Like many New Zealand entities, its logo incorporated a Māori identity, in this case "Te Tauihu Pūtaiao", where Te Tauihu is the prow or leading edge of a waka (Māori war canoe) and Pūtaiao means science.

The phrase is a metaphor for the way science and technology can open up new opportunities for New Zealand businesses.

[2] IRL was based at Gracefield in Lower Hutt, and had offices in Auckland and Christchurch.

After 10 years of operation, IRL commissioned a book, The Littlest Clue,[3] which followed the history of several scientists and their projects as they took their ideas from the lab to the market place.

to win up to $1 million of research and development services, receiving over 100 entries.