Copyright for State-funded R&D to stay with researchers

Conor Keane, Business Correspondent

Yesterday, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Harney launched the State’s first National Code of Practice for Managing Intellectual Property from publicly-funded research.

The code, developed by the Irish Council for Science Technology and Innovation (ICSTI), addresses each aspect of the management and transfer of R&D results to the marketplace.

“Our substantial research investments will generate many new discoveries and applications with commercial and industrial potential. Our aim must be to excel at translating these ideas into the wealth-generating commercial world and boost our competitiveness,” Ms Harney said.

Commercialisation of research in Ireland is below rival innovative economies. In 1999, Ireland held approximately 13 patents population compared to Finland (75pm), Denmark (45pmper million) and the EU, US and Japan at 35, 52 and 90 per million respectively.