EI Supports I

Table of Contents

Market Access Grant

The Market Access Grant is one of the key supports that Enterprise Ireland employs in order to assist companies to build their businesses in the international market. The EI client company may use all or a combination of new staff, reassigned staff or consultants to undertake the project. It may incur marketing costs up to market launch. The grant is available to companies entering a new market or entering an existing market with a new product.

In order to be eligible, the company must be

a client of Enterprise Ireland;
be engaged in eligible manufacturing or service activity in the Republic of Ireland;
Have 10 (full-time equivalent) employees;
have received, in total, no more than the State Aid de minimus level of total grants (i.e. less than €200,000 as a group in grants and assistance)
be ineligible for support from Bord Bia or Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM).

The company must be trading for more than six years, with sustainable revenue of at least €500,000. If trading for less than this period, it must have sustainable revenues of at least €500,000 earnings before interest, tax and depreciation for the previous nine months and can demonstrate a sustainable positive EBITA.

Large companies may be eligible on a case-by-case basis. The maximum grant funding is 50 percent of eligible expenditure, up to a maximum grant of €150,000.

The Grant permits market research to verify the existence of market opportunities, determine the best route to market, identify channel partners, identify target customers, develop a market , develop a specific proposition and develop an appropriate messaging strategy for target markets.

The salary cost of a new staff member in Ireland who oversees is capped at €80,000. There are maximum fees for consultants. There are maximum costs pre-launch for office rental, purchase of market research databases and developing marketing capacity.

Internationalisation Grant

The Internationalisation Grant is open to client companies of Enterprise Ireland engaged in eligible service activities or manufacturing in the Republic of Ireland with more than 10 employees. They must have sufficient available de minimus balance and must not be eligible to receive support from Bord Bia or BIM.

The maximum Internationalisation Grant is 50 percent of eligible expenditure, up to a maximum of €35,000. The receipt of other grants may impact on eligibility. Applications are considered case by case. The level of funding is determined following an assessment of the merits of providing grant support with regard to the need for financial support, previous funding provided and the potential for employment growth and sales.

There are maximum upper limits for salaries and overheads, foreign travel and subsistence, consultancy fees, trade fair costs and business accelerator costs. The salary support is available only, for companies with less than 50 employees. The maximum support is €1,000 per week for a maximum of 12 weeks per employee.

Only time spent on the project by employees may be applied for. Support for external consultants is subject to consultancy fee caps. Employee time attending trade fairs is ineligible. Overheads of up to 30 per cent of eligible salary costs may be applied for.

A limited category of travel and subsistence costs for overseas sales is permitted. The subsistence rate is to cover out of pocket expenses only, including hotels and meals. Foreign travel and subsistence for trade fairs is limited to five employees. There are maximum mileage and airfare types permitted. There are maximum overnight rates.

Consultancy costs are limited to 30 days per consultant. Maximum consultancy rates are €900 per day for the first 20 days and €700 per day for the next 10 days. There are caps on trade fair costs. Support is not available to larger companies. Eligible expenditure may cover a maximum of five company employees, rental of exhibition space, set up and installation costs, and expenditure of €500 towards the cost of tradeshow-related promotional material and translation costs.

Strategic Marketing Grant

The Strategic Marketing Grant may be available to established companies that have experience in trading internationally and are interested in reviewing and developing their marketing strategy.

The company must be a manufacturing company or an eligible international traded services company. It must be an SME company, engaged in eligible activities and demonstrate a capacity to internationalise. It must be trading for more than six years with sustainable revenues of at least €500,000.If trading for a lesser period similar tests to those above in respect of a marketing grant apply.

The eligible expenditure is limited to the cost of hiring an EI-approved marketing consultant for up to seven days. The maximum daily fee is €900, inclusive of travel subsistence and out-of-pocket expenses. The funding is by way of a consultancy grant with a maximum of €6,500. The company must pay €1,500, with the balance paid €5,000 paid by EI.

R&D Small Projects

R&D Fund Small Projects is available for companies covering up to 50 percent of the R&D cost. The maximum funding is 45 percent for small companies, 35 percent for medium companies and 25 percent for large companies with a further innovation element of up to 15% where there is collaboration, subject to the above maximum. The grant for small projects may be up to €150,000.

The small projects fund is open to Enterprise Ireland, Udaras na Gaeltachta and Local Enterprise Office clients who are manufacturing or internationally traded services companies who can show adequate cash resources to implement the project.

If the grant is designed to support companies that wish to establish of increase R&D activity, leading to an ongoing R&D commitment in driving company development. It may establish or increase the R&D capability of the company. There must be a demonstrable connection between the R&D and overall business objectives.

Technical Feasibility Study Grant

The Technical Feasibility Study Grant may be used to investigate the feasibility of new products, processes, technology or internationally traded services. A company may be eligible if it is an Enterprise Ireland client or potential client, engaged in eligible service activity or manufacture in the Republic of Ireland, and has more than 10 employees.

The maximum grant funding is 50 percent of eligible expenditure, up to a maximum of €35,000. Applications are considered case by case, and the level of funding follows an assessment of the merits of providing grant support and is based on the need for financial support, previous funding and potential employment growth.

There are maximum sums available with respect to salaries and overheads, foreign travel, subsistence, consultancy fees and prototype materials and costs. The salaries and overhead support is available only for companies employing less than 50 employees. The maximum salary support is €1,000 per week for a maximum of 12 weeks. Only time spent on the proposed project may be covered.

Support for external consultants, subject to the relevant caps, may be available. Overheads, to a maximum of 30 percent of eligible salary cost, may be covered. The restrictions on foreign travel and subsistence are similar to those applicable to other grants. Similarly, the consultancy fees cap and maximum 30 days period apply. Prototype materials, specialised software tools, the hire of equipment or facilities and sundry costs relating to the building of a prototype are eligible.

Where consultants and contractors are being used, the costs should be entered in the consultancy fees section. Employee time is entered in the salaries and overheads section. Capital items and equipment costs are not eligible.

High Potential Start-Up

A potential start-up company may qualify for an HPSU Feasibility Study Grant, which is capped at €15,000. The other conditions are broadly similar.

R&D funding for standard projects may be available to Irish-based manufacturing or internationally traded services companies, which can show adequate cash resources to implement the R&D projects. The maximum grant is €650,000. Companies seeking support in excess of this amount are considered on a case-by-case basis by Enterprise Ireland. The maximum grant is 50 percent of the total cost.

Standard project grants offer funding for projects that are innovative, technically challenging and involve significant risk. Grant rates are based on the size of the company. The maximum percentage of funding in respect of small companies is 45 per cent, medium companies are 35 per cent, and large companies are 25 per cent. A collaboration bonus of up to 15 per cent is available for innovative projects where there is a collaboration between two companies. Total funding cannot exceed 50 percent of the total project cost.

Large companies (i.e. those with more than 250 employees with either an annual turnover of greater than €50 million or a balance sheet greater than €43 million) qualify for some of the above grants but are subject to a wider range of caps. They may qualify for the Internationalisation Grant with 50 percent of eligible expenditure, up to a maximum of €35,000. Applications are considered case by case. Eligible expenditures in respect of consultancy fees are limited to 30 days, and foreign travel and subsistence are potentially available.

International Selling Program

The International Selling Program is delivered by DIT in conjunction with sales and management experts. The International Selling Programme is developed and delivered by the DIT in conjunction with a panel of world-class sales and management experts and practitioners.

The programme comprises eight two-day modules. The programme includes two workshop days for colleagues sponsoring participants, which are designed to support the embedding of the programme learning throughout the business.

Participants are assigned a sales practitioner to work as a programme business adviser, helping to implement programme learnings and achieve an immediate impact on their sales ability. The Programme is for manufacturing and internationally traded services companies currently exporting or with advanced plans to do so.

The proven tools are relevant to any growth-orientated company. Participants should typically spend a minimum of 30% of time in a sales role and must be at the level of, MD/CEO, Sales/Commercial/Marketing Director (or other Director Level), Sales/Commercial/Marketing Manager, Business Development Executive Technical Sales Lead,

A program fee of €12,484 per participant per enterprise may be allowed. This includes executive and CEO participation and the assignment of the business adviser. The programme is supported by Enterprise Ireland at the following rates, larger enterprise 50 per cent grant (cost to company €6,247), medium-sized enterprise 60 per cent (cost to company;€4,198) and small enterprise 70 per cent (cost to company €3,748).

Funding Technical Feasibility

The R&D Funding Technical Feasibility projects and R&D Standard Projects are available to larger companies with certain restrictions. The maximum funding for R&D small projects for large companies is 25 percent.

In the case of R&D standard projects funding, the maximum grant is €650,000. For large companies the maximum funding for projects that are innovative and technically challenging and involve significant risk is 25 percent.

High-potential and internationally focused-start-ups may receive a range of support. The support is generally hands-on by way of advice and training. High potential start-ups are those involved in new innovative products or services to international markets, involved in manufacturing or internationally traded services, capable of creating 10 jobs or realising €1M in sales within three to four years of start-up, led by an experienced management team headquartered and controlled in Ireland and less than five years old.

De Minimus

De minimus aid is small amounts of state aid that may be permissible under European Union law, which may not exceed €200,000 over any three fiscal years to any company, irrespective of size and location. De minimus aid can be by way of grant or equity.

De minimus aid from Enterprise Ireland may include Innovation Vouchers, a Competitive Start-up Fund, a Job Expansion Fund, a lean start, a Market Research Grant, a Mentor Program, a New Market Research Program, recruitment of key managers and the telecom standard scheme.

The funding from all sources, including Enterprise Ireland, former County and City Enterprise Boards and their successor Fas, Bord Bia, EPA local area partnerships and Leaders, must be taken into account.

Start-Up

Start-up businesses with the potential to develop an innovative product or service for sale internationally, with the potential to create 10 jobs or more and €1M in export sales within three to four years of start-up, may qualify for assistance as a high-potential start-up. The HPSU group provide support and advice to entrepreneurs and early-stage companies which are considered to have innovative products, services and technologies.

High-potential start-up companies must be a client company of Enterprise Ireland in order to be eligible for funding support. The HPSU feasibility grant supports the development of high-potential start-ups and the development of investor-ready business plans. Eligible costs may include consultancy fees, salaries and overheads, EI-approved business accelerator scheme fees, trade fair costs and prototype costs.

Support for high-potential start-up businesses depends on the business/company’s stage of development. They range from developing business propositions with support by way of assistance, refining the business proposition, development of strategy, marketing and customer channels.

A start-up advisor is made available in confidence to review and discuss plans. Enterprise Ireland officers have a dedicated start-up advisor who discusses propositions and considers eligibility for support. It runs a number of entrepreneurial workshops throughout the Country. They are designed to have early-stage promotors understand and evaluate entrepreneurial processes. Each is targeted at individuals with a business idea with the potential for significant growth.