EI Supports II
Competivie Start Fund
Companies that have a well-developed business plan which needs to raise investment for business purposes may apply for the Competitive Start Fund or the innovative HPSU funds (equity).
The Competitive Start Fund (equity) investment is designed to accelerate the development of high-potential start-up companies by supporting the achievement of technical and commercial milestones, such as evaluating international markets or building a prototype. It is open for application at certain times during the year, with special sector-specific emphasis, such as digital media or aviation.
The innovative HPSU fund allows Enterprise Ireland to offer equity investment to HPSU clients on a co-funded basis in order to support the implementation of the business plan.
Competitive feasibility funds aim at stimulating new high-potential start-ups outside the Greater Dublin area. They support companies and individuals in investigating the viability of new significant growth-oriented business propositions.
Established SMEs
Established SME funding (more than 10 employees); An established SME company is a company which is not a HPSU client, without an established trading record employs between 10 and 250 persons and has either a turnover or less than €50 million or a balance sheet of less than €43 million.
The funding available depends on the requirement for financial support, potential employment and sales growth, previous funding and the regional location of the company.
Post-Investment
Post-investment supports for companies in a growth phase are focused on exploring new opportunities and continuing the development of the management team. These include skill vouchers used to support peer-to-peer training and software development. A mentor grant is used to support the cost of mentor assignments.
A business links grant applies to support clients carrying out market research or using specialist service providers to identify potential customers or partners. Business link grants seek to support clients in carrying out research to identify potential customers and partners using market research companies or specialist service providers. This is available to companies entering new markets.
Excel at export selling is a series of workshops aimed at rapidly promoting international sales techniques across various sectors.
The Strategic Marketing Review grant supports the undertaking of approved programs of work in conjunction with EI advisors and approved external consultants. It is aimed at established companies that have experience selling internationally and wish to review and develop their market development strategy.
The Market Access grant seeks to assist companies in developing a viable marketing strategy in a new market. It supports activities from initial market research to market launch. It may include support for new or existing staff to undertake projects, consultancy fees, purchase of market, research and databases and office rental.
International Sales
International grants support the cost of research in exploring new international business opportunities. Eligible costs include research in new markets for new or existing products and research in existing markets for new products. Eligible costs may include salaries and overheads (less than 50 employees), consultancy fees, foreign travel and substances, trade fair costs and business accelerator fees.
The Graduates for International Growth program seeks to match graduates with companies to develop and execute plans in the market. Support includes graduate salary and training.
The Acumen program seeks to stimulate cross-border trade and develop forms of co-operation throughout the island of Ireland between SMEs.
College Related
The New Frontier Entrepreneurial Development Program is run in partnership with the Institutes of Technology. It supports entrepreneurs to move their business to an investor ready stage.
It provides mentoring, incubation space and a €15,000 scholarship payment to help accelerate development and equip the promoter with the requisite skills. A mentor may be made available to support strategy and business models.
Innovation vouchers worth €5,000 are available to assist early-stage companies who work with a registered college or knowledge provider to work to explore a business proposition or technical problem.
The International Selling Program targets the management and sales staff. It seeks to enhance the ability to access new markets and accelerate export sales. It has been developed in conjunction with the Dublin Institute of Technology.
Research & Development
A number of research grants similar to those mentioned above are potentially available, including the Technical Feasibility study, which is used to investigate the development of new product processes, technologies or service offerings.
The R&D funds small projects that support processes, services and R&D projects where the grant is less than €150,000. The R&D funds standard project supports innovation and services products and processes for companies ready to move to larger projects. Their maximum grant is €650,000.
Innovation Vouchers, Innovation Partnership grant programs, Horizon 2020 and Innovation for Growth programs may be available to support research and development.
R&D Supports
A Technical Feasibility Study grant may be used to investigate the feasibility of new products, processes, technologies or service offerings. The R&D funds for smaller projects support R&D projects where the grant is less than €150,000. It is appropriate to first time company research and or companies progressing further in the relevant field.
The R&D fund for standard projects supports innovation in services, products and processes. It is appropriate for companies that are ready to undertake larger projects or to progress to undertake larger projects. The maximum grant is € 650,000.
The Innovation Partnership grant program offers support to companies engaging in collaborative research projects with Irish universities and Institutes of Technology. The proposal process and administration are managed by participating third-level research institutions.
Horizon 2020 is an EU research funding program which seeks to promote collaborative cross border research within the EU.
Management support
Platform 4 Growth is a management development program seeking to challenge SMEs that are keen to grow their business.
Supports for management include the Mentor grant, Teach Consultancy grant, Key Manager grant and Platform for Growth. Productivity and business process improvement supports include skills vouchers, Lean Start grants, Business Process Improvement grants, and Lean Transport grants.
A mentor grant may be used to investigate the feasibility of developing new products, processes, technologies or service offerings. A Strategic Consultancy grant supports the planning and implementation of new strategic development within a business.
A Key Manager grant supports the cost of hiring a new key manager. It must be critical to the company’s future development and introduce new skills and expertise to senior management.
LEAN and Related
The Lean Start grant supports the cost of underwriting a Lean Start agreement. This is an assignment undertaken by a consultant or trainer for a maximum of seven days. The grant is for the purpose of hiring a  consultant or trainer. The Green Start grant is similar and is undertaken by an environmental consultant trainer.
The Business Process Improvement grant supports short term projects which seek to develop management capability and drive efficiencies and business process improvements.
A Lean Transform grant seeks to support a large-scale, extensive and holistic company transformation programme delivered by an external consultancy. Eligible costs include consultant, trainer and employee training costs.
Large Company Supports
Large company funding supports apply to companies employing more than 250 persons with a turnover of more than €50 million or a balance sheet of more than €43 million.
A Strategic Marketing Review grant supports approved programs of work in conjunction with EI advisors and external consultants. It seeks to assist established companies who are interested in reviewing and developing their marketing development strategy.
A Market Access grant seeks to assist companies in developing a viable marketing strategy for new markets. It supports businesses in undertaking activities from initial market research to market launch. It includes new and existing staff to undertake the project, office rental, consultancy costs, the purchase of market research and selected marketing costs.
International grants support the cost of researching and exploring international business opportunities. This may include researching a new market for new or existing products or and existing market for new products. Costs may include consultancy fees, foreign travel, subsistence, approved business accelerator fees and trade fair costs.
Business Link grants seek to support clients carrying out research to identify potential customers and partners using market research companies or specialist service providers.
The Acumen program Excel at Export selling at international selling program, Graduate for International Growth (G41G) is also potentially available to large companies.
The Job Expansion funds provide support for up to €150,000 towards recruitment of new employees. Tailored company expansion scheme involved tailored financial support packages agreed with EI.