This section sets out the main funding supports and programmes for established small and medium sized enterprises in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors. An Established SME client is a company that is not a HPSU client, has an established trading record, the company (or its group of companies) employs between 10 and 250 employees, has either an annual turnover of less than €50m or an annual balance sheet of less than €43m. Note: Previous funding approved by Enterprise Ireland may impact on your eligibility for the following supports. Please consult with yourEnterprise Ireland Adviser (DA) to discuss.
Funding decisions are determined by the;
Need for financial support for the project
Potential employment and sales growth
Previous funding provided to the company
Regional location of the company
If your DA instructs you that this is an ERDF project, click on ERDF Information for Clients.
Market Research and Internationalisation Supports
Strategic Marketing Review Grant 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 Access Grant This Grant is designed to assist clients to develop a viable marketing strategy for a new market. It supports a client to undertake all the activities from initial market research to developing collateral prior to market launch. The costs include new or existing staff to undertake the project, consultancy costs, office rental, purchase of market research and databases and selected marketing costs
Internationalisation Grant Grant to support the costs of researching and exploring new international business opportunities. Eligible projects include 1) researching a new market for a new or existing product or 2) researching an existing market for a new product. Eligible costs may include; Salaries & Overheads (for clients with less than 50 employees), Consultancy Fees, Foreign Travel & Subsistence, EI approved Business Accelerator Fees and Trade Fair costs
Business Links Grant This grant is designed to support clients carrying out research to identify potential customers/partners using market research companies or other specialist service providers. This is confined to companies entering new markets
Graduates for International Growth (G4IG) Programme The programme matches graduates with companies to develop and execute plans to grow in key markets. Support available for the graduate salary and training. Call close date applies
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
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
In-Company & Collaborative Research & Development Supports
Technical Feasibility Study Grant Can be used to investigate the feasibility of developing a new product, process, technology or service offering
R&D Fund – Small Projects This fund supports product, process or service R&D projects where the grant amount is less than €150,000. This may suit companies undertaking R&D for the first time or companies progressing R&D activity in the business
R&D Fund – Standard Projects Supporting innovation in services, products and processes, the R&D Fund – Standard Projects is suitable for companies that are ready to progress to larger projects. The maximum R&D grant that a company can receive is €650,000
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 2020 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 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
Platform 4 Growth Platform 4 Growth is a management development programme specifically designed to challenge SME’s to scale and support client companies that are serious about growing their business. Platform4Growth offers a combination of elearning and face to face delivery which gives you the flexibility to undertake capability development programmes to meet your specific requirements at a given time
Productivity and Business Process Improvement Supports
Skills Voucher (Software Development) Used to support the costs of undertaking Peer to Peer training (Software Development). The core objective is to encourage continuous capability building in core software development skills in HPSU and SME companies. Eligible expenditure is limited to the cost of internal trainer
Graduate Business Growth Initiative The graduate business growth initiative is a broad based graduate placement across all disciplines and sectors. Enterprise Ireland will support SME’s with ambitious growth plans to employ up to two graduates per year, with a Level 8 degree qualification
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
GreenStart Grant Used to support the costs of undertaking a GreenStart Assignment. This is a short assignment undertaken by an Environmental consultant/trainer. Eligible Expenditure is limited to the cost of hiring a consultant/trainer for a maximum of 7 days
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) GreenPlus
BIM-Enable A 7 day strategic consultancy programme designed to heighten Building Information Modelling (BIM) knowledge across the business functions and ultimately deliver a bespoke roadmap to Level 2 BIM proficiency based upon the company’s vision and resources. BIM-Enable is intended for clients lacking capability in BIM methodologies
BIM-Implement BIM-Implement represents the training phase of the Building Information Modelling (BIM) induction offer supporting knowledge transfer leading to increased competences in BIM and a deeper understanding of supply chain implications
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
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