Research, Development & Innovation Fund

R&D drives economic growth and progress, spurs innovation and is critical for companies to stay competitive. With our R&D funding, we support innovation that helps to grow sales and employment for your business.

Who is it for?

  • Clients of Údarás na Gaeltachta, trading internationally in manufacturing or an eligible services industry. Applicants must have adequate cash resources to implement the proposed project.
  • Contact your Development Advisor in Údarás na Gaeltachta to discuss further prior to application.
  • Following discussion with your Development Advisor beneficiaries must submit an application using Enterprise Irelands online forms system for support before any work on the project starts.

What can it be used for?

The development of the new products or services that must involve:

  • the resolution of some technical challenges,
  • be non-routine
  • represent a ‘step-up’ for the company in terms of the level of RD&I capability.

What is provided?

Funding support is available for eligible RD&I projects in order to develop new products or services. Grant rates are dependent on a company size and inclusion of collaboration.

 

Small
Enterprise		 Medium Enterprise Large
Enterprise
Experimental Development (R,D&I) 45% 35% 25%
Experimental Development with Collaboration:

– subject to effective collaboration between undertakings (for large enterprises, cross-border or with at least one SME).  

 60% 50% 40%

The Committee may offer a grant at a lower rate than the maxima above. Considerations for setting a grant rate includes value for money the incentive effect and the nature of the technological or innovation challenge.

How do I apply?

    1. Read the eligibility requirements.
    2. Contact your Údarás na Gaeltachta Development Advisor to discuss further. 
    3. When you have discussed the application with your ÚnaG Development Advisor and you’re ready to apply, ÚnaG clients utilise Enterprise Irelands online application forms here. The online application forms provide a step-by-step guide on how to complete each tab.  Please note that first time applicants will need to register to apply

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

  • Eligible companies are limited to Údarás na Gaeltachta or any of the Local Enterprise Offices subject to the prevailing policies of those agencies.  Beneficiaries must submit an application using Enterprise Irelands online application forms portal for support before any work on the project starts.
  • Companies must operate in the manufacturing or internationally traded services areas of the business to be eligible for this support and be either currently trading internationally or trading internationally within the short term.
  • Eligible Údarás na Gaeltachta clients must employ a minimum of 5 Full Time Staff in Ireland at the time of application.
  • All companies submitting an application for RD&I support must be EBITDA positive in the previous accounting period, or EBITDA positive for at least the previous nine months prior to application and can demonstrate sustainable future EBITDA-positivity.
  • For more information read the Research, Development and Innovation Funding Reference Document below under Further application information.

 

Please contact your Údarás na Gaeltachta Development Advisor prior to application. (Clients of Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Office should contact their Client/Business Advisor in the relevant Agency).

Eligible costs

  • Salaries
  • Technical Consultancy
  • Contractual Research
  • Certification / Clinical Trials
  • Patent Advisory Costs
  • Equipment Rental
  • Captial Equipment
  • Overheads*
  • Materials

*There are 2 alternate options on how overheads may be calculated. For more information read the Research, Development and Innovation Funding Reference Document below under Further application information.

 

Further application information

Supporting documents

The following Enterprise Ireland information documents are also required for a complete application:

For more information contact:
Email: rdcoreunit@enterprise-ireland.com
Tel: +353 1 727 2120

 

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

 

Terms of Reference document – Research, Development and Innovation [pdf]

Environmental Compliance and Do no Significant Harm

Projects supported under the NRRP for the Research, Development & Innovation Fund 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.