Trinity Innovation

Contact Us Trinity Innovation
House 4
Front square
Trinity College Dublin
Dublin 2
Ireland

View the contact page for more contact and location information

acrosbie@tcd.ie Gaeilge

Welcome to KnEx

KnEx, the Trinity College Dublin Knowledge Exchange Office, supports the commercialisation of Trinity research and the development of industry partnerships which enable businesses to benefit from the world-leading teaching, research and infrastructure within Trinity. 

KnEx is supported under the KT Boost Programme co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Southern, Eastern & Midland Regional Programme 2021-2027. 

 

KnEx Dedicated Functions

KnEx is comprised of two dedicated functions: the Technology Transfer Office and the Research Contracts Office. 

The Technology Transfer Office is responsible for managing and protecting intellectual property and facilitating the transfer of technologies from the university to industry:

  • Invention disclosures, patent protection, and intellectual property negotiation & advice
  • Licensing of intellectual properties
  • Spinout company support
  • Access to seed funding through University Bridge Fund and network access to venture capitalists and business angels
  • Open source programme office 

Our Research Contracts Office is responsible for: 

  • Reviewing and executing all funded research contracts
  • Supporting any amendments or new contracts
  • Assisting with commercial services agreement
  • Non-disclosure and data sharing agreements 

KnEx Services

The following services are delivered by the KnEx team to facilitate knowledge exchange, protect IP, and accelerate innovation: 

 

Silhouette of man with binary code

IP Commercialisation

Full support for invention disclosures, patent protection, and licensing technologies to industry.  
A person completing a research contract on paper.

Research Contracts

Professional review and execution of all funded research and service agreements.  
Group of men in a press shoot for the launch of a Trinity campus company

Spinout Companies

Dedicated support, governance, and access to seed funding for staff and researchers spinning out new companies based on Trinity IP.  
Trinity College Dublin with images of people in the background

CONSULT

Applying world-class academic expertise to help industry shape solutions, strategies and policies.
Open Source Code on Large Computer Screens

Open Source Programme Office

Guidance and legal support for releasing research software and resources under open-source licenses.   
Two woman testing a new medical device technology

Available Technologies

Licensing support for a curated catalogue of technologies ready for industry access and investment.   

Knowledge Transfer Impacts 

The KT Boost Programme (2024-2027) has had a notable impact on Trinity College Dublin by enhancing its capacity to translate academic research into real-world innovations. 

  • Strengthening Knowledge Transfer infrastructure in Trinity: enabling more dedicated support for supporting researchers with their commercialisation activities (including IP development, licensing of technologies, creating spin-outs, and supporting industry collaboration. 
  • Increasing research commercialisation outputs through a growth in invention disclosures and patent filings and accelerating the formation of spin-out companies and IP licencing   
  • Supporting stronger links between researchers and industry, positioning Trinity as the go-to university partner for companies seeking innovation in, amongst other things, AI, life sciences, medtech, engineering, digital health, quantum computing, arts humanities and social sciences and sustainability. 
  • The programme supports ongoing professional development for Trinity staff involved in Knowledge Transfer.