Engagement models and IP Access

The main engagement model in MCCI is participation on an MCCI core-funded project. This is where the project is defined by MCCI members and funded by MCCI from the core grant.

Core Projects

Industry participants are expected to contribute to the project with market knowledge, specification direction, reviews or benefit-in-kind. Projects are collaborative and often involve multiple industry participants participating in a project.

For MCCI core-funded projects there is a simple industry-designed IP cascade model as shown below which gives Project Sponsors royalty free non-exclusive access to the IP with no use restrictions. No matter who the research partner for the project is, all exploitation is through MCCI to provide a standardised single point of contact for IP commercialisation. License agreement boilerplate templates are used with standard terms to absolutely minimise licensing overheads and reduce time to market.

Associated Projects

MCCI wishes to build the microelectronics research ecosystem in Ireland and so will actively support Associated Projects.  As well as MCCI core-funded projects, industry may engage with research providers through the centre using a variety of models to suit their needs in terms of level of investment, confidentiality and access to IP.

On one end of the spectrum an industry partner may wish to carry out highly secretive work with a research partner where industry fully funds the costs and wish to retain full IP ownership.  In this case MCCI can assist in finding the right contract research provider and a bi-lateral agreement can be put in place.  The project may still benefit from access to MCCI CAD tools and facilities.

In the case where industry wishes to co-fund a project and perhaps have exclusive rights to the IP, MCCI can assist the company in finding the right research partner and then participate in seeking supplemental funding such as an EI Innovation Partnership.  A bi-lateral agreement can be put in place between the company and research provider and again the project may still benefit from access to MCCI CAD tools and facilities.

Fully publically funded projects can also be carried out under the auspices of MCCI where there is an industry interest in the outcome.  MCCI can assist researchers in finding industry supporters and in applying for funding such as SFI TIDA or EI commercialisation fund.  MCCI may also assist the research team in creating a commercialisation route for the IP. Again the project may still benefit from access to MCCI CAD tools and facilities.