Digital Discovery

In today’s world, adoption of digital technology is necessary to sustain competitiveness. The aim of the Digital Discovery grant is to incentivise and support companies to introduce new digital technologies and solutions into their operations. Implementing digital technologies in your business can lead to greater efficiency, improved customer experiences, better decision-making, and an enhanced ability to bring better and more diverse products to market. Údarás na Gaeltachta encourages your business to avail of the Digital Discovery grant to help you transform your processes and support your growth and operational excellence.

Who is it for?

  • Irish owned business operating in the manufacturing/internationally traded services sectors employing 10 or more.
  • Údarás na Gaeltachta high potential start-up (HPSU) clients.

What is provided?

  • Funding for up to 80% of the project cost up to a maximum of €5,000 grant.
  • The support of an external Digital expert, for between 3 and 7 days, typically over 8-12 weeks.
  • This is based on training or advisory services where the eligible costs are capped at €900 per day, inclusive of travel and subsistence and all out-of-pocket expenses. The maximum daily rate supported by Údarás na Gaeltachta is €900, however the actual daily rate charged by a provider may be higher or lower.

What can it be used for?

Engagement of a digital expert to support a company-driven digital initiative with practical hands-on guidance that could include:

  • Analysis of existing digital, data or automation systems in the business to identify potential gaps in meeting business needs.
  • Exploration of opportunities to optimise existing systems and to integrate with new solutions to enhance business operations.
  • Guidance on the implementation of new or enhanced digital, data, automation or AI solutions.

Technology areas to focus on include:

  • Enterprise IT systems that are not already in use in the organisation (CRM, ERP, MES, Cloud Computing etc.).
  • Data Analytics & Artificial Intelligence (Machine Learning).
  • Process Automation, Sensors & Robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), Augmented Reality, Digital Twins

Expected Outcomes

  • The introduction of innovative digital, data, automation or AI technologies and solutions, AND/OR
  • Creation of a digital, data and/or automation action plan, with targeted initiatives that can be implemented within the next 3 -12 months.

What is not covered?

  • Routine or business as usual upgrades of Digital systems already in use that would not lead to a significant change in the business.
  • Paid-for software trials with technology vendors.
  • Assessments from technology platform or software providers, the digital expert must be solution agnostic.
  • General management consultancy including business strategy, market research, product development, financial review and planning, sales & marketing, HR planning or health & safety training, IT training for existing systems, routine consultancy audits including web, cyber security.
  • Scoping or sourcing equipment purchases or planning for other grant applications.
  • General business process or value stream mapping.
  • Routine consultancy audits including cyber-security, health & safety or energy
  • Travel costs

Eligibility & Application

How do I apply?

      1. Read the eligibility requirements
      2. Contact your Client Advisor to discuss further
      3. Find a suitable consultant.
      4. If you do not have a Client Advisor, please contact Údarás na Gaeltachta at eolas@udaras.ie.

When you have discussed the application with your advisor and you are ready to apply , an application can be sent to you for completion.

Further Application Details

  • One Grant per company
  • As part of the application, you will need your CRO number
  • The Grant is only valid for costs incurred after your application is approved
  • Closing date: This is subject to budget availability under The European Union’s Digital Transition Fund up to 2026.

The task breakdown should be agreed by the applicant and the chosen service provider and may vary from the above depending on the needs. Note that Údarás na Gaeltachta will review all applications and reject those that are not in line with the objectives of the offer.

The project should result in increased capability and confidence for the company leadership in digital transition and a clear understanding of:

  • Current state of digital maturity and gaps
  • Opportunities for digital innovation in products, services or processes
  • A future vision / roadmap and defined action plan

 

The application process is as follows:  

  • Application review: 1-2 weeks processing time
  • Decision made and application approved/rejected
  • If approved, Grant issued and accepted via DocuSign
  • Project carried out with consultant
  • Consultant invoices company
  • Company makes a claim to Údarás na Gaeltachta by submitting the correct documents. The final claim date for your grant will be 12 months from the issue date of the letter of offer from Enterprise Ireland.
  • Company is reimbursed
  • Company contacts their agency advisor to discuss follow-on actions

Eligibility information

What costs are eligible and what is the maximum funding available?

This is based on external training or advisory services where the eligible costs are capped at €900 per day inclusive of travel and subsistence and all out-of-pocket expenses. Note that while the maximum daily rate supported by Údarás na Gaeltachta is €900, the actual daily rate charged by a provider may be higher or lower.

Note: Receipt of other grants from Údarás na Gaeltachta/Enterprise Ireland may impact on your eligibility for support under this initiative. 

Eligible Consultants

It is the responsibility of the applicant to identify and engage a suitable consultant for the project. There is no list of approved consultants related to this offer. Údarás na Gaeltachta/Enterprise Ireland will not be liable for any loss and/or damage caused by an applicant’s decision to retain the services of a consultant in connection with this grant offer.

Applicants are strongly recommended to engage with up to three providers before making a choice of a provider with appropriate expertise and capability.

Consultants engaged for this grant support may not be employees of, shareholders of, or have a direct financial interest in the company.

As part of the assessment process, Údarás na Gaeltachta/Enterprise Ireland may deem the proposed provider unsuitable based on these or any other criteria that may arise and will engage with the applicant to discuss other options or deem the project ineligible.

Ineligible Projects

What this grant cannot be used for

This is not a general consultancy grant and cannot be used for items such as:

  • Purchase, installation, or configuration of off-the-shelf technologies (hardware or software)
  • Upgrade of networking or other digital systems
  • Finance, HR, Sales, Marketing, Web consultancy
  • Routine consultancy audits including web, cyber-security, health & safety, energy
  • Training

Legislation

Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) (2021-2026)

Under Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) (2021-2026), projects supporting the digital and climate transition of enterprise are being funded through the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. This covers projects that will:

  • facilitate emissions reductions, or
  • support the digital transformation of the company, driving increased adoption and diffusion of digital technology

Environmental Compliance and Do No Significant Harm

Projects supported under the NRRP must comply with relevant EU and national environmental legislation and in particular with the ‘Do no significant harm’ Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01). Specifically, the following projects are not eligible:

  • activities related to fossil fuels, including downstream use1;
  • activities under the EU Emission Trading System (ETS) achieving projected greenhouse gas emissions that are not lower than the relevant benchmarks2;
  • activities related to waste landfills, incinerators3 and mechanical biological treatment plants4; and
  • activities where the long-term disposal of waste may cause harm to the environment.

 

1 Except projects under this measure in power and/or heat generation, as well as related transmission and distribution infrastructure, using natural gas, that are compliant with the conditions set out in Annex III of the ‘Do no significant harm’ Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01).

2 Where the activity supported achieves projected greenhouse gas emissions that are not substantially lower than the relevant benchmarks an explanation of the reasons why this is not possible should be provided. Benchmarks established for free allocation for activities falling within the scope of the Emissions Trading System, as set out in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/447.

3 This exclusion does not apply to actions under this measure in plants exclusively dedicated to treating non-recyclable hazardous waste, and to existing plants, where the actions under this measure are for the purpose of increasing energy efficiency, capturing exhaust gases for storage or use or recovering materials from incineration ashes, provided such actions under this measure do not result in an increase of the plants’ waste processing capacity or in an extension of the lifetime of the plants; for which evidence is provided at plant level.

4 This exclusion does not apply to actions under this measure in existing mechanical biological treatment plants, where the actions under this measure are for the purpose of increasing energy efficiency or retrofitting to recycling operations of separated waste to compost bio-waste and anaerobic digestion of bio-waste, provided such actions under this measure do not result in an increase of the plants’ waste processing capacity or in an extension of the lifetime of the plants; for which evidence is provided at plant level.