Research and Development and Innovation (R&D&I) and the application of knowledge will be critical drivers for the future success of Irish industry. It is therefore imperative that Ireland focuses on promoting the level, quality and commercial applicability of the R&D&I undertaken, ensuring that industry leads the response to rapid changes in customer needs.  In addition, innovation must pervade all aspects of the R&D&I process.

The R&D Fund is designed to provide support for research, development and technological innovation relevant at all stages of company development, and which will enable companies to progress from undertaking an initial research project to high level innovation and R&D activity.

Aim of the R&D Fund
Do I Qualify?
How do I apply?
What is the maximum funding level?
Call close dates

Aim of the R&D Fund

The aims of the R&D Fund are to:

• Help manufacturing and service firms to develop innovative products, processes and services.
• Increase the number of companies performing effective R&D in Ireland.
• Increase the scale of the investment in R&D in Ireland.
• Increase the number of companies doing R&D for the first time.
• Ensure Irish based companies, particularly SMEs, protect their futures by helping them reach and exceed European and international norms for R&D investment.
• Increase the quantity and quality of the R&D linkages between companies, and between companies either in Ireland or internationally, through collaborative research programmes such as EUREKA etc.

It is intended that, through this intervention, companies will be encouraged to grow competitively by increasing their research, development and technical innovation activities and that the quality and quantity of R&D&I linkages between companies both nationally and internationally will be increased.

The Fund is seeking that Companies in the future will be aiming towards achieving the following:

• A significant ongoing/established R&D budget
• A demonstrable connection between R&D and the overall business objectives
• A culture of innovative thinking throughout the company which aims to harness the creativity of all the staff towards defined business goals.
• An established R&D team with high level skills
• High quality facilities for R&D
• Good quality R&D management systems and procedures

Back to Top

Who Qualifies?

You are eligible to apply if your company is an Irish based manufacturing or Internationally Traded Services company which can show adequate cash resources to implement the proposed project.  All applications will be subject to assessment.

Back to Top

How do I apply?

Applications for funding will be considered on a competitive monthly tranche basis.  All application will be subject to an assessment process. The closing day for the first tranche is 5.30pm on Friday the 29th of February 2008 and at 5.30 on the last working day of each month thereafter.

	Company Guidelines for R&D Application August 08 MS Word format; Size 573K
	Company Guidelines for R&D Application August 08 PDF format 603K
	Business Plan summary for R&D Fund (MS Word format; Size: 496KB)
	Project Details and Costs for R&D Fund Excel format; Size 422KB
	Download Financial Data Sheet (FDS) Excel format; Size 204KB

This initiative is managed by Enterprise Ireland on behalf of Údarás na Gaeltachta and the City and County Enterprise Boards

It advisable to discuss your project ideas with your local agency adviser prior to submitting a completed application.

The R&D Fund Reference document contains full detail on the projects and activities eligible for support and criteria on which applications will be assessed.

	R&D Fund Reference Document MS Word format; Size 144KB
	R&D Fund Reference Document PDF format; Size 161KB

Back to Top

What is the maximum funding level?

The maximum R&D grant that a company can receive is €650,000. Companies with projects in excess of this amount will be evaluated on a case by case basis by the Enterprise Ireland Investment Committee using a similar approach and grant rates as the R&D Committee.

The maximum grant rates are given in the table below:

Call close dates

For further information contact

Maura Shields Tel: + 353 1 808 2224

Back to Top