Activity · Innovation management
Innovation management, across the network.
One discipline, three kinds of activity: a practice group where members compare how the work is actually done, training aligned to ISO 56001, and policy work on the tax and funding conditions that innovation depends on.
Practice group
Compare the practice, not the theory.
The Innovation Management practice group brings practitioners from member companies together — at member sites and online — to compare strategy, portfolios, governance, measurement and the routines that turn innovation intent into repeatable work. A member or the IRDG team frames a live case; participants leave with something to try.
The group is run by Bernadette McGahon, IRDG's Director of Innovation Services, with Dermot Casey, IRDG's Chief Executive and a Director of the NSAI — the body behind Ireland's adoption of the ISO 56000 family. Sessions are announced on the events platform; where no date is open, register interest and the team will contact you when one is added.
Training
Two programmes, aligned to ISO 56001.
Both are for leaders and innovation champions. Eligible companies can access Skillnet-supported rates.
Foundations for Strategic Innovation
Takes a leadership team from "we should be more deliberate about innovation" to something the business actually runs — a structured current-state view, peer challenge, a plan the board can hold you to, and support while you run it.
Accelerating Strategic Innovation
Builds on an existing innovation management approach — sharpening decisions, portfolio management and the connection between innovation activity and strategy. The next cohort is not yet open for booking; register interest on the programme page.
IRDG Innovation Skillnet
Skillnet Ireland co-funding subsidises training for eligible companies. Eligibility and the funded rate are confirmed at booking.
Policy
The tax and funding conditions, worked on the record.
Innovation management runs on external conditions too. These are the live positions IRDG is carrying for members — each one published in full, with its outcome, on the Influence page.
The R&D Tax Credit rate and SME access
IRDG asked for a higher effective rate, faster refunds, advance assurance for first-time claimants and a dedicated technical unit in Revenue. Finance Act 2025 increased the rate from 30% to 35% and raised the first-year payment threshold to €87,500; the SME-access asks stay open. IRDG was one voice among many.
A tax-based support for broader innovation
The credit rewards R&D but not most Oslo Manual innovation. IRDG made the case for a broader instrument; the Department of Finance's Compass names a new tax-based innovation support as a live work-stream. Not yet a commitment.
The National R&D Tax Policy Forum
The only forum in Ireland that puts Revenue, the Department of Finance and the companies actually making claims around one table — administration, interpretation and what the scheme reaches in practice.
Who to ask
Start with a conversation about where the organisation is.
Bernie has spent more than twenty years across research, innovation and enterprise support, and runs the practice group and the programmes on this page. If you are weighing which of them fits — or whether any of them is the right next step — start with her.
Bernadette McGahonDirector of Innovation Services