Latest news with #CommercialisationFund
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Enterprise Ireland launches a new ‘proof of concept' fund to de-risk R&D and speed the route to market
The funding – available through the agency's established Commercialisation Fund – offers up to €100,000 over 12 months to help researchers de-risk promising ideas and assess their commercial viability. The initiative is open to researchers in third-level institutions across Ireland and is already accepting applications on a rolling basis. This early-stage grant aims to address a critical gap in the business journey: helping researchers do the groundwork needed to attract a dedicated team and secure follow-on funding. The grant can be used for key de-risking activities, including customer discovery, prototype development, early-stage human-use studies, and other validation work. Eligible costs include personnel, subcontracting, and technical support. It's a valuable opportunity to explore commercial potential in a structured, supported way The scheme targets concepts in a range of sectors, including life sciences, ICT, manufacturing and engineering, energy, and agriculture and food. While these sectors are a focus, applications from all disciplines are welcome, as long as they demonstrate strong innovation, a clear commercial opportunity, and a credible plan to develop and test the technology. For researchers wondering whether their work could translate into a commercially viable output, this funding provides a valuable opportunity to explore the commercial potential in a structured, supported way. The impact of early-stage funding is already visible. UCD spin-out LaNua Medical is one such example. After securing initial Commercialisation Fund support to validate its novel embolisation device, the research team, including chief medical officer Dr Cormac Farrelly, successfully spun out and went on to raise €6m in seed funding in 2024. Projects funded under the proof of concept initiative will also gain access to non-financial supports from Enterprise Ireland – including the Market Research Centre, sector-specific mentoring, and networking opportunities – helping researchers align their innovation with real-world market needs. Interested applicants are encouraged to consult their institution's Technology Transfer Office (TTO) and engage with their Enterprise Ireland commercialisation specialist early in the process. Applications are typically co-developed with the support of a TTO case manager or equivalent, who can help shape the proposal and ensure it aligns with the funding criteria. These include commercial opportunity, technical innovation, execution plan, potential economic impact, and budget justification. The proof of concept initiative is an open call – researchers can apply at any time. For those aiming to create a spin-out company, the grant also acts as a gateway to further Commercialisation Fund support, enabling a seamless transition from lab to market.
Irish Post
26-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Post
€500k grant awarded to develop Irish-founded AI platform which supports teachers
FUNDING of €500k has been granted to Trinity College Dublin researchers to develop an AI platform which provides tools to support teachers. The grant, from Enterprise Ireland's Commercialisation Fund, will support the commercialisation of the Diotima project. Co-founded by former secondary school teacher Siobhan Ryan and edtech professional Jonathan Dempsey, Diotima uses responsible AI to provide students with feedback. The product 'leads to more and better assessments and improved learning outcomes for students, and a more manageable workload for teachers' an Enterprise Ireland spokesperson confirmed. Diotima received the funding in February, which has allowed the team to hire two post-doctoral researchers. (l-r) Learnovate Centre Director Nessa McEniff; Diotima Commercial Lead and co-founder Jonathan Dempsey; and Diotima Learning Lead and co-founder Siobhan Ryan Since then, the project leaders have established an education advisory group formed of representatives from post-primary and professional education organisations. They are now leading AI research ahead of the planned launch of an initial version of the platform in September 2025. Diotima aims to conduct two major trials of the platform as they also seek investment, while supported by The Learnovate Centre, a global research and innovation centre in learning technology based at TCD. Diotima began its partnership with Learnovate in February of this year and is expected to spin out as a company in 2026. 'We are delighted to have collaborated with the Diotima team to secure €500,000 investment from Enterprise Ireland's Commercialisation Fund,' Learnovate Centre Director Nessa McEniff said. 'Diotima promises to develop into a revolutionary platform for learners in secondary schools and professional education organisations, delivering formative feedback and better outcomes overall,' she added. 'We look forward to supporting them further as they continue to develop the platform in the months ahead.' Diotima Learning Lead and co-founder Ms Ryan said the team is 'delighted to have received such a significant award from the Enterprise Ireland Commercialisation Fund'. 'The investment is already having a positive effect, allowing us to hire two post-doctoral researchers in AI whose work has been vital to progressing the platform towards the first testing phase,' she explained. 'We're extremely grateful to Learnovate for helping us gain access to the funding from Enterprise Ireland, as well as their assistance in hiring and technical expertise. 'Our partnership with Learnovate has exceeded our expectations and we look forward to building on that relationship as we strive towards spinning out in 2026.' See More: Diotima, Enterprise Ireland, Grant, Teachers
