From starting to running to growing, here are a range of funds, grants and financial supports available for businesses in Ireland.
From business loans to government supports, if you need to raise money for a business or have a business that needs to grow, this is the list for you.
Bank finance
When growing a new business, talk to your bank about funding options.
Bank finance has many features that will appeal to SMEs and early-stage growth businesses. You can calculate your repayments and apply for a loan now. Just press the button. The orange button will bring you to a loan application form from Bank of Ireland, which is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland, terms and conditions apply. Bank of Ireland has also created a Business Startup Package that includes a business current account. To learn more click here
If it’s time for your business to borrow, you can talk to a bank about a small business loan. Banks have secured and unsecured interest rates and more than that, they have many financial products and services for SMEs of all sizes and stages. Read more: How to apply for finance
Key enterprise supports
The Local Enterprise Office is for people interested in starting a new business or people already trading, including entrepreneurs, early-stage promoters, startups and small business looking to expand. With 31 dedicated teams across the Local Authority network in Ireland, Local Enterprise Offices offer a wide range of experience, skills and services.
The enhanced Future Growth Loan Scheme makes up to €800m of loans available for terms of 7-10 years. This scheme is available to eligible businesses in Ireland, including those in the primary agriculture (farmers) and seafood sectors, to support strategic long-term investment.
Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland
The SBCI was set up to offer loans to SMEs that are up to two percent cheaper than market rates. For example, an SBCI five-year loan of €400,000 will cost an SME between €15,000 and €20,000 less than a typical market loan.
The Microfinance fund is aimed at all micro-enterprises in Ireland – startups and growth firms. Loans of between €5,000 and €25,000 are available for commercially viable products. Borrowers must pay a commercial interest rate. Borrowers must be based in the Republic of Ireland and have fewer than 10 employees and a turnover of less than €2 million per annum. Microfinance loans are now also available through Local Enterprise Offices with a reduced rate for LEO clients.
The Credit Guarantee Scheme offers a partial Government guarantee (80pc) to participating finance providers against losses on qualifying finance agreements to eligible SMEs, small Mid-Caps and primary producers.
It is designed to incentivise participating finance providers to continue to play their role in supporting the availability of additional liquidity to Irish businesses.
Loans under the Scheme range from €10,000 to €1m, for terms of up to five-and-a-half years. Financing will be offered through a range of products, including term loans, working capital loans and overdrafts. Loans of up to €250,000 under the Scheme are available unsecured (except where this is a requirement of the product feature, as in the case of asset finance, invoice discount facilities, etc).
If you are a small business owner or a sole trader and have had difficulty accessing loans from a bank or commercial lending firm, you can apply for an independent review from the Credit Review Office. You can also apply for a review if your existing credit terms have been changed.
This is to encourage investment by companies into research and development. The main challenge for SMEs is knowing the difference between everyday commercial activity and R&D. You may need assistance from a qualified accountant to establish what can be claimed against R&D. Money spent by a company on research and development activities may qualify for the R&D Tax Credit. The credit is calculated at 25% of qualifying expenditure and is used to reduce a company’s Corporation Tax (CT). Where a company has offset current and previous years’ CT liabilities, it may apply for a credit payable in instalments.
Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is an increasingly popular option for businesses looking to raise seed capital. In Ireland, there are sites such as:
Here is a list of the top crowdfunding sites worldwide.
Venture capital
Are you an ambitious, fast-growing company with the potential to develop into a significant global business? Venture capital funds invest in companies that are raising €500k+ in equity. You must be in a fast-growing, attractive sector, with a strong management team and demonstrable skills. Your product/service must solve a clearly identified problem.
Funds active in Ireland include:
- ACT Venture Capital
- Atlantic Bridge
- Delta Partners
- Finch Capital
- Furthr VC
- Earlybird Venture Capital
- Elkstone Partners
- Fountain Healthcare Partners
- Frontline Ventures
- Middlegame Ventures
- Redesdale Food Fund
- Seroba Life Sciences
- Sure Valley Ventures
- SOSV
- University Bridge Fund
- Yield Lab Europe
- Zoosh Ventures
Angel investors
According to data from HBAN (Halo Business Angel Network) based on a survey of 114 business angel investors across the island of Ireland about their portfolios, expectations and plans for the future, the average angel has invested in 6.3 companies. The majority (66%) of angels prefer to invest as part of a syndicate, rather than alone.
Business funds, grants and supports in Ireland
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance
If you have been out of work and in receipt of social welfare for more than twelve months, under the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance you can keep your social welfare payment for two years if you set up a business (year 1: 100pc – year 2; 75pc).
Enterprise Ireland has introduced the Brexit Adjustment Initiative to help Enterprise Ireland companies cope with some of these costs. The initiative is supported by the EU’s Brexit Adjustment Reserve and brings together twelve proven and effective Enterprise Ireland supports intended to assist Irish Business to maintain and enhance their competitiveness as they continue to trade with the UK.
Built to Innovate
Initiated under the Government’s Housing for All programme, the Built To Innovate initiative seeks to support Irish companies active within the residential construction sector who wish to enhance the operational performance of their business via:
- Increasing the usage of Modern Methods of Construction,
- Implementing Lean training in both manufacturing and onsite environments,
- Improving the use of digital tools to drive company-wide productivity benefits,
- Advancing research concepts or process innovation ideas
There are a number of grant aid packages:
Enterprise Ireland’s Built to Innovate Digital Offer is about redesigning your business to serve your customers better, starting with a deep understanding of your customer needs and your value stream and then using new technology to improve the customer experience.
Climate Enterprise Action Fund
The Climate Enterprise Action Fund includes three supports that companies supported by Enterprise Ireland can access to assist on their sustainability journey. These are:
- Climate Action Voucher – a €1,800 grant to engage consultants to develop plans in areas such as resource efficiency and renewable energy.
- GreenStart – up to €5,000 to measure carbon footprint and identify actions to reduce emissions and operate more sustainably.
- GreenPlus – grant funding of up to 50pc to develop a multi-annual climate change plan aligned to international standards and frameworks.
Crisis Response Business Financial Planning Grant
The Crisis Response Business Financial Planning Grant is a strategic intervention to assist companies to prepare a detailed financial plan and to assess the impact of currently emerging developments on their business.
As part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the Digital Transition Fund will drive transformative digitalisation of enterprise in Ireland, particularly amongst SMEs. The programme will help companies at all stages of their digitalisation journey. A new €85m Digital Transition Fund has been created by the Irish Government to help businesses no matter what stage they’re at and no matter what sector they are in to go digital. The Digital Transition Fund has been allocated funding of €85m during the period to 2026 as part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan. €10m was available in 2022. It will be administered by Enterprise Ireland.
The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) is a €500m fund established under the National Development Plan (NDP) in 2018.
The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund is seeing investment in the development and deployment of disruptive innovative technologies, on a commercial basis, targeted at tackling national and global challenges. The fund is driving collaboration between Ireland’s world class research base and industry as well as facilitating enterprises to compete directly for funding in support of the development and adoption of these technologies and seeding a new wave of start-ups.
Employee Investment Incentive Scheme (EIIS)
The Employment and Investment Incentive (EIIS) is a tax relief incentive scheme which provides for tax relief of up to 40pc in respect of investments made in certain corporate trades. The EII scheme allows an individual investor to obtain income tax relief on investments for shares in certain companies up to a maximum of €150,000 per annum in each tax year.
Formerly known as the “friends and family” round, the scheme has been changed and you will qualify if you, or your family, do not own any capital in the company. Irish entrepreneurs have criticised the EIIS for not being as compelling or flexible as its UK counterpart.
Evolve Strategic Planning Grant
The Evolve Strategic Planning Grant is designed to support our companies to respond to the challenges and opportunities, which have arisen as a result of changes to the trading environment in the UK market.
The Green for Micro programme helps prepare small businesses for the low carbon, more resource efficient economy of the future. This is a free programme, available to companies with between one and 50 employees.
As part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan and funded by the European Union, the Green Transition Fund will accelerate the decarbonisation of Irish enterprise.
It comprises two separate streams of funding, to support the different aspects of the decarbonisation journey for Irish enterprises. These are:
- Climate Planning Fund for Business – building company capability to develop plans for lower-carbon products, processes, and business models.
- Enterprise Emissions Reduction Investment Fund– supporting capital investment and Research, Development & Innovation in decarbonisation
Growth & Sustainability Loan Scheme (GSLS)
Unveiled in Budget 2023, the Growth & Sustainability Loan Scheme will make up to €500m in low-cost investment loans of up to 10 years available to SMEs, including farmers and fishers and small mid-caps, with no collateral required for loans up to €500,000. A minimum of 30% of the lending volume will be targeted towards Environmental Sustainability purposes.
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) aims to redress regional imbalances in the European Union by funding certain initiatives. The current Fund, which runs from 2014 to 2020, is delivered in Ireland through two Regional Operational Programmes managed by the relevant Regional Assembly. Enterprise Ireland (EI) has responsibility for implementing and managing relevant ERDF grants. 2021-2027 ERDF Initiatives are currently being finalised.
The focus of the scheme is to provide new employment opportunities for workers and communities that were heavily dependent on peat by diversifying the local economy, which will include new opportunities for tourism.
The scheme encompasses four strands, which include: Trail Development; Visitor Amenities; Alternative Low Carbon Accommodation; and Smart Specialisation, which involves digital transformation.
The Regenerative Tourism & Placemaking Scheme will enhance the potential of the region as a place to live and work, regenerate regional towns and villages with world-class tourism and recreation infrastructure that can transform the economies of communities in these regional areas.
It aims to create new enterprises and jobs by establishing the midlands as an authentic regenerative tourism destination, based on the sustainable use of the peatlands and wetlands resource. It will support the transition of the midlands to a carbon neutral destination through funding of sustainable tourism projects that are designed to have significant regenerative impacts on local communities and peatlands.
Ukraine Credit Guarantee Scheme
Administered by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, this provides low-cost working capital to SMEs, primary producers and small mid-caps (businesses with fewer than 500 employees) of up to €1m, on a six-year term, with no collateral required for loans up to €250,000.
So far, 145 retailers have been approved €5.3m in funding as part of Irish Government’s Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme, which is administered by Enterprise Ireland.
The scheme is targeted at retailers who already have an online presence to strengthen their online offering and enable them to reach a wider customer base.
Successful applicants will receive funding ranging from €16,000 to €40,000 to strengthen their online offering. The average grant value is €36,700 and covers up to 80pc of project costs.
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
Capital Grants of up to €5m are available from SEAI for energy efficiency and renewable energy – Key existing grants available to retailers are Community Energy Grants, the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat and the EXEED Grant Scheme.
- Non-Domestic Microgen Scheme: The Non-Domestic Microgen Scheme – SEAI provides up to €2,400 towards the installation of solar PV. Grants are available for systems up to 6kWp (approx. 16 Panels or 25m²) with a potential of savings between €2,000 – €3000 annual electrical costs (depending on installation size and current utility rates).
- SME Energy Audit: Eligible companies under the SEAI SME Energy audit receive a €2,000 voucher towards the cost of a professional energy audit Energy Audits for SMEs | Business | SEAI
- Energy Contracting Support Scheme: SEAI provides financial assistance to implement energy efficiency and decarbonisation projects. The Scheme aims to support the direct external consultancy and/or specialist advisory costs related to project appraisal and procurement of pay-for-performance energy contracts. Find out more about Energy Contracting.
The Supply Chain Resilience Platform
Powered by the Enterprise Europe Network in collaboration with the European Cluster Collaboration Platform, with the support of the European Commission and EISMEA.
Short Term Enterprise Allowance
The Short-Term Enterprise Allowance (STEA) gives support to people who have lost their job and want to start their own business. It’s paid instead of Jobseeker’s Benefit for a maximum of nine months. It ends when the entitlement to Jobseeker’s Benefit ends (that is at either nine or six months).
Startup Refunds for Entrepreneurs (SURE)
This is for people who start a company and need cash to fund its growth. You may claim back the income tax if you are an employee, an unemployed person or a person recently made redundant and are starting a business.
Start Your Own Business scheme
The Start Your Own Business scheme provides relief from income tax for long-term unemployed people who start a new business.
Three-year corporate tax exemption
Under this scheme, you can [technically] earn €120,000 tax-free for the first three years. The scheme gives relief from corporation tax on your trading income, and certain other gains new companies may acquire, for the first three years.
Enterprise Ireland supports for businesses at various stages of development
Starting YOUR BUSINESS:
High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) Funding
Enterprise Ireland is responsible for supporting High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) Companies. HPSUs are start-up businesses with the potential to develop an innovative product or service for sale on international markets and the potential to create 10 jobs and €1m in sales within three years of starting up.
Companies who are at the feasibility stage can apply for the following Enterprise Ireland supports aimed at developing the business idea or proposal to the point where it is investor ready:
- HPSU Feasibility Grant: Used to support the development of an innovative/high potential start-up and the development of an Investor Ready Business Plan. Eligible costs include; Salaries and Overheads, Consultancy Fees, Foreign Travel and Subsistence, EI approved Business Accelerator Fees, Trade Fair costs and Prototype costs.
- Innovation Voucher: Innovation Vouchers, worth €5,000, are available to assist early stage companies to work with a registered college or knowledge provider in Ireland and Northern Ireland to explore a business opportunity or solve a technical problem. A CRO number is required.
- New Frontiers Entrepreneur Development Programme: New Frontiers is Ireland’s national entrepreneur development programme run in partnership with the Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities. The programme is designed to support entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas who are planning to establish and run their own company. A range of supports including mentoring, incubation space and a €15,000 scholarship payment are provided to help accelerate the development of the business and to equip the promoter(s) with the skills and contacts needed to successfully start and grow a company.
- Mentor Grant: Used to support the cost of a Mentor Assignment. Enterprise Ireland can match you with an experienced business mentor to assist you in your start-up phase or advise on specific areas of your plan.
Investor Ready Supports: Companies that have a well developed business plan and need to raise investment for their business can apply for the following supports:
- Pre-Seed Start Fund: The purpose of the Pre-Seed Start Fund is to accelerate the growth of early-stage start-up companies that have the capacity and ambition to succeed in global markets. The fund is designed to enable companies cover operational costs to undertake key tasks including the development of a market ready product/solution, product testing in the marketplace, building critical skillsets within the start-up team. The Pre-Seed Fund will support early-stage companies to reach key technical and commercial milestones required to attract future Seed Funding within 6 – 18 months.
- Innovative HPSU Fund (Equity): The Innovative HPSU Fund allows Enterprise Ireland to offer equity investment to HPSU clients, on a co-funded basis to support the implementation of a company’s business plans. First time and follow-on equity investments in HPSUs are supported under this offer.
Post Investment Supports for companies in a growth phase. These supports are focused on exploring new international opportunities and continued development of the management team:
- Market Discovery Fund: The aim of the Market Discovery Fund is to incentivise companies to research viable and sustainable market entry strategies in new geographic markets. It provides support towards internal and external costs incurred when researching new markets for products and services.
- Mentor Grant: Used to support the cost of a Mentor Assignment. Enterprise Ireland can match you with an experienced business mentor to assist you in your strategy development or advise on specific areas of your plan.
- Innovation Voucher: Innovation Vouchers, worth €5,000, are available to assist early stage companies to work with a registered college of knowledge provider in Ireland and Northern Ireland to explore a business opportunity or solve a technical problem.
- Excel at Export Selling: Excel at Export Selling is a series of workshops aimed at rapidly embedding the proven tools of good international selling practice into the sales teams of Irish companies across all industry sectors.
- Evolve Strategic Planning Grant: The Evolve Strategic Planning Grant is designed to support our companies to respond to the challenges and opportunities, which have arisen as a result of changes to the trading environment in the UK market
Established SME Funding (>10 employees):
- Evolve Strategic Planning Grant: The Evolve Strategic Planning Grant is designed to support Enterprise Ireland clients to respond to the challenges and opportunities, which have arisen as a result of changes to the trading environment in the UK since January 1st, 2021. The grant— which offers up to €5,000 in support— can be used to help cover consultancy and international travel and travel expenses associated with a short assignment to determine how the company might respond to the threats and opportunities that have arisen as a result of changes to the trading environment in the UK.
- Strategic Marketing Review: Grant support to undertake an approved programme of work in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland advisers and an approved external consultant. This support is targeted at established companies that have experience in selling internationally and who are interested in reviewing and developing their market development strategy.
- Market Discovery Fund: The aim of the Market Discovery Fund is to incentivise companies to research viable and sustainable market entry strategies in new geographic markets. It provides support towards internal and external costs incurred when researching new markets for products and services.
- Digital Marketing Capability: The Digital Marketing Capability support (formerly known as the e-Marketing Improvement Assignment) is a management development support which is facilitated/supported by a digital marketing agency/consultant. The aim is to develop and enhance your company’s capability to use digital channels for business development.
- Acumen Programme: A cross-border Business Development Programme designed to stimulate cross-border trade (between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland) and develop other forms of commercial co-operation amongst SME’s throughout the island of Ireland.
- Enter the Eurozone Programme: With the world’s most dynamic, prosperous and stable market on your doorstep, your business is incredibly fortunate. The Eurozone offers incredible opportunities – and there’s nothing to stop you taking advantage of these. That’s why Enterprise Ireland has developed Enter the Eurozone – a unique programme that opens Europe’s doors to ambitious Irish exporters.
- Excel at Export Selling: Excel at Export Selling is a series of workshops aimed at rapidly embedding the proven tools of good international selling practice into the sales teams of Irish companies across all industry sectors.
- International Selling Programme: Targeting company management and sales staff, this 10 month programme enhances company ability to access new markets and accelerates export sales growth. Delivered in conjunction with Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) in partnership with a panel of world-class experts and practitioners.
Supports for Product, Process or Services Development including RD&I Funding:
- Exploring Innovation Grant: The Exploring Innovation Grant supports a company to explore the potential of an innovation related project resulting in some strategic and better planning of a future RD&I project.
- Agile Innovation Fund: Do you wish to develop a new product or improve an existing one? If the project cost is less than €300,000, apply for the Agile Innovation Fund which supports companies in sectors with rapid design cycles to maintain their technology position. It features a streamlined online application form with fast track approval. Projects may range from solving technical challenges (R&D) to innovations in services delivery or business models (Digital Process Innovation).
- Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) Fund: Do you wish to develop a new product or improve an existing one? If the project cost is greater than €300,000, apply for the Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) Fund which supports the development of new or substantially improved products, services or processes.
- IP Strategy Support: If you are engaging in any form of R&D, development or innovation, you will need to protect the IP you develop. IP Strategy Support supports companies to develop a strategy to manage and exploit IP coming from an RD&I project. This could include patents, designs, trade secrets, copyright and brands.
- Evolve Strategic Planning Grant: The Evolve Strategic Planning Grant is designed to support Enterprise Ireland clients to respond to the challenges and opportunities, which have arisen as a result of changes to the trading environment in the UK since January 1st, 2021. The grant— which offers up to €5,000 in support— can be used to help cover consultancy and international travel and travel expenses associated with a short assignment to determine how the company might respond to the threats and opportunities that have arisen as a result of changes to the trading environment in the UK.
- Innovation Voucher: Innovation Vouchers, worth €5,000, are available to assist a company to work with a registered college or knowledge provider to explore a business opportunity or technical problem.
- Innovation Partnership Grant Programme: Offers financial support to companies who engage in collaborative research projects with Irish universities and Institutes of Technology. The proposal process and administration of the project is managed by the participating third level research institution.
- Horizon Europe and other EU Research Funding Programmes: If your company is interested in working on collaborative research projects with research partners across Europe, there are a range of international research programmes designed to foster collaborative cross-border research between companies in different member states.
- Innovation 4 Growth Programme: Targeted at ambitious companies seeking to drive growth through innovation, this programme supports companies through an end-to-end innovation learning and practice journey to deliver on one or more innovation initiatives.
Supports to enhance and develop your management team:
- Mentor Grant: Can be used to investigate the feasibility of developing a new product, process, technology or service offering.
- Strategic Consultancy Grant: Used to support the cost of planning or implementing a new strategic development initiative in your company. Cannot be used to support routine consultancy costs.
- Key Manager / Part Time Key Manager Grant: Grant to support the cost of hiring a new Key Manager. Must be critical to the company’s future development and introduce key skills and expertise to the company’s senior management team.
- Go Global 4 Growth: Delivered in partnership with Dublin City University, Go Global 4 Growth, a strategy implementation programme, facilitates the creation of international growth action plans by CEOs and their senior teams. Within the programme, expert business advisors mentor participating CEOs and their teams.
Productivity, Sustainability and Business Process Improvement Supports
- Ukraine Enterprise Crisis Scheme: Enterprise Ireland is helping Irish businesses to manage the economic impact of the current crisis in Ukraine. The scheme is aimed at businesses experiencing significant difficulty as a result of increased energy costs.
- Climate Planning Fund for Business: The aim of the Climate Planning Fund for Business is to help companies incorporate sustainable practices into their business in order to reduce costs, increase competitiveness and increase their agility and resilience to climate change impacts. The Climate Action Voucher, GreenStart, GreenPlus, Strategic Consultancy grants support costs for training and advisory services with grants of between 50% and 100%.
- Enterprise Emissions Reduction Fund: The aim of the Enterprise Emissions Reduction Fund is to accelerate the decarbonisation of manufacturing processes. The Capital investment for Energy Monitoring & Tracking (EM & T) Systems and Capital investment for decarbonisation processes grants support costs for capital with grants of between 30 and 50%.
- Capital Investment Initiative Fund: The aim of the Capital Investment Initiative (CII) is to assist Enterprise Ireland client companies improve productivity and competitiveness through the acquisition of new capital equipment and technology. The fund provides grant support up to a maximum of €250,000.
- Operational Excellence Offer: Grant to support a company transformational project. Used to encompass LeanTransform, Business Innovation and the Capital Investment Initiative into a single project.
- Building Information Modelling (BIM): Enterprise Ireland offers two levels of support for clients who wish to scope out and then implement a digital roadmap to drive growth within their organisation. BIM-Enable is a 7-day strategic consultancy programme which assists companies to set out a digital roadmap and consider how they can apply BIM within their organisation. BIM-Implement places an emphasis on training and the learning and implementation of BIM across the organisation.
- GradStart: The GradStart initiative offers support to Enterprise Ireland client companies to hire up to three graduates at any one time, for a graduate contract duration of two years. It is a broad based graduate placement across all disciplines and sectors. Enterprise Ireland has designed and developed a dedicated website for its graduate offers and initiatives – www.gradhub.ie. To support client companies to attract and recruit graduates, companies can advertise their opportunities via this website.
Company expansion packages
- Job Expansion Fund: Funding to support new employment. The fund provides grant support up to a maximum of €150,000 towards the recruitment of new employees. Applications for funding will be accepted on specific call close dates.
- Tailored Company Expansion Packages: If you are planning to undertake an ambitious expansion of your company that will create employment and grow your sales in international markets, Enterprise Ireland can discuss a tailored financial support package for your company.
Large company funding
Market research and internationalisation:
- Evolve Strategic Planning Grant: The Evolve Strategic Planning Grant is designed to support Enterprise Ireland clients to respond to the challenges and opportunities, which have arisen as a result of changes to the trading environment in the UK since January 1st, 2021. The grant — which offers up to €5,000 in support— can be used to help cover consultancy and international travel and travel expenses associated with a short assignment to determine how the company might respond to the threats and opportunities that have arisen as a result of changes to the trading environment in the UK.
- Market Discovery Fund: The aim of the Market Discovery Fund is to incentivise companies to research viable and sustainable market entry strategies in new geographic markets. It provides support towards internal and external costs incurred when researching new markets for products and services.
- Excel at Export Selling: Excel at Export Selling is a series of workshops aimed at rapidly embedding the proven tools of good international selling practice into the sales teams of Irish companies across all industry sectors.
- International Selling Programme: Targeting company management and sales staff, this 10 month programme enhances company ability to access new markets and accelerates export sales growth. Delivered in conjunction with Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) in partnership with a panel of world-class experts and practitioners.
Supports for product, process or services development
- Evolve Strategic Planning Grant: The Evolve Strategic Planning Grant is designed to support Enterprise Ireland clients to respond to the challenges and opportunities, which have arisen as a result of changes to the trading environment in the UK since January 1st, 2021. The grant— which offers up to €5,000 in support— can be used to help cover consultancy and international travel and travel expenses associated with a short assignment to determine how the company might respond to the threats and opportunities that have arisen as a result of changes to the trading environment in the UK.
- Exploring Innovation Grant: Can be used to investigate the feasibility of developing a new product, process, technology or service offering.
- In-house Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) Fund: Supporting the development of new or substantially improved products, services or processes. Projects may range from solving technical challenges (R&D) to innovations in services delivery or business models (Business Innovation).
- Agile Innovation Fund: Agile Innovation projects supports companies in sectors with rapid design cycles to maintain their technology position. The benefits of this grant are that it allows for a very simple application process and delivers a very fast response from application to approval.
- Business Innovation: Supporting investment in the implementation of new production, delivery or organisational methods within a company in order to increase competitiveness on global markets.
- Innovation Partnership Grant Programme: Offers financial support to companies who engage in collaborative research projects with Irish universities and Institutes of Technology. The proposal process and administration of the project is managed by the participating third level research institution.
- Horizon Europe and other EU Research Funding Programmes: If your company is interested in working on collaborative research projects with research partners across Europe, there are a range of international research programmes designed to foster collaborative cross-border research between companies in different member states.
- Innovation 4 Growth Programme: Targeted at ambitious companies seeking to drive growth through innovation, this programme supports companies through an end-to-end innovation learning and practice journey to deliver on one or more innovation initiatives.
Supports to enhance and develop your management team:
- Leadership 4 Growth (L4G) Programme: Delivered in conjunction with Stanford University this flagship programme is designed to develop and enhance the leadership ambition, mindset and capability of Irish CEOs and their senior management teams to lead innovative, scalable companies, capable of achieving sustained international growth.
Productivity, sustainability and business process improvement supports:
- Ukraine Enterprise Crisis Scheme: Enterprise Ireland is helping Irish businesses to manage the economic impact of the current crisis in Ukraine. The scheme is aimed at businesses experiencing significant difficulty as a result of increased energy costs.
- Evolve Strategic Planning Grant: The Evolve Strategic Planning Grant is designed to support Enterprise Ireland clients to respond to the challenges and opportunities, which have arisen as a result of changes to the trading environment in the UK since January 1st, 2021. The grant— which offers up to €5,000 in support— can be used to help cover consultancy and international travel and travel expenses associated with a short assignment to determine how the company might respond to the threats and opportunities that have arisen as a result of changes to the trading environment in the UK.
- Building Information Modelling (BIM): Enterprise Ireland offer’s two levels of support for clients who wish to scope out and then implement a digital roadmap to drive growth within their organisation. BIM-Enable is a 7-day strategic consultancy programme which assists companies to set out a digital roadmap and consider how they can apply BIM within their organisation. BIM-Implement places an emphasis on training and the learning and implementation of BIM across the organisation.
- Business Process Improvement Grant: Grant to support short term company projects that are designed to develop management capability and drive company efficiencies and business process improvements. Eligible Projects include either 1) LeanPlus, 2) E-Marketing or 3) Environmental Improvement Projects.
- Climate Planning Fund for Business: The aim of the Climate Planning Fund for Business is to help companies incorporate sustainable practices into their business in order to reduce costs, increase competitiveness and increase their agility and resilience to climate change impacts. The Climate Action Voucher, GreenStart, GreenPlus, Strategic Consultancy grants support costs for training and advisory services with grants of between 50% and 100%.
- Enterprise Emissions Reduction Fund: The aim of the Enterprise Emissions Reduction Fund is to accelerate the decarbonisation of manufacturing processes. The Capital investment for Energy Monitoring & Tracking (EM & T) Systems and Capital investment for decarbonisation processes grants support costs for capital with grants of between 30 and 50%.
- Lean Start Grant: Used to support the costs of undertaking a “Lean Start Assignment”. This is a short assignment undertaken by a Lean consultant/trainer. Eligible Expenditure is limited to the cost of hiring a Lean consultant/trainer for a maximum of 7 days.
- Lean Transform Grant: Used to support a “Lean Transform Project”. This is a large scale, extensive and holistic company transformation programme delivered by an external consultancy team of international reputation. Eligible cost include Fees for an external Lean consultant/trainer and Employee training costs and associated training costs.
- Operational Excellence offer: Grant to support a company transformational project. Used to encompass Lean Transform, Business Innovation and the Capital Investment Initiative into a single project.
Recruitment resources
Grow Remote is a not-for-profit organisation, which started life as a WhatsApp group in 2018, and now has over 130 local chapters across Ireland and 10,000 members.
The organisation has a focus on remote working career opportunities and the intrinsic role this plays in boosting the economic life of regions. A key element of this is its jobs notice board. In its own words Grow Remote is “on a mission to enable us to work, live and participate locally. We do this by making remote work (via employment) both visible and accessible.”
The Grow Remote movement – which last year secured €500,000 from the Regional Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) – recently appointed a new general manager, Men’s Sheds founder John Evoy, and has appointed a new board that includes Tomás Ó Síocháin, CEO of The Western Development Commission, Liz McCarthy, CEO Scale Ireland, and John Riordan, Director of Support at Shopify.
JobsPlus is an employer incentive that offers you financial support if you take on an unemployed person. JobsPlus offers up to €10,000 for a qualifying recruit, payable on a monthly basis over a two year period, providing the employment is maintained.
Programmes for women entrepreneurs
The ACORNS programme is designed to support early-stage female entrepreneurs living in rural Ireland through a peer learning approach. Thanks to the support of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the voluntary contribution of time by Lead Entrepreneurs, there is no charge for those selected to participate.
Any woman with a new business based in rural Ireland, or a well-developed idea for a new venture, can register for the programme here
ACORNS is based on peer support and collaborative learning. Each participant will have the opportunity to learn from successful female entrepreneurs.
AwakenHub’s mission is to promote and support women founders and a vibrant start-up culture across the island of Ireland.
Going for Growth is a free, six-month, part-time programme, supported by Enterprise Ireland and KPMG, which assists ambitious female entrepreneurs to achieve their growth aspirations.
Ideally, businesses should be well established and trading for at least two years. Applications will also be considered from highly innovative entrepreneurs with significant growth expectations at an earlier stage of their development if they have already generated some sales.
Those selected for the Going for Growth initiative join interactive round table sessions led by Lead Entrepreneurs. The Lead Entrepreneurs are successful businesswomen with personal experience of growing a business. These high-profile business leaders volunteer their time to encourage participants to set and achieve personalised goals and milestones to address the opportunities and challenges they face in driving growth in their businesses.
Incubators and accelerators
A 6-month programme that aims to transform innovative ideas and research breakthroughs into market-validated business propositions.
Food Works is a government supported accelerator programme that helps develop the next generation of scalable and export driven Irish food and drinks businesses. Food is an important part of the Irish economy, representing 12.3% of total export revenue today, and the industry is projected to be worth €19bn by 2025. Now more than ever, there are challenges facing business owners we want to support them and help them to create our food and drinks future.
The NDRC (National Digital Research Centre)
A network of innovation hubs led by Dogpatch Labs and including Portershed Galway, Republic of Work Cork and RDI Hub Kerry as well as the Ignite Ormeau Baths in Belfast in recent years won the contract to manage the National Digital Research Centre (NDRC).
The previous NDRC based out of the Digital Hub in Dublin is being wound down and is being replaced by a new network of innovation hubs with a focus on enabling entrepreneurs from every corner of Ireland to thrive.
Established in 2006, the NDRC is a Government initiative to invest in very young digital enterprises and start-ups. Notable NDRC alumni include Irish biotech company Nuritas (which has raised almost €55m from investors including U2 rockers Bono and The Edge), Soundwave (a music discovery service backed by Mark Cuban and bought by Spotify in 2016), Boxever (which has raised $19m to fund their AI marketing cloud software), and Silvercloud Health (a digital health platform, used by over 300 organisations, that raised €14.7m in 2020) .
Following a competitive process, Dogpatch Labs, supported by its partner hubs in Cork, Kerry and Galway has been awarded the €17m contract to manage the service for the next five years. Ignite, which is the UK’s most active regional accelerator, also supported the bid and will provide international support and knowledge sharing with the network through its Ormeau Baths hub in Belfast.
The awarding of the contract coincides with the launch of the Irish Tech Hub Network which connects best-in-class hubs across Ireland who have significant potential to catalyse innovation in their regions: Ludgate (Skibbereen); Republic of Work (Cork); RDI Hub (Kerry); Portershed (Galway); Ormeau Baths (Belfast); and Dogpatch Labs (Dublin).
The new NDRC programmes will take place in Cork, Dublin, Galway and Kerry, with applications opening in Q1 2021.
The newly designed national accelerator programme will be open to globally ambitious early ventures and national and international entrepreneurs. Successful startups will receive €100,000 investment with founder friendly terms, workspace in Dublin’s Digital Docklands, and a mentor-led programme delivered by international and national industry experts. New features include global trips, access to an international VC and corporate network, and a unique three- month programme to accelerate the growth, scaling and fund raising for start-ups after the accelerator.
Non-equity pre-accelerator programmes will be delivered to a broad range of early stage companies and entrepreneurs across the Republic of Ireland, providing support at each stage of growth and acting as a pipeline to the accelerator programme.
The network will also offer training services to stakeholders working in the start-up space, teaching them how to support young digital venture teams with significant scale potential.
Dogpatch Labs is a curated startup hub located in the chq building, in Dublin’s digital docklands. With a mission to accelerate the development of Ireland’s startup ecosystem, it provides a valuable community from where to grow, share knowledge and form connections. A key programme it runs is First Fridays for Startups, where startups can speak with mentors including founders, VCs, and a variety of experts.
The Guinness Enterprise Centre (GEC) opened its doors in 2000 and has since become Ireland’s entrepreneurial superhub. We provide office space, advice, national and international reach and an awesome community for startups and scaling companies to learn and grow – empowering you to take on local or global markets.
In 2019 the GEC embarked on a €10m expansion project supported by its stakeholders to deliver a world-class centre now comprising 95,000 sq. ft in the heart of Dublin City Centre.
A pillar of Ireland’s Economic Infrastructure, the GEC was Globally Recognised as the #1 University Associated Business Incubator In The World. Deeply Integrated With Government, Education, Community & Industry Sectors.
The Rubicon Centre is jointly financed by CIT and Enterprise Ireland and is a leading business innovation hub, helping entrepreneurs to take their projects to the next level. The centre offers a multitude of programmes for firms at all stages.
Technology University Dublin Hothouse
Technology University (TU) Dublin Hothouse is the award-winning Knowledge Transfer and Incubation Centre at Technological University Dublin; responsible for the commercialisation of intellectual property arising from TU Dublin research. TU Dublin Hothouse is the hub of innovation and technology transfer activities in TU Dublin, the place where business meets innovation. TU Dublin Hothouse has a range of spinout technologies available to industry across Life Sciences, Food, ICT, Software, Industrial Technology, Manufacturing and Clean Technologies. Its team works with students, lecturers and research teams across TU Dublin as well as with entrepreneurs, industry leaders and investors. Through the TU Dublin Hothouse New Frontiers Startup Programme, it provides a start-up incubator for innovative and promising start-up companies.
The Hatch Lab is a new Tech Incubator space located in Gorey, Wexford. Located in a modern building, The Hatch Lab is designed specifically for technology companies, supporting business concepts, business start-ups and co-working staff. Becoming a client of the Hatch Lab covers incubation space, networking, mentoring, advice, organised events, peer to peer learning and sharing of ideas, information and knowledge, technical expert talks and pitches to potential investors.
A new on-campus centre for commercialisation and innovation at the National College of Art and Design (NCAD), Origin8 aims to allow industry partners to access the very best and latest in design research. At the same time, it allows on-campus designers and researchers to get access to successful companies that need good designers.
Based in Ireland’s largest University, NovaUCD is a centre of excellence for startups from a variety of disciplines. Nova provides mentoring, free legal, tax and marketing advice and helps startups securing funding from angels and venture capitalists.
Tangent, Trinity’s Ideas Workspace
As a European leader in student entrepreneurship, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin has established Tangent, Trinity’s Ideas Workspace. This new space, housed in a world-class facility, co-located within an expanded School of Business, offers students, staff, and the wider innovation ecosystem a place to come together to collaborate, build and innovate.
Launchbox at Trinity College Dublin
LaunchBox, in partnership with Bank of Ireland, and managed by experts in Tangent, Trinity’s Ideas Workspace at Trinity College Dublin, provides mentorship, funding, access to alumni and investors, and the ideal collaborative environment to launch new startup ventures.
Invest Horizon Deeptech Accelerator
InvestHorizon is a free accelerator programme designed to facilitate the access to Series A funding for selected deep tech companies and help them boost their investment readiness and investor relations.
Ignite is the incubator programme at University College Cork (UCC). The college does not take an equity stake in the startups. On completion of the programme, businesses get a further six months office space free-of-charge at the National Software Centre in Mahon in Cork. Entries are welcomed from graduates of any third level institution and each year ten teams are chosen for the programme.
Invent Centre DCU, Dublin City University
A core part of the centre’s work is to “identify opportunities for partnership between DCU and industry through state-funded innovation partnerships”.
The Ignite Technology Transfer Office (Ignite TTO) Galway
This centre explores and facilitates commercial opportunities for the research community at NUI Galway.
Incubation Centre at Maynooth University
Opened in July 2015, this centre is “focused on ensuring a professional and efficient approach to the commercialisation of research.”
The Nexus Innovation Centre University of Limerick
Nexus has a number of flexible programmes tailor-made for startups.
Do you have an idea for a food business or product? Food business startups can apply to the Food Academy Start programme, a collaborative initiative between the Local Enterprise Offices, Bord Bia and SuperValu.
Institute of Technology Incubation Centres
Above is a full list of the Institute of Technology Incubation Centres (including NCI).
Propeller Venture Accelerator programme
DCU’s Ryan Academy runs the Propeller Venture Accelerator programme for early-stage technology startups. This three-month accelerator offers €30,000 seed funding plus €15,000 in services costs to entrepreneurs with winning ideas.
Innovation Centres
Digital School of Food is an e-learning hub that has been designed to support food producers in developing their food manufacturing businesses from start-up to the growth phase. It is an initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices Dublin region. It is designed to allow producers to upskill in their own time and, at a pace which suits them.
Learnovate is a global research and innovation centre in learning technologies and the future of work and learning in Trinity College Dublin. An industry-led technology centre funded by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, Learnovate supports organisations to unlock the transformative power of learning using applied research, innovative practices, and technology. Learnovate’s vision is to be globally recognised as a centre of excellence for the future of work and learning, and to enable Ireland to strengthen its competitive position in this sector.
Food for Health Ireland is a leading global innovation centre for the development of nutritional functional ingredients to improve health and wellness.
STEPS Business Support Programme
Are you an energy storage solution provider in North-West Europe (NWE) and do you want to bring your product to the market?
Do you want to get connected with end-users and demonstrate your technology at their testbed?
DCU Invest works with companies to bring university research to the marketplace. They partner with companies of all sizes, talented researchers at DCU and entrepreneurs who have a desire to innovate. Their purpose built incubation centre facilitates access to DCU’s valuable research environment, a comprehensive business support programme including New Frontiers along with a host of other start-up supports.
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Bank of Ireland is welcoming new customers every day – funding investments, working capital and expansions across multiple sectors. To learn more, click here
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