Minister Burke launches call for three new programmes under the Innovators’ Initiative

L-R: Emma Callinan - Director of Spin-outs and Research Commercialisation at Enterprise Ireland, Alan Dillon TD - Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Naomi Flood - Administrative Officer ERDF Regional Development Programme, Andrés Mori - Senior Programme Manager Innovators' Initiative, Enterprise Ireland and Joe Healy - Head of Research and Innovation, Enterprise Ireland

Peter Burke T.D., Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, together with Enterprise Ireland, today announced the launch of a new call under the Innovators’ Initiative, a government‑backed intervention administered by Enterprise Ireland and co‑funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The Innovators’ Initiative currently comprises four needs‑led innovation training programmes hosted in publicly funded Research Performing Organisations (RPOs) across Ireland, each focused on a sector of strategic importance to the Irish economy. This new call will expand the initiative through the delivery of three additional programmes, strengthening innovation capability across regions and sectors. The funding call is now live, and applications are invited from publicly funded RPOs to design and deliver new innovation training programmes aligned with STEP priority areas. 

A total fund of €10.5 million will be allocated across three new education and training programmes, each of which will receive €3.5 million over a four-year term.” The programmes will create cohorts of highly skilled innovators who are immersed in real‑world sector environments to observe, identify and validate unmet market needs within areas of growth. On completion of a programme, participants may establish new enterprises or return to industry, bringing enhanced innovation capability and skills back into their organisations.

The Innovators’ Initiative II has been designed to align and support the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) priority areas, including digital and deep‑tech innovation, clean technologies and biotechnologies. STEP is designed to strengthen the EU’s ability to create and ramp up strategic technologies, making it more competitive globally.

Support under the call is provided to eligible RPO‑led programmes to design and deliver structured innovation education and training, alongside associated commercialisation activity. The Innovators’ Initiative targets ambitious mid‑career professionals with an entrepreneurial mindset who will learn to identify unmet needs, validate them in the real world, and build innovations that create commercial value and societal benefit. The initiative plays a critical role in supporting Irish enterprise by strengthening the pipeline from needs identification and validation through to potential start‑up formation and IP licensing opportunities.

The programme is managed by Enterprise Ireland, in partnership with the Northern and Western Regional Assembly and the Southern Regional Assembly, providing national coordination alongside regional delivery. Innovators Initiative II - STEP is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Northern and Western Regional Programme 2021–27 and the ERDF Southern, Eastern and Midland Regional Programme 2021–27.

The four programmes currently delivered under the Innovators’ Initiative are:

• BioInnovate (MedTech), hosted by the University of Galway
• FAST-IP (Food and Agriculture Sustainable Technology Innovation Programme), hosted by University College Dublin and supported by TeagascCyber‑Innovate (cybersecurity), hosted by Munster Technological University, Cork
• DigiBio (digital health), hosted by Dundalk Institute of Technology, in association with the Royal College of Surgeons, Tyndall Institute, Dublin City University and Trinity College Dublin

On completion of an Innovators’ Initiative programme, participants may also access further commercialisation supports through Enterprise Ireland’s Commercialisation Fund and Pre-Seed Start Up awards, which may support progression toward the formation of a High Potential Start‑Up (HPSU), directly contributing to job creation. The initiative is expected to further enhance regional innovation activity and support the establishment of new enterprises across Ireland.

Speaking about the three Innovators’ Initiative programmes Minister Burke said:

“This call under the Innovators’ Initiative will support the delivery of three additional needs‑led innovation training programmes, co‑funded by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund. These programmes are designed to help identify and address real market needs by combining immersive education and training with a targeted focus on key priority areas aligned with the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP).”

The Minister added:

“The call builds on established best practice across sectors of strategic importance such as cybersecurity, sustainable food and Agritech, digital health and MedTech. By strengthening innovation capability and commercial skills, the Innovators’ Initiative will support the development of future entrepreneurs and innovation leaders and contribute to sustainable economic development across Ireland’s regions.”

Joe Healy, Head of Research and Innovation at Enterprise Ireland, said:

“Enterprise Ireland is delighted to work with the European Regional Development Fund, Northern and Western Regional Assembly and the Southern Regional Assembly to promote innovation and support the development of strong regional innovation ecosystems across Ireland. The Innovators’ Initiative continues to strengthen Ireland’s innovation ecosystem by supporting needs-led education and training programmes that are closely connected to industry and regional research capability. The addition of three new programmes will expand the initiative’s reach across key strategic sectors, helping to develop cohorts of experienced professionals with the skills and insight to identify and validate real market needs. We look forward to supporting the next generation of innovators emerging from these programmes, and the impact they will have across Ireland’s regions.”

David Kelly, Director of the Southern Regional Assembly, said:

“We welcome the launch of this call under Innovators’ Initiative II - STEP, which demonstrates the value of ERDF investment in supporting regional innovation and skills development. Through STEP, this initiative strengthens the connection between research, enterprise and regional priorities, helping to build capacity in critical technologies and support long-term, sustainable growth across Ireland’s regions.”

Conall McGettigan, Director of the Northern & Western Regional Assembly, said:

“We warmly welcome the launch of this call under the Innovators’ Initiative II – STEP. This investment is critically important for the regions, as it strengthens the capacity to support innovation, develop high-value skills, and build stronger links between research and enterprise. By focusing on real-world challenges and strategic technologies, the initiative will help drive sustainable economic growth, support the creation of new enterprises, and ensure our region remains competitive in a rapidly evolving global economy.”

ENDS

For further information, contact - Press@enterprise-ireland.com

Please visit the Enterprise Ireland website for further details - Innovators’ Initiative II (STEP)