In 1995, the European Commission established the IRC network. From April 2004, it has consisted of 71 Innovation Relay Centres (IRCs) throughout Europe including the EU, Chile, Iceland, Israel, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey. These centres have been created in order to facilitate the transfer of innovative technologies to and from European companies or research departments. As a mover and shaker in innovation, the IRC network has become a leading European network for the promotion of technology partnerships and transfer mainly between small and medium-sized companies (SMEs).
The IRCs are innovation support service providers mainly hosted by public organisations such as university technology centres, chambers of commerce, regional development agencies or national innovation agencies. Most IRCs are set up as consortia. Each centre is staffed by personnel who have extensive knowledge of the technological and economic profile of the companies and regions they serve.
What is Technology Transfer?
Technology Transfer from one country to another is achieved when an organisation and/or company makes an innovative technology available to another organisation and/or company. This can occur in the form of a licensing agreement, a joint venture agreement, a manufacturing agreement, and/or a commercial agreement with technical assistance. The IRC's role is to enhance their client's ability to perform technology transfer, to audit their technological needs, to find suitable technologies and/or partners, to support their clients throughout all the steps of the technology transfer process, for example in assisting them in the negotiation process or by advising them on IPR or innovation financing.
How does an IRC disseminate Technology Offers or Requests?
All IRCs are linked by an efficient internet based Business Bulletin System (BBS), so that Technology Offers or Requests can rapidly be conveyed across Europe. A scheme involving mandatory information templates ensures that all necessary details are given in order to facilitate a sensible appraisal of the technology. The system also ensures that only relevant organisations are approached when searching for partners and/or technologies.
Can an IRC help organise meetings with companies from other European countries?
IRCs regularly organise transnational missions and brokerage events for their clients. On the basis of information provided by their clients they pre-arrange meetings, provide a venue, make the travel and accommodation arrangements and generally ease the process of technology transfer. These transnational activities generally target a particular industrial sector.
What are Special Interest Groups?
SIGs are sector-based groups of companies that are interested in developing their businesses in other parts of Europe. SIGs are created by the IRCs and provide a range of services to the members including regular meetings to discuss transnational issues relating to a particular sector, access to the IRC network and the organisation of transnational technology transfer missions. The complete list of SIGs hereafter.
Is European Funding available through the IRC?
IRCs will signpost companies seeking assistance from FP7 to the National Contact Points (NCPs). The IRCs will also assist companies in the exploitation of the results stemming from European RTD projects.
Can an IRC help if you need partners for a potential FP6 project?
IRCs can signpost the SME and/or research institute to the National Contact Point (NCP). IRCs at the moment are not carrying out partner searches for building FP6 research consortia. IRCs will offer these services again under the CIP programme. However, many IRCs are offering this assistance within their host organisation, for example CRAFT.
Does an IRC assist with Marketing and Commercial Transactions?
An IRC supports the marketing of a technology and/or know-how under the prerequisite that only innovative products are involved and that some technical collaboration between the transferring companies and/or research institutes takes place. An IRC does not assist with the selling of products.
What about the Legal and IPR aspects of Technology Transfer?
An IRC can advise on the basic aspects of IPR. When necessary, it will signpost to experts for more complex issues, e.g. to the IPR Helpdesk (www.ipr-helpdesk.org) or to patent lawyers. The same applies to all legal and contractual issues in the transnational technology transfer process.
Does the IRC Network deal with all technologies?
Yes, an IRC provides support to all technological and industrial sectors.
Can an IRC help with Technology Transfer outside the EU?
Occasionally IRCs may support deals that involve companies located outside the IRC Network's borders.
What about language problems?
An IRC may help with the translation of documents. Because of its close contacts with the other IRCs it can arrange accurate translation in the case where meetings are arranged with non English speaking companies in Europe. In most instances business is conducted in English.
