CAMPUS INCUBATION

Extension of Business Incubation Facilities

in the Institutes of Technology

Open Call - June 2015

Application Form

Please send applications to:

Una Moran

Campus Incubation Manager

EnterpriseIreland

Eastpoint

Dublin 3

by Closing date, 5.30pm Friday 24th July 2015 (e-mail submissions)

Section 1. Applicant Details

Institution Name
Size of current incubation facility (m2), of which:
-Incubation units
-Pre-incubation hot desks
-Other, e.g. commercial R&D, meeting rooms, etc
Date of commencement of incubator operations, i.e. first incubator unit occupied
Contact Point Details
The Concept
Please give details of the overall project concept for the extension

Section 2. The Market Need

2.1 Occupancy of the Incubator

2.1.1 Current occupancy of incubation units (i.e. not hot desks)

Company Name / Sector / Year established / Incubator entry date / Number of Employees / Evidence of growth prospects, e.g. significant funding &/ contracts secured
Present occupancy level (i.e. % of incubation space noted in Section 1 that is occupied
2.1.2 Turnover of companies at the incubator
-Number of companies that have spent time in incubation units prior to current occupants
-Most recent three companies to exit the incubator: names, exit dates, relocation rationale and present performance, e.g. employment levels, sales, HPSU status
-Next three companies due to exit the incubator: names, space occupied and exit dates
-Next three companies due to enter the incubator: names, sectors, source, contact details
-Evidence of unmet market demand, taking into account the regional and industrial context of the applicant institution
-Linkages with other start-up support providers in the region
2.1.3 Pre-incubation, i.e. ‘hot desk’ space
-Current occupants and their source
-Current occupancy level (% of pre-incubation space noted in Section 1 that is occupied)
-Track record to date of occupants, e.g. progression into full incubation units, successful company creation
-Future pipeline
2.1.4Other space, e.g. Commercial R&D, Meeting rooms etc
-Current R&D occupants and occupancy level where applicable. Subsequent performance of previous occupants, e.g. other funding secured, progression to licensing or spin-out opportunity
-Usage level of meeting room spaces or other non-rentable facilities

2.2 Tenancy policies and procedures

2.2.1 Client selection process
-Details of criteria for selecting suitable clients in order of priority
-Procedure used and any changes envisaged for the expanded facility
2.2.2 Tenancy duration policy
Please give a brief outline of policy (please note that EI guidelines for client tenancy in incubation units is two years nine months). Have any companies exceeded this duration during the operation of the existing facility? If so, please provide details and rationale. Are any changes envisaged for the expanded facility?
2.2.3 Client re-location strategy
Please set out the approach utilised in the re-location of clients from the incubator, including partnerships with other enterprise support providers in the region.
2.2.4 Client charging policy
For each of the three key areas of the incubator (incubation units, pre-incubation space and commercial R&D), please provide details of the rental charging policy, current and future, including cost per m2, any scaling of charges, what they cover, etc. Please provide details of any other institutional policies and that are relevant to companies locating in the incubator, e.g. whether an equity policy is in place and, if so, details of same.

Section 3. Host Institution Commitment to the Incubation Agenda

3.1 Operational support
Please explain how the host institution has supported the operation of the existing facility and how this will be maintained for the expanded facility, including
-Level of administrative resources provided to support the incubator manager
-How any issues arising in relation to the smooth operation of the facility are prioritised and handled
-Parking arrangements for incubator clients
3.2 Strategic support for the incubator
Please explain how the host institution has strategically supported the centre and how it will continue its support for the expanded facility including:
-Support for the incubator manager
-Positioning of the incubator manager within the institutional governance framework
-Governance of the incubator
-Prioritisation of company creation within the wider institutional strategy and activities
- Providing access to specialised facilities, collaborative research activity, student placements.
3.3 Business development support for the companies located at the incubator
Please provide details of how client companies are supported to develop and grow their business, including:
-Extent of mentoring and advice provided
-Collaborative research activity underway with host institution and with others
-Training
-Student placements
-Access to specialised facilities
-Other activities
Please outline how these interactions are initiated and driven and explain how they have added value to the companies’ performance.
3.4 Financial viability
Please enclose income and expenditure statements for the incubator for the last three years and set out details below of how any shortfall arising has been met and/ or how any surplus arising has been utilised.
3.5 Institutional strategy
Please explain how the proposed expansion is prioritised within the institution’s overall strategy, for example
-How business incubation is reflected in the wider strategic objectives of the Institute,
-How it is connected with other institutional activities,
-How an expanded business incubation facility would benefit the host institution

Section 4. Contribution to Regional Development

4.1 Regional need for an expansion
Please outline the regional need for an expanded incubation facility. How would such an expansion address any particular development challenges being faced by the region and thus improve the region’s industrial performance? Why is the existing facility inadequate? What is the current availability of proximate enterprise space and why is this not appropriate for use?
4.2 Projected Regional Impact
Please describe the projected regional impact of an expanded incubation facility, e.g. in terms of greater levels of knowledge-intensive company creation, employment, the region’s attractiveness in terms of investment and graduate retention, etc.
4.3 Synergies with other Enterprise Ireland-funded activities
Please describe how financial support for an expanded incubation facility will link in with other investments by EnterpriseIreland in the host institution. Please consider programmes such as the Technology Gateways, New Frontiers and Innovation vouchers; and how this would lead to enhanced industrial activity in the region.
4.4 Synergies with other regional enterprise support activities
Please set out how you propose to connect an expanded incubation facility with other enterprise support providers in the region, e.g. other incubation facilities, the Local Enterprise Offices, etc.
4.5 External pipeline development
Please describe how ongoing external, i.e. spin-in, demand will be ensured and delivered. Please include details of the promotional plan and the host institution’s strategy for building a sustainable pipeline of suitable incubator entrants looking to locate in the incubator and to build strategic relationships with the host institution.
4.6 Internal pipeline development
Similarly, please provide details of the potential for spin-offs from institutional research and how this is being developed and translated into start-up activity.

Section 5. Construction of the Extension

5.1 Specifications

Please provide the details below plus clear diagrams of the proposed facility.

Incubation Unit Space
Existing facility / Extension / Total
Total size
No. of units
Breakdown
Pre-incubation Space
Total size
No. of units
Breakdown
Other space
Commercial R&D / n/a
Meeting rooms
- Total size
- Breakdown
Coffee area
Circulation space
Other (please specify)
Overall size
Parking
Please provide details of existing and proposed parking arrangements for additional clients at the expanded incubator.
5.2 Construction Project Management
Please provide details on how the construction project will be managed by the host Institution, including:
-Responsibility and prioritisation within the host Institution
-The construction timeline
-How existing clients will be catered for during any construction period
5.3 Design
Please advise how the facility will be innovatively designed, including:
-Maximising its visibility and identity on the campus and within the region
-The optimal use of space, e.g. demonstration of value-for-money through the maximisation of lettable space
-Good construction practice, e.g. with regard to environment and energy considerations

Section 6. Costings

6.1 Construction Costings

(€)
Construction Costs
Civil/ Building works
External works
Mechanical services
Electrical services
Other
Sub-total
Construction cost per m2
Non-construction costs
Design team fees
Other (please specify)
VAT
Sub-total
Total costings

6.2 Request to Enterprise Ireland for Financial Assistance

Total costings (as above)
Total of costings eligible for grant aid
Support requested from EnterpriseIreland
(max.95% of eligible expenditure in BMW, 90% in S&E, both up to max amount of €3m)
Balance of finance (10%/5% of eligible costings)
Source of balance of financing

6.3 Projected Income & Expenditure for the Proposed Expanded Facility

Income
Year 1 / Year 2 / Year 3 / Year 4 / Year 5
Incubation unit rental
Hot desk rental
Existing comm. R&D space rental
Other income
Total income
Expenditure
Year 1 / Year 2 / Year 3 / Year 4 / Year 5
Marketing
Staffing
Company supports
(e.g. training)
Maintenance
Administration
Other
Total expenditure
Surplus/ (Deficit)
Charging rate and occupancy levels assumed for incubation unit rental
Charging rate and occupancy levels assumed for hot desk rental
Charging rate and occupancy levels assumed for commercial R&D rental
Components of ‘Other Income’
Personnel covered by staffing costs
Details and breakdown of expenditure on company supports
Components of ‘Other Expenditure’

Section 7. Management and Deliverables of an Expanded Facility

7.1 Incubator governance and management structure
Please set out details of:
-The management and administrative structure of the incubator
-Key management personnel, their experience and their involvement
-The functions of the incubator manager
-How he/ she is positioned within the institutional governance framework
-Up-to-date membership listing of Advisory Board (plus any imminent changes) and frequency of meetings
7.2 Development of Companies at the Incubator
Please provide details of how client companies are supported to develop and grow their business, including:
-Extent of mentoring and advice provided
-Collaborative research activity underway with host institution and with others
-Training
-Student placements
-Access to specialised facilities
-Other activities
Please outline how these interactions are initiated and driven and explain how they have added value to the companies’ performance.
ease detail clearly the suite of business development supports that will be provided to the expanded range of client companies, including:
-The types of supports
-Who will provide them and how they will be funded
-How they will be initiated
-How the resources of the host institution will be leveraged to enhance the performance of incubation client companies

7.3Deliverables - Projected Activity at the Incubator

Existing facility / Expanded facility: Year 1 / Year 2 / Year 3 / Year 4 / Year 5
Occupancy of the incubator
Pre-incubation occupancy rate
Incubation unit occupancy rate
No. of companies in incubation units
Of which:
- spin-ins
- spin-outs
Employment
Personnel employed in companies located in incubation units
Turnover at the incubator
No. of new occupant companies of incubation units
Companies moving on from the incubator
- number
- related number of personnel

Signature of Authorised Officer of the institute

Completed applications should be signed by the Authorised Officers and stamped here

______
President/ DirectorFinancial Director

Date: Date:

COMPLETED APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE SENT TO:by Closing Date,5.30pm Friday 24th July 2015 (e-mail submission)followed bythe signed hardcopy to: Una Moran, Campus Incubation Manager, Enterprise Ireland, Eastpoint, Dublin 3, (to arrive during the following week).

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