Large Company Funding

This section sets out the main funding supports and programmes for large companies in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors. A large company is a company that employs greater than 250 employees, has either an annual turnover of greater than €50m or an annual balance sheet of greater than €43m. Note: Previous funding approved by Enterprise Ireland may impact on your eligibility for the following supports. Please consult with your Enterprise Ireland Adviser (DA) to discuss.

Funding decisions are determined by the;

  • Need for financial support for the project
  • Potential employment and sales growth
  • Previous funding provided to the company
  • Regional location of the company

If your DA instructs you that this is an ERDF project, click on ERDF Information for Clients.

Market Research and Internationalisation Supports

  • Be Prepared Grant
    Supports the costs of SME clients in preparing a plan to mitigate risks and optimise opportunities arising from Brexit. It can be used to help cover consultancy, travel and out of pocket expenses associated with researching the direction of their Brexit action plan. This might involve investigating the feasibility of diversifying to new markets and market segments; investment in innovation; improvement in operational competitiveness; enhancement of strategic financial capability.
  • Market Discovery Fund
    The aim of the Market Discovery Fund is to incentivise companies to research viable and sustainable market entry strategies in new geographic markets. It provides support towards internal and external costs incurred when researching new markets for products and services.
  • Internationalisation Grant
    Now ceased.
  • Graduates for International Growth (G4IG) Programme
    The programme matches graduates with companies to develop and execute plans to grow in key markets. Support available for the graduate salary and training. Call close date applies.
  • Excel at Export Selling
    Excel at Export Selling is a series of workshops aimed at rapidly embedding the proven tools of good international selling practice into the sales teams of Irish companies across all industry sectors.
  • International Selling Programme
    Targeting company management and sales staff, this 10 month programme enhances company ability to access new markets and accelerates export sales growth. Delivered in conjunction with Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) in partnership with a panel of world-class experts and practitioners.

Supports for Product, Process or Services Development

  • Be Prepared Grant
    Supports the costs of SME clients in preparing a plan to mitigate risks and optimise opportunities arising from Brexit. It can be used to help cover consultancy, travel and out of pocket expenses associated with researching the direction of their Brexit action plan. This might involve investigating the feasibility of diversifying to new markets and market segments; investment in innovation; improvement in operational competitiveness; enhancement of strategic financial capability.
  • Exploring Innovation Grant
    Can be used to investigate the feasibility of developing a new product, process, technology or service offering.
  • In-house Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) Fund
    Supporting the development of new or substantially improved products, services or processes.  Projects may range from solving technical challenges (R&D) to innovations in services delivery or business models (Business Innovation).
  • Agile Innovation Fund
    Agile Innovation projects supports companies in sectors with rapid design cycles to maintain their technology position.  The benefits of this grant are that it allows for a very simple application process and delivers a very fast response from application to approval.
  • Business Innovation
    Supporting investment in the implementation of new production, delivery or organisational methods within a company in order to increase competitiveness on global markets.
  • Innovation Partnership Grant Programme
    Offers financial support to companies who engage in collaborative research projects with Irish universities and Institutes of Technology. The proposal process and administration of the project is managed by the participating third level research institution.
  • Horizon 2020 and other EU Research Funding Programmes
    If your company is interested in working on collaborative research projects with research partners across Europe, there are a range of international research programmes designed to foster collaborative cross-border research between companies in different member states.
  • Innovation 4 Growth Programme
    Targeted at ambitious companies seeking to drive growth through innovation, this programme supports companies through an end-to-end innovation learning and practice journey to deliver on one or more innovation initiatives. 

Supports to Enhance and Develop your Management Team

  • Leadership 4 Growth (L4G) Programme
    Delivered in conjunction with Stanford University this flagship programme is designed to develop and enhance the leadership ambition, mindset and capability of Irish CEOs and their senior management teams to lead innovative, scalable companies, capable of achieving sustained international growth.

Productivity and Business Process Improvement Supports

  • Be Prepared Grant
    Supports the costs of SME clients in preparing a plan to mitigate risks and optimise opportunities arising from Brexit. It can be used to help cover consultancy, travel and out of pocket expenses associated with researching the direction of their Brexit action plan. This might involve investigating the feasibility of diversifying to new markets and market segments; investment in innovation; improvement in operational competitiveness; enhancement of strategic financial capability.
  • Building Information Modelling (BIM)
    Enterprise Ireland offer’s two levels of support for clients who wish to scope out and then implement a digital roadmap to drive growth within their organisation. BIM-Enable is a 7-day strategic consultancy programme which assists companies to set out a digital roadmap and consider how they can apply BIM within their organisation. BIM-Implement places an emphasis on training and the learning and implementation of BIM across the organisation.
  • Business Process Improvement Grant
    Grant to support short term company projects that are designed to develop management capability and drive company efficiencies and business process improvements. Eligible Projects include either 1) LeanPlus, 2) E-Marketing or 3) Environmental Improvement Projects.
  • Lean Start Grant
    Used to support the costs of undertaking a “Lean Start Assignment”. This is a short assignment undertaken by a Lean consultant/trainer. Eligible Expenditure is limited to the cost of hiring a Lean consultant/trainer for a maximum of 7 days.
  • Lean Transform Grant
    Used to support a “Lean Transform Project". This is a large scale, extensive and holistic company transformation programme delivered by an external consultancy team of international reputation. Eligible cost include Fees for an external Lean consultant/trainer and Employee training costs and associated training costs.
  • Operational Excellence offer
    Grant to support a company transformational project.  Used to encompass Lean Transform, Business Innovation and the Capital Investment Initiative into a single project.

Company Expansion Packages

  • Tailored Company Expansion Packages
    If you are planning to undertake an ambitious expansion of your company that will create employment and grow your sales in international markets, Enterprise Ireland can discuss a tailored financial support package for your company.