
Protection of Intellectual property rights
Cost of courses (unless relates directly to the
project)
Membership fees (unless relates directly to the
project)
Subscription costs (unless relates directly to
the project)
General stationary
Company start-up costs
Indirect costs such as bench fees & flat rate
charges
Section 5: Signatures and Verification
The following signatures are required on the application form:
All original signatures required and all on the signature page of the
application form
1. Principal Investigator of the host and collaborating institutions-if
the PI is a contract researcher then a permanent member of staff
(head of department, head of research centre) must sign the
application
2. Informal collaborators based in 3rd level institutions and research
performing organisations
3. Vice President of Research or equivalent authorised signatory
from the host and collaborating institutions
4. Director of Technology Transfer or equivalent in the host and
collaborating institutions. The TTO should also stamp the application
Note: Informal collaborators not based in 3rd level institutions or
research performing organisations do not need to sign the application
but must include a letter in the body of the application after the
signature page stating their role in and support for the project
Submitting your application
Closing date for receipt of applications is NOON on February 23rd
Make sure you post it on time!
By Post:
– Send 1 original with all signatures from the host and collaborating
institutions and 2 copies to Majella Maher, Commercialisation Manager,
Enterprise Ireland, East Point Business Park, The Plaza, Dublin 3.
By Email to [email protected]
– Electronic copy of a the application in a single file (pdf max size 5
MB) and named using the following nomenclature:
First Letter First name, First Letter surname of PI-CF Spring 2011Technology Area- First Letter First name, Full surname.doc
e.g. MM-CF Spring 2011-LifeSciences-MMaher.doc
Overview of Evaluation and Selection Process-Phase 1
Proposal evaluation will be performed in 2 Phases-Phase 1 and Phase 2:
You must be successful in Phase 1 to go to a Phase 2 evaluation
– Phase 1 –Internal Expert Evaluation of all projects- Commercial case is
critical.
– The following criteria will be evaluated using the evidence you provide:
– Commercial Opportunity-market size and validation of need
– Economic Impact- route to exploitation in Ireland
– Technology Innovation-Innovation and team calibre to deliver
– You must achieve an acceptable rating for all 3 criteria to progress to a
Phase 2 evaluation
– Evaluator may contact PI during Phase 1 evaluation if clarification on the
application is required
– Proposals will go to external moderators for review to ensure consistency
of reviews
Overview of Evaluation and Selection Process-Phase 2
•
Evaluation of the technical work-plan, costing and project team and
resources in the context of the commercial case for the project
•
Small projects (typically <€100K) will be reviewed by internal experts
•
Large projects (typically >€100K) will be reviewed by external experts
•
Panels of internal and external experts will review and rank proposals
•
PIs of large projects that are presented to the external panel for review
and ranking may be contacted to clarify questions that arise at the panel
meeting
•
Proposals will be presented to the Enterprise Ireland Industrial Research
and Commercialisation Committee for decision (IRCC)
•
Feedback will be provided to all applicants on their proposal after the IRCC
meeting
Small Projects(<€100K)
Applications Received
Eligibility check
Phase 1 Evaluation-Internal Panel
Commercial case
Technology Innovation
Unsuccessful projects
Phase 2 Evaluation-Internal Panel
Project Team
Project Management
Project costs
External Moderators
Industrial Research and Commercialisation Committee
Large Projects(>€100K)
Applications Received
Eligibility check
Phase 1 Evaluation-Internal Panel
Commercial case
Technology Innovation
Unsuccessful projects
Phase 2 Evaluation- External Experts
Commercial case
Technology Innovation
Project Management
Project costs
External Moderators
External Panel
(PI Interview)
Industrial Research and Commercialisation Committee
Do a final check to ensure you have followed the
guidelines for submission before you post and
email your application
Good Luck!