IRDG is an independent non-profit representative group for companies in manufacturing and services who are engaged in product and process research, development and innovation (RD&I). We are funded by members’ annual subscriptions.
Our client base consists of 400 companies, including 100 core members, and employs 106,000 people with combined sales of Euro 12bn, accounting 60% of industry RD&I expenditure in Ireland. Membership is evenly divided between Irish-owned and overseas-owned companies who range in size from start-ups to the largest companies in Ireland. We represent all sectors of industry including electronics, telecommunications, financial services, food, software, engineering, healthcare, plastics, etc.
The main roles of IRDG are to ensure that RD&I remains high on the national agenda, that our members are fully informed on what is happening on RD&I matters, that their views are represented to Government and the Development Agencies and that there is funding available to support individual companies. We help members to develop RD&I strategies and plans and to prepare project proposals for funding, and we guide them through the evaluation processes. We assist our members in the areas of Research & Development (R&D) Tax Credit claims, R&D Grant applications, and R&D Revenue Audit support.
We deliver for our members. All members have been successful in gaining funds. The average grant for an IRDG member is €300k. We estimate that IRDG members have accessed €150m - €200m in RD&I funding since we were set up in 1992.
IRDG has recently won grant aid from Enterprise Ireland for the establishment of an Enterprise Innovation Network, enabling IRDG to increase its RD&I services and support activities and to expand its membership to double the number of supported companies.
IRDG representations have resulted in the RD&I Tax Credit Scheme. We have prepared guides to the R&D Tax Credit Scheme and the Intangible Assets Scheme for our members by working closely with the Revenue Commissioners. We have established links with the Paris-based European Industry Research Managers Association (EIRMA) in order to offer additional added-value services to our members.