Dr. Graham Love:

The document states:

The following terms of reference will apply:- Having regard to the national guidelines and policy applicable over the period, examine whether appropriate policies and procedures were in place and implemented in respect of activities related to FeedHenry and other spin-out companies from the TSSG;

- Consider the adequacy of the decision-making structures regarding IP commercialisation in WIT in respect of FeedHenry and other spin-out companies from the TSSG [the software group], including remit, membership, reporting and their links to the wider Senior Management Team and governance of the institution;

- Assess whether conflicts of interest were appropriately managed throughout the creation of the IP which underpinned the establishment of FeedHenry, the spin-out of that company and the subsequent rewards secured by WIT staff upon its sale to Red Hat [the company that purchased it]. These issues will also be examined in respect of other spin-out companies from the TSSG.

- Having considered the above issues, assess whether the WIT internal review identified and appropriately considered all issues of relevance to the development of IP and spin-out and subsequent sale of FeedHenry;

- Having reviewed the issues set out above, the reviewer will consider the matters of concern that have been raised and prepare a report that shall make findings and/or recommendations for TSSG, Waterford Institute of Technology, relevant national agencies and government departments. This might include issues related to IP policies and procedures, governance, HR, financial and other administrative processes and procedures.

We have appointed Mr. Michael McLoone to be the investigator. The investigation is kicking off next week. We are targeting the end of October for delivery, and the HEA is providing the support, etc. We are also hoping to borrow information from another rolling governance review that emerged from this committee when I was here in March and April. It is on the general implementation of intellectual property policy across our higher education sector. We are going to select Waterford Institute of Technology as one of the institutions that should be able to borrow the expertise related to this review appropriately.