Minister Burke seeks new applications for €40 million Disruptive Technologies funding

The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, T.D., today, announced that his Department's Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) is open for new applications, with €40 million in competitive funding available.

DTIF is designed to advance the commercial development and deployment of disruptive technologies and applications, through fostering impactful collaborations between Ireland's world-class research base and industry; and enabling enterprises to develop and adopt these technologies at scale.

This is the eighth competitive call under DTIF, which to date, has supported 131 highly innovative collaborative projects since its launch in 2018, with awards averaging around €4 million for each project. Call 8 which opens for applications today, will close on the 3 February 2027.

Making the announcement, Minister Burke said

"The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund enables high-impact collaborations that turn groundbreaking ideas into real-world commercial solutions. It gives ambitious enterprises the opportunity to scale and create high-quality jobs, and reinforces Ireland's position as a leading innovation-driven economy. I am delighted to open this new €40 million competitive call for applications under the Fund today, and I am confident it will attract pioneering, transformative projects with the ambition and potential to deliver lasting benefits for our economy and society.

"Ireland has the talent, research excellence and enterprise ambition to lead in disruptive innovation. By backing exciting collaborations, and rewarding bold thinking, we are creating the conditions for enterprises to emerge, scale and compete globally - I am excited to see what this next wave of innovators will achieve."

Welcoming the announcement, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, TD, said:

"In an era of rapid technological change, Ireland must continue to harness its talented research base and enterprise ambition to create new opportunities for innovation that can underpin our future growth, competitiveness and sustainability.The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund is focused on achieving real impact; through fostering academic-industry collaboration; developing our research talent; and producing world beating innovative solutions with the potential to drive economic and societal transformation. The new €40 million competitive call opening today is reflective of the Government's continuing commitment to ensure that Ireland remains at the forefront of technological advancement globally."

DTIF is administered by Enterprise Ireland on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. Enterprise Ireland is currently hosting regional 'Disruptech' events to provide information about the Fund, and to facilitate collaboration partner networking and match-making. The remaining dates and locations are:

• 1 October – Dundalk, Gateway Hotel
• 13 October – Mullingar, Mullingar Park Hotel
• 15 October – Dublin, Aviva

Commenting on the Minister's announcement, Jenny Melia, CEO, Enterprise Ireland, said:

"Enterprise Ireland is delighted to support the launch of the eighth call of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund. DTIF has a strong track record of bringing Irish companies and our research institutions together to develop breakthrough technologies with real commercial potential. I would encourage ambitious companies with novel and innovative ideas to apply, and our team is ready to support them through the process."

Consortia may submit applications from the 1 October 2026. Prospective applicants can obtain detailed information on the Fund, regional 'Disruptech' events, and on the application process through the dedicated webpage on the Department's website at enterprise.gov.ie/DTIF.

Note to Editors:

DTIF Call 8 Background information

The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) is a multi-million euro fund established under the National Development Plan (NDP) in 2018. The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment manages the DTIF with administrative support from Enterprise Ireland.

The Government has already approved €530 million towards 131 successful projects under seven previous DTIF calls. These projects cover areas such as life sciences, medical devices, ICT, artificial intelligence, manufacturing and environmental.

Collaborative projects under the Fund must be geared towards commercialisation over a 3 to 7-year timeframe.

The purpose of the Fund is to drive 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. The aim is to support investment in the development and deployment of disruptive technologies and applications on a commercial basis.

Each project must have at least one SME and one other enterprise in a consortium of three or more project partners. Collaborations with the Irish research sectors are encouraged. All partners must be based in Ireland and be a client of Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Údarás na Gaeltachta or an eligible Research Performing Organisation. Irish Semi-State organisations and public bodies are now eligible to participate as non-funded partners, provided projects still include at least three other eligible partners. Semi State companies were previously ineligible.

The Fund targets industrial research and / or experimental development projects of scale and impact. The minimum funding request must be €1.5 million for projects of up to three years' duration. SME partners must provide matched funding while large companies must provide 60% project funding.

Application for Call 8 may be submitted from 1 October 2026.

Eligible applications will be assessed by independent international expert panels against four key criteria:

• Quality of the disruptive technology
• Excellence of the overall approach
• Economic impact and sustainability
• Strength of the collaboration

Deadline extension: Please note that the application deadline has been extended from 31 January 2027 (previously announced) to 3 February 2027 at 15:00 (Irish time).

Enterprise Ireland are currently hosting a series of regional promotional events around the country during October, offering information on the Call and providing opportunities for networking and matchmaking amongst multinationals, SMEs and research performing organisations. The remaining dates and locations are:

• 1 October – Dundalk, Gateway Hotel
• 13 October – Mullingar, Mullingar Park Hotel
• 15 October – Dublin, Aviva

Prospective applicants can obtain detailed information on the Fund and on the application process through the enterprise.gov.ie/DTIF webpage.

Ends

For further information please contact Press Office, Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, press.office@enterprise.gov.ie or (01) 631-2200