Glossary
The words that keep coming up, defined once.
99 terms across funding and tax, standards, national statistics, measurement and IRDG's own vocabulary. Each one says what it means, why it matters and where the definition comes from.
99 terms · reviewed 24 August 2026
Research & innovation 14
Capability
The practical ability of people and an organisation to perform work reliably: knowledge, skills, processes, tools, leadership conditions and experience applied together.
Why it matters It explains why IRDG Capability includes diagnostics, mentoring, peer learning, site visits and direct support as well as training.
Careful Capability is an ability to perform, not simply attendance at training.
IMS Innovation management system
The connected policies, responsibilities, processes, resources and practices an organisation uses to pursue innovation systematically and improve how it does so.
Why it matters It is central to innovation-management programmes and the Dell capability journey.
Careful A management system can exist without being independently certified.
Innovation
A new or improved product or process that differs significantly from what an organisation used or offered before and has actually been brought into use or made available.
Why it matters It gives the site an implementation-led meaning: an idea alone is not yet an innovation.
Careful Do not use innovation as a loose synonym for any new idea.
Innovation activity
Developmental, financial and commercial work intended to lead to innovation. It can include R&D, design, engineering, training, software, market work and implementation, depending on context.
Why it matters It explains why capability building and innovation support extend beyond formal R&D or classroom training.
Careful Innovation activity is broader than qualifying R&D expenditure.
Innovation management
The coordinated work of setting direction, creating the conditions for innovation, developing opportunities, managing initiatives and learning from results.
Why it matters It positions IRDG programmes and diagnostics as practical organisational capability, not idea-generation workshops alone.
Careful Avoid reducing innovation management to one tool or stage.
R&D Research and development
Creative and systematic work undertaken to increase knowledge and devise new applications. Recognised R&D should be novel, creative, uncertain in outcome, systematic and transferable or reproducible.
Why it matters It distinguishes R&D from routine product work, normal engineering and general business improvement.
Careful Statistical and tax definitions overlap but are not identical.
R&D collaboration
Two or more independent organisations actively contributing to shared R&D work, risk or knowledge. Buying a routine service is not automatically collaboration.
Why it matters It helps companies assess university, research-centre, supplier and peer opportunities realistically.
Careful Agreements should address purpose, contribution, confidentiality and intellectual property.
RDI / RD&I Research, development and innovation
IRDG's umbrella term for research, experimental development and the wider work needed to turn knowledge and ideas into implemented products, services, processes or ways of working.
Why it matters It avoids implying that every innovation activity is R&D or that every innovation cost qualifies for the tax credit.
Careful RDI is an umbrella phrase, not one universal legal, tax or statistical category.
RPO Research-performing organisation
An organisation that performs research as a substantial part of its mission, such as a university, institute or research centre, depending on the scheme definition.
Why it matters It is useful shorthand in collaboration and funding content involving industry and the research base.
Careful Eligibility and the exact RPO definition vary by call; use the scheme's own wording.
RTO Research and technology organisation
An organisation whose mission commonly includes applied research, technology development, testing, demonstration or knowledge transfer for industry and society.
Why it matters It distinguishes an applied research and technology partner from a generic consultant or supplier.
Careful The label is contextual; verify the organisation's role and the scheme definition.
Technology Centre Industry–research technology centre
An industry-focused research centre enabling companies and research institutions to collaborate on strategic, market-relevant R&D in a defined technology or sector area.
Why it matters Technology Centres are potential research, capability and collaboration partners for IRDG members.
Careful Check each centre's current remit, participation model and access route rather than treating the network as one scheme.
Technology Gateway Enterprise Ireland Technology Gateway
An applied research and innovation access point based in Ireland's technological universities and institutes, connecting companies with specialist people, facilities and technical capability.
Why it matters It gives companies a practical route to applied expertise and equipment for scoped problems and projects.
Careful Match the company need to the individual Gateway's expertise and confirm the funding or commercial arrangement for the project.
Types of business innovation Product and business-process innovation
Product innovation is a significantly new or improved good or service introduced to users. Business-process innovation is a significantly changed process brought into use in one or more business functions.
Why it matters It supports consistent language in case studies and the Innovation Index.
Careful Describe what was implemented, not only what was planned.
Types of R&D Basic research, applied research and experimental development
Basic research seeks underlying knowledge without a particular application; applied research pursues a practical objective; experimental development uses research and experience to create additional knowledge directed towards new or improved products or processes.
Why it matters The distinction matters in statistical reporting, collaboration and assessment of qualifying R&D.
Careful Use the definition relevant to the particular scheme or claim.
Standards 11
Accreditation
Formal recognition that a conformity-assessment body is competent to carry out specified assessment or certification activities.
Why it matters It prevents accreditation and certification being used interchangeably.
Careful Check the body's actual accredited scope, not only its name.
Aligned to / mapped to a standard
Mapped should mean there is a documented comparison between programme content and named clauses or principles. Aligned should mean approved evidence shows substantive consistency.
Why it matters It makes programme descriptions auditable and protects the distinction from certification.
Careful Neither mapped nor aligned means certified.
APCER Management-systems certification body
A certification organisation working with NSAI on a pathway for ISO 56001 management-system certification in Ireland.
Why it matters It identifies the certification role in the Dell ISO 56001 account without implying that IRDG or ISO issued the certificate.
Careful Verify the named certification body, scheme, accredited scope and exact certificate before publishing any organisation's certification claim.
Certification
Independent written assurance that a product, process, service or management system meets specified requirements.
Why it matters It keeps IRDG programmes, badges and diagnostics clearly separate from formal third-party certification.
Careful ISO itself does not certify organisations.
Conformity assessment
A process for checking whether specified requirements relating to a product, process, service, system, person or body are fulfilled.
Why it matters It separates formal assurance from training, diagnostics and self-assessment.
Careful Use the exact conformity-assessment route and body.
ISO International Organization for Standardization
The international body that develops voluntary standards through national standards bodies. ISO publishes standards; it does not certify organisations.
Why it matters It prevents inaccurate phrases such as 'certified by ISO'.
Careful Name the exact standard and edition when making a standards claim.
ISO 56000:2025 Innovation management — Fundamentals and vocabulary
The vocabulary and foundational concepts for innovation management and the ISO 56000 family.
Why it matters It provides shared language but is not the requirements standard used to assess an organisation's management system.
Careful Always include the year. Do not present ISO 56000 as a certifiable requirements standard.
ISO 56000 family Innovation management standards and guidance
A family covering innovation-management vocabulary, system requirements, guidance and tools for subjects such as partnerships, intellectual property, intelligence, ideas and measurement.
Why it matters It lets the site describe the wider standards landscape without treating every document as the same thing.
Careful State the exact numbered document relevant to the claim.
ISO 56001:2024 Innovation management system — Requirements
The requirements standard for establishing, implementing, maintaining and improving an innovation management system.
Why it matters This is the precise requirements standard to reference in the Dell journey and genuinely mapped programmes.
Careful IRDG supports capability; it does not audit or certify organisations. Participation in an IRDG programme is not certification.
ISO 56002:2019 Innovation management system — Guidance
Guidance on establishing and improving an innovation management system. It offers recommendations rather than certifiable requirements.
Why it matters Older material often refers to 56002; the site must not describe it as the current requirements standard.
Careful Always include the year; ISO 56002 is guidance. Check ISO for its current status before publishing time-sensitive wording.
NSAI National Standards Authority of Ireland
Ireland's official standards body, with functions spanning standards, certification, metrology and related national infrastructure.
Why it matters It is the Irish route into standardisation and is relevant to the ISO 56001 certification pathway described in the Dell story.
Careful Standards development, certification and accreditation are different functions; name the body and role actually involved.
Funding & tax 25
Aid intensity
The proportion of eligible costs that public support may cover under a scheme.
Why it matters It is essential for understanding advertised grant percentages and co-funded training.
Careful It is not a percentage of the project's entire cost unless every cost is eligible.
De minimis aid
A category of relatively small State aid that may be granted without prior Commission approval, subject to the current regulation, ceiling, rolling period, aggregation and sector rules.
Why it matters A company may need to declare other de minimis support before receiving new support.
Careful Do not hard-code a ceiling without a dated source and the relevant sector rules.
DTIF Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund
A challenge-based Irish fund for collaborative industrial research and experimental development involving enterprises and research-performing organisations, subject to the current call rules.
Why it matters It is a major route for ambitious, collaborative technology projects referenced in Funding and Connections content.
Careful Call status, consortium composition, minimum project scale, aid rates and eligibility change; use the live call documents.
EIC European Innovation Council
A Horizon Europe programme supporting breakthrough technologies and game-changing innovation through research, transition, accelerator, investment and business-support routes.
Why it matters It is a relevant European route for high-risk, high-ambition innovation and scaling.
Careful Pathfinder, Transition and Accelerator have different applicants, instruments and assessment rules; name the exact call.
Eligible / qualifying expenditure
The categories of cost accepted by a particular tax provision or funding scheme, after applying that scheme's exclusions, timing rules and limits.
Why it matters A project's total cost is not automatically the amount eligible for support.
Careful The meaning changes by scheme; never quote a percentage without naming the eligible-cost base.
Enterprise Ireland
The State agency responsible for helping Irish enterprises start, grow, innovate and win export sales in global markets.
Why it matters It is a central enterprise-support and funding body referenced across collaboration, Funding and member stories.
Careful Use current scheme pages for eligibility; the agency description is not a promise of support.
Eurostars European Partnership on Innovative SMEs programme
A transnational programme supporting collaborative R&D projects led by innovative SMEs in participating countries, with funding provided under national rules.
Why it matters It is a useful route for R&D-performing SMEs seeking international project partners.
Careful Consortium, national funding, deadline and eligibility rules must be checked for the specific call and participating country.
Grant
Funding awarded under stated scheme rules for an approved purpose, normally subject to eligible-cost, reporting, timing, State-aid and drawdown conditions.
Why it matters It encourages visitors to check fit and conditions rather than treating public funding as interchangeable free money.
Careful Non-repayable does not mean unconditional.
Horizon Europe
The EU's 2021–2027 research and innovation framework programme, delivered through calls with defined topics, consortia, eligibility, evaluation and grant-agreement requirements.
Why it matters It is a common route for international collaborative RDI but not one generic open grant.
Careful Check the current work programme and call conditions.
IDA Ireland
Ireland's inward-investment promotion agency, working with foreign-owned companies considering or developing operations in Ireland.
Why it matters Many IRDG members are multinational operations and the agency appears in funding, investment and policy content.
Careful Supports and eligibility are agreed case by case; do not present a general agency description as a scheme entitlement.
Innovation Partnership Programme Enterprise Ireland industry–research collaboration support
An Enterprise Ireland programme supporting eligible Ireland-based companies to work with Irish research institutes on research towards new or improved products, processes, services or knowledge.
Why it matters It is a practical mechanism for company–research collaboration and often appears in member funding conversations.
Careful Client status, eligible partner, application stage, funding rate and schedule must be checked against current guidance.
Innovation Voucher Enterprise Ireland Innovation Voucher
A support through which an eligible Irish SME can obtain defined expert time from an approved public knowledge provider to explore an innovation question, subject to the current voucher rules.
Why it matters It is an accessible starting point for smaller companies seeking research or technical input.
Careful Value, VAT, company eligibility, provider rules, exclusions and voucher limits must be checked on the current scheme page.
IP / IPR Intellectual property / intellectual property rights
Creations and knowledge that may be protected through patents, trade marks, designs, copyright, trade secrets, know-how or contracts.
Why it matters It matters to R&D records, collaboration agreements, commercialisation and mentoring boundaries.
Careful Different rights protect different things and are often territorial.
KDB Knowledge Development Box
An Irish corporation-tax relief applying to qualifying profits from qualifying intellectual-property assets created from qualifying R&D, subject to the statutory conditions.
Why it matters It connects R&D, intellectual property and the tax treatment of resulting income, but is distinct from the RDTC.
Careful Rates, qualifying assets, nexus calculations and time limits change; use current Revenue guidance and professional advice.
Patent
A territorial, time-limited exclusive right available for a qualifying technical invention, obtained through application and examination in exchange for public disclosure.
Why it matters It supports accurate case-study and commercialisation claims.
Careful A patent application is not the same as a granted patent.
Pre-filing notification
A notification that certain first-time or returning RDTC claimants may be required to give Revenue before making a claim, subject to current statutory rules and deadlines.
Why it matters Missing a procedural requirement can affect an otherwise substantive claim.
Careful Time-sensitive: check the current rules and applicable accounting period.
Qualifying R&D
For Irish RDTC purposes, activities must meet statutory tests including systematic, investigative or experimental work in science or technology that seeks advancement and addresses scientific or technological uncertainty.
Why it matters It provides orientation without presenting IRDG material as tax advice.
Careful The legal and evidential tests must be applied to the facts of each claim.
RDTC R&D Corporation Tax Credit
An Irish corporation-tax incentive through which qualifying companies may claim a credit for qualifying R&D expenditure, subject to statutory conditions, documentation and filing rules.
Why it matters It is a core Funding and Influence topic and a major source of member questions.
Careful It is not a grant. Rates and rules change; check current Revenue guidance and take professional advice.
Research Ireland
Ireland's competitive research and innovation funding agency, supporting research, talent, collaboration and related activity across disciplines.
Why it matters It is relevant to enterprise-research collaboration, research centres and national policy.
Careful Use the agency's current programme pages and current organisation names in historical stories.
Scientific or technological advancement
A sought advance in overall scientific or technological knowledge or capability in the relevant field, rather than something that is merely new to one company.
Why it matters It is one of the most misunderstood RDTC tests.
Careful Routine application of established knowledge is not necessarily an advancement.
Scientific or technological uncertainty
Uncertainty about whether or how a scientific or technological result can be achieved where the answer is not readily available to a competent professional in the field.
Why it matters It separates technical R&D challenges from normal commercial, financial or scheduling risk.
Careful Document what was uncertain, why it was not readily deducible and how the work addressed it.
State aid
Public support that gives a selective economic advantage and falls within EU State-aid rules. It must have a lawful basis, exemption or approval.
Why it matters It is relevant to grants, supported training and programme eligibility.
Careful State-aid rules are legal and time-sensitive; check cumulation and reporting conditions.
Tax credit and tax deduction Different forms of tax relief
A tax credit is generally set against tax due under its rules. A tax deduction generally reduces the profit or income on which tax is calculated. They are not interchangeable percentages.
Why it matters It prevents the RDTC, KDB and ordinary expense deductions being combined or compared incorrectly.
Careful The actual value and cash timing depend on the provision, claim period and taxpayer's facts. This glossary is not tax advice.
Trade secret
Commercially valuable information that is secret and protected through reasonable confidentiality measures rather than registration.
Why it matters It matters when companies choose confidentiality rather than patent disclosure.
Careful Protection can be lost if secrecy is lost; lawful independent discovery may still occur.
TRL Technology Readiness Level
A nine-level scale used in many EU calls, from basic principles observed at TRL 1 to a system proven in its operational environment at TRL 9.
Why it matters It helps companies judge whether a funding call fits their project's maturity.
Careful A call may define its expected starting and finishing TRLs more precisely.
National statistics 10
BERD Business Expenditure on Research and Development
Expenditure on R&D performed within the business-enterprise sector, whatever the original source of funding. Ireland's CSO BERD survey also covers R&D people and related business activity.
Why it matters It is the clearest national measure of R&D actually performed by companies.
Careful BERD is not the same as RDTC claims or all innovation spending.
FDI Foreign Direct Investment
Cross-border investment creating a lasting interest and significant influence in an enterprise, rather than a purely portfolio investment.
Why it matters It provides context for multinational investment, Irish site mandates and the role of IDA Ireland.
Careful Do not use FDI as a synonym for every foreign-owned company activity or funding programme.
GDP Gross Domestic Product
The market value of economic activity produced within a country. In Ireland it can be heavily affected by multinational structures, relocated intellectual property and other globalisation effects.
Why it matters It explains why an Irish R&D target may be expressed against GNI* rather than GDP.
Careful Always state the denominator used in an Irish intensity comparison.
GERD Gross Domestic Expenditure on Research and Development
Total intramural R&D performed within a country across business, higher education, government and private non-profit sectors.
Why it matters It is used for national R&D-investment comparisons and policy targets.
Careful It includes work funded from abroad and excludes domestic money spent on R&D performed abroad.
GNI* Modified Gross National Income — pronounced 'GNI star'
An Irish measure designed to reduce certain globalisation distortions by removing specified effects such as redomiciled-company income and depreciation linked to certain foreign-owned intellectual property and leased aircraft.
Why it matters It can be a more informative denominator than GDP for Irish domestic-economy policy targets.
Careful GNI* is a deglobalised economic measure, not a direct measure of wellbeing.
GOVERD / GBARD Government Expenditure on R&D / Government Budget Allocations for R&D
GOVERD measures R&D performed inside the government sector. GBARD measures government budget provision for R&D, regardless of which sector ultimately performs it.
Why it matters It prevents public budgets, actual government performance and total national R&D being confused.
Careful The two measures answer different questions.
HERD Higher Education Expenditure on Research and Development
R&D performed within universities and other higher-education institutions, irrespective of where the funding originated.
Why it matters It distinguishes university-performed R&D from business-performed R&D and collaborative funding flows.
Careful Funding source and performing sector are different classifications.
MNC Multinational corporation / multinational enterprise
An enterprise group controlling or operating business activity in more than one country.
Why it matters Innovation Index and policy analysis often compare Irish-owned companies with multinational operations in Ireland.
Careful State whether the analysis concerns ownership, parent location, enterprise group or the Irish site.
R&D intensity
R&D expenditure expressed as a percentage of an economic denominator—internationally usually GERD as a share of GDP.
Why it matters It makes national targets and cross-country comparisons interpretable.
Careful If IRDG uses GERD/GNI*, state that explicitly; GDP and GNI* denominators are not interchangeable.
SME Small and medium-sized enterprise
Under the EU definition, an enterprise with fewer than 250 employees that also meets turnover or balance-sheet thresholds, taking account of ownership, partner and linked-enterprise rules.
Why it matters It matters to funding, Skillnet eligibility, Index analysis and programme targeting.
Careful Headcount alone is not always sufficient.
IRDG & Skillnet 22
Cohort
A group of participants moving through the same scheduled run of a programme over a defined period.
Why it matters It distinguishes one delivery run from the programme design and from individual sessions.
Careful State dates, format, capacity and status for each cohort rather than making them properties of the evergreen programme.
Consultation
A structured invitation to provide evidence or views on a proposal, policy or implementation issue within a defined period.
Why it matters It sets realistic expectations for the Influence route.
Careful Taking part informs a process; it does not guarantee that a position will be adopted.
Corporate membership
IRDG service membership is held by the organisation, allowing relevant employees to participate rather than limiting access to one named individual.
Why it matters It matters to access, fees, member counts and participation reporting.
Careful Keep service membership distinct from formal legal membership of the company limited by guarantee. Programme and event access can still depend on eligibility, capacity and separate fees.
CPD Continuing Professional Development
Learning undertaken after initial qualification or entry to a profession to maintain, deepen or extend professional knowledge and practice.
Why it matters Some programme pages may state CPD hours or approval, which needs a precise programme-level basis.
Careful Name the approving body and hours. Attendance, CPD approval, assessment and certification are different claims.
Department of Finance Irish Government Department of Finance
The Irish Government department leading on economic, fiscal, tax and financial policy, including policy development relevant to the RDTC and annual Budget.
Why it matters It is a central policy audience for IRDG's tax and investment submissions.
Careful Distinguish Department policy, Revenue administration, legislation and political announcements.
DETE Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment
The Irish Government department responsible for enterprise, employment, trade, tourism and related innovation policy and programmes at the date of this glossary.
Why it matters It is a principal policy audience and system owner across IRDG's Influence and Funding work.
Careful Department names and responsibilities change. Spell out the current name on first use and preserve historic names in dated records.
DFHERIS Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
The Irish Government department responsible for further and higher education, research, innovation, science and workforce-skills policy at the date of this glossary.
Why it matters It is relevant to Skillnet, research policy, talent and national RDI investment.
Careful Spell out the name on first use and check the current portfolio before assigning responsibility.
Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Host Member participation route
A member organisation opening a relevant setting for a scoped site visit, practice-group session, roundtable or working conversation.
Why it matters It lets peers learn in context and shows a practical way members can give back.
Careful A hosted session should be useful learning, not an unstructured promotional tour.
Innovation Diagnostic
A facilitated IRDG member service combining structured input and review to build a shared picture of innovation capability, surface friction and identify priorities.
Why it matters It gives the service a clear boundary and stops scores being mistaken for accreditation.
Careful It is a mirror for action, not an audit, certification or national benchmark.
Innovation Mentoring
A mutually agreed connection between a member team and an experienced innovation leader for focused work on a live challenge, subject to fit, availability, conflicts and boundaries.
Why it matters It supports both the request-help and offer-experience sides of membership.
Careful It is not a directory or a guaranteed consultancy outcome.
Innovation Practice Group
A recurring, relatively small peer-learning group in which members compare real approaches, test methods and work through implementation challenges around a defined topic.
Why it matters It distinguishes peer learning from policy Working Groups and general events.
Careful A Practice Group is not a policy or governance body.
IRDG Innovation Skillnet
The Skillnet Business Network delivered by IRDG in partnership with Skillnet Ireland to identify and address innovation-related workforce and capability needs.
Why it matters It distinguishes IRDG membership from Skillnet network participation and programme eligibility.
Careful Current remit, branding and eligibility should be reviewed regularly.
Ireland's Innovation Index
IRDG and KPMG's annual survey and report on RDI investment, priorities, supports and barriers among responding organisations in Ireland.
Why it matters It is a key IRDG evidence product and source for Influence work.
Careful Results describe respondents and are not automatically nationally representative.
Member-hosted site visit
A learning session hosted by a member organisation that shows the context, decisions and lessons behind real R&D or innovation practice.
Why it matters It makes the Connections and Capability offer more concrete than generic networking.
Careful Eligibility, confidentiality and photography arrangements should be stated for each visit.
Member participation Host, speak, mentor, contribute or refer
A scoped route through which a member adds experience, evidence, access or a useful connection to the network.
Why it matters It makes the reciprocal value of membership visible without creating an open-ended volunteering obligation.
Careful Purpose, audience, time, attribution and permissions should be agreed first.
MQT Members Question Time
A member route for putting a practical question to the wider IRDG network. Identifying details are removed before wider circulation unless the asker explicitly agrees otherwise, and responses are synthesised.
Why it matters It is a distinctive member benefit and a clear example of members contributing knowledge as well as receiving it.
Careful Privacy wording must match the actual operating process.
NTF National Training Fund
An employer-funded national fund used by Government to support workforce skills and employability measures, including investment delivered through Skillnet Ireland.
Why it matters It explains the public co-investment behind eligible Skillnet-supported activity.
Careful Funding source does not by itself establish that every course or participant is eligible.
Programme
A structured learning offer with a defined audience, purpose, outcomes, format, time commitment and delivery arrangement.
Why it matters It keeps Programmes distinct from the broader Capability offer, which also includes diagnostics, mentoring, webinars, visits and peer routes.
Careful The programme record and the live cohort record should not be conflated.
Skillnet Business Network
A cluster of businesses collaborating around shared workforce and skills needs and supporting relevant upskilling or reskilling activity.
Why it matters It explains why company registration and business needs discovery are part of the model.
Careful It is a business network, not simply a funding label.
Skillnet Ireland
A Government of Ireland business-support agency that works with employers through enterprise-led workforce development, Skillnet Business Networks and national initiatives.
Why it matters It explains the public-private training model without presenting Skillnet as a conventional college or private training provider.
Careful Funding comes from the National Training Fund through the responsible Department; programme eligibility still varies.
Skillnet-supported training Co-funded workforce development
Training whose participant price reflects eligible public co-investment and a business contribution.
Why it matters It explains the supported rate without promising a universal discount.
Careful Support depends on current programme, company, learner and funding rules.
Working Group
A defined group formed to contribute evidence, expertise or implementation experience on a policy or operational issue.
Why it matters It separates Policy and Revenue working groups from Innovation Practice Groups.
Careful Unless formally delegated authority, a Working Group advises and informs rather than governs or decides for IRDG.
Measurement 17
Attendance
One verified person attending one qualifying session. The same person attending four sessions contributes four attendances.
Why it matters It is essential for honest training, event and Connections figures.
Careful A booking or registration is not attendance. State whether partial attendance counts.
Completion
A participant meeting the programme's published completion criteria, which may include attendance, required work or assessment.
Why it matters It is required before publishing 'people trained' or completion-rate claims.
Careful Enrolment, starting a course and attending one session are not automatically completion.
Contribution and attribution
Contribution describes the part IRDG played among other factors. Attribution makes a stronger causal claim that a result occurred because of IRDG.
Why it matters It keeps case studies and policy claims credible.
Careful Default to 'contributed to' unless there is evidence supporting a stronger causal claim.
Current / engaged member organisation
A current member organisation has valid membership on the reporting date. An engaged member organisation is current and has at least one defined qualifying interaction in the reporting period.
Why it matters It prevents paid membership and service participation being collapsed into one flattering statistic.
Careful Avoid the ambiguous phrase 'active member'; report current and engaged separately.
Event held
One distinct scheduled member-facing occasion with a defined purpose and audience that actually took place during the reporting period.
Why it matters It creates a consistent denominator for the Connections and Impact pages.
Careful Exclude cancelled events, duplicate listings and recordings; report programmes and their sessions separately.
Facilitated connection
An introduction IRDG actively arranges after both sides agree to connect for a defined purpose.
Why it matters It gives the Connections figure a defensible unit.
Careful Mentioning a name, sharing a directory or placing people in the same room is not automatically a facilitated connection.
Fieldwork
The period during which survey responses, interviews or other research data were collected.
Why it matters It tells readers when the evidence reflects respondents' circumstances, which can differ from the publication date.
Careful Publish fieldwork and report dates separately.
Member evidence contributed
A distinct substantive contribution accepted into a documented IRDG consultation, working group, research project, peer session or evidence call.
Why it matters It measures the giving side of membership without treating passive engagement as input.
Careful Report contributing organisations and contributions separately; record whether attribution is permitted.
Member outcome
A dated, permission-cleared result reported by a member, with the company's action and IRDG's contribution described separately.
Why it matters It gives the Impact page meaningful evidence beyond output totals.
Careful Participation alone is not an outcome; retain the member's approval and evidence.
Multi-select question
A survey question in which respondents may choose several answers, so the percentages can add to more than 100%.
Why it matters It is an essential qualification for responsible chart and Index reporting.
Careful Always label multi-select charts and avoid implying the options are mutually exclusive.
Organisation reached
A distinct organisation with at least one verified qualifying interaction in the stated period.
Why it matters It is needed for credible network-reach and regional or sector reporting.
Careful Define included routes and whether members, non-members, partners and suppliers are counted.
Outputs, outcomes and impact
Outputs are what IRDG directly delivers. Outcomes are changes that follow, such as knowledge, capability, a decision or new practice. Impact is broader, more sustained change.
Why it matters It stops activity counts being presented as proof of business or economic impact.
Careful Say IRDG contributed to an outcome unless causal evidence supports a stronger claim.
Percentage point
The arithmetic difference between two percentages. A rise from 30% to 35% is five percentage points, not a five-percent increase.
Why it matters It keeps policy and Innovation Index comparisons numerically accurate.
Careful For repeat cross-sections, a percentage-point movement is descriptive and may reflect sample differences.
Repeat cross-sectional survey
A series in which each edition surveys a fresh set of respondents rather than following one fixed panel over time.
Why it matters It explains how to interpret movement across Innovation Index editions.
Careful Year-to-year movement is directional and does not track the same organisations unless proven.
Respondent / response
A respondent is the person or organisation providing survey data; a response is the submitted record.
Why it matters It protects Innovation Index and consultation claims from denominator inflation.
Careful Do not relabel responses as companies unless one response per company was enforced and verified.
Unique participant
A distinct individual counted once within a stated reporting period after reliable deduplication across qualifying records.
Why it matters It prevents '500 people' from actually meaning 500 booked places or repeat attendances.
Careful If records cannot be linked safely and accurately, report registrations or attendances instead.
Valid base
The number of usable responses to a particular question after exclusions or missing answers.
Why it matters It lets readers judge the strength of a percentage and may be smaller than the survey's total response count.
Careful Show the base beside percentages where available.
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