Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2021
145. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of the selection process for the expert panels tasked with selecting successful applications to the disruptive technologies innovation fund; the number of panels formed; the duration and membership of the most recently formed panel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32962/21]
View answerThe Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) was established in 2018 to encourage collaboration in the development and deployment of disruptive innovative technologies, on a commercial basis, targeted at tackling national and global challenges. It is managed by my Department with administrative support from Enterprise Ireland.
DTIF focuses on the ability of Irish enterprises to drive disruptive innovation through collaboration on industrial research with other enterprises and research institutions. The Fund is open to partnerships working together on projects that have the potential to significantly alter markets or the way businesses operate. It encourages private co-investment by lowering the risk profile associated with investment in high-risk, high-reward innovations.
Enterprise Ireland administers the call process with oversight by the Department of Enterprise and the DTIF Advisory Board. DTIF is a competitive offer and eligible applications are reviewed by independent international technical and commercialisation experts using funding call-specific selection criteria.
Enterprise Ireland maintains an Expert Database from which it selects appropriate experts on the basis of the funding call-specific selection criteria, professional expertise and experience. As a public research funding body the agency regularly sources new experts including from the European Commission's database of experts for its research funding programmes which typically issues calls for expressions of interest on a 7 year basis. Geographical and business-sector balance, gender balance, regular rotation, and absence of conflict of interest are all considered.
For the recently closed DTIF Call 3 (2020) 45 experts participated in 55 remote evaluation panels with a duration of 3 months from invitation to participate as experts to completion of panel interviews.
Enterprise Ireland requests that experts sign a non-disclosure agreement to participate in an individual capacity and does not release personal information.
