Irish Government launch latest Call for Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund

Enterprise, Innovation and Science Ministers collaborate to launch Call 6 of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) - an initiative to promote industry-research partnerships for breakthrough technologies.

With DTIF's support, Ireland aims to make its mark on the global tech scene through inventive collaborations that drive innovation forward.

Minister Coveney and Calleary visited DCU Alpha to witness the success of a DTIF funded project.  The project which operates in a successful consortium of Exergyn Ltd, DCU and Fort Wayne Metals Ireland Ltd is Nextgen Heat - a zero-emission, refrigerant-free heat pump which will enable Ireland’s transition to a low-carbon economy, that was awarded €2.4m in DTIF funding in December 2019.

Call 6 is an open call and, in a change from the previous open calls, the type of eligible research is broadened to include both “industrial research” and/or “experimental development”.

The Fund is an ideal opportunity for Irish-based organisations to collaborate on research projects of scale and impact. To be eligible, the consortium must include one SME alongside a minimum of two other enterprises that are clients of Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland Údarás na Gaeltachta or Science Foundation Ireland.

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

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is proud to offer its latest funding initiative with over €288m already allocated to innovative projects.

All eligible applications received by the deadline of 3pm on 31 May 2023, will undergo rigorous assessment by panels of independent international experts.

The Government has already allocated €288m to 86 successful projects approved under the previous four DTIF calls, with further funding under DTIF Calls 4 and 5 to be announced in the coming weeks. These projects cover areas such as life sciences, medical devices, ICT, artificial intelligence, manufacturing and environmental sustainability.

When launching Call 6 today, Minister Coveney said:

“Last year, the White Paper on Enterprise set out a vision for Irish-based enterprise to succeed through competitive advantage founded on sustainability, innovation and productivity, delivering rewarding jobs and livelihoods. The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) is an important tool for making that vision a reality.

“The Fund has already demonstrated its value in facilitating high quality, high-value industrial research projects across our six national research priority areas. The launch of Call 6 today demonstrates this Government’s commitment to leveraging the excellent research base in Ireland and partnering with enterprise, so that we can continue to improve our economic competitiveness and societal needs.

“This Call will provide an opportunity for our enterprise and research sectors to demonstrate their ability to respond to the twin green and digital transitions. These two major global transformations will provide major opportunities for new firms to emerge and for existing Irish firms to gain market share in new technologies and industries. Investment in areas like decarbonisation and digitalisation is crucial to meeting our commitments under the EU Green Deal and facilitating our transition to a low carbon, sustainable economic model which is why I was delighted to see today the Call 2 project funded by DTIF to deliver a next generation heat pump.”

Invest in pioneering research that will bring tangible results to the Irish economy and society. Our focus is on establishing long-term, economically viable projects with a commercialisation outlook of 3–7 years within six key areas – ICT; Health & Wellbeing; Food Production; Energy Transition & Sustainability Strategies; Manufacturing & Advanced Materials Technologies, as well as Business Services Optimization & Streamlined Processes.

Investing in digital transformation and decarbonization can be a win-win for enterprises. Through the DTIF's White Paper on Enterprise, we encourage projects that contribute to these goals as well as those involved with the construction industry—all of which have been identified by our Climate Action Plan's sustainability targets. So let’s work together today to help build an economically secure future!

Simon Harris, TD, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science said:

“The Disruptive Technologies Fund is an essential tool in ensuring we have enterprise driven research. Our research strategy - Impact 2030 - clearly sets out the need for collaboration between enterprises and the research sector.

“The DTIF investments will utilise the Irish research community to develop a cohesive research and innovation ecosystem that will boost Ireland’s competitiveness and societal needs. Collaboration between our research base, indigenous SMEs and our multinational corporations in developing new and novel technologies is key to continuing to strengthen the research and innovation system in Ireland.

“The investment in research and innovation through this fund will help us to achieve our ambition for Ireland to be a world innovation leader. Therefore, I would encourage our research performing organisations to explore opportunities to build strong consortia with enterprise to capitalise on the funding available under this Call."

Dara Calleary, TD, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation also welcomed the DTIF funding:

“The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) is a key tool for meeting the ambitions outlined in the White Paper on Enterprise. The Fund contributes to six of the seven priority enterprise policy objectives set out in the White Paper. It is especially important for stepping up our enterprise innovation by deepening innovation capability across the enterprise sector and embedding a culture of continuous innovation among our SMEs.

“The collaborations arising from DTIF are cutting edge. Some projects are utilising digital technologies to develop innovative solutions to challenges in areas such as cancer treatments while other are exploring methods for decarbonising heating systems. All of the projects have the potential to develop market-leading products and services, which would further boost Ireland’s exports and create jobs.”

Leo Clancy, CEO, Enterprise Ireland, said:

“Enterprise Ireland is pleased to continue to support the latest call under the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund. We are beginning to see ground-breaking technologies and business advancement from earlier participants of the DTIF programme and I expect similar cutting-edge developments from companies availing of this new call, in particular within priority sectors for development such as construction, climate and sustainability.”

Where can I find more information on the DTIF?

A wealth of information is available on the Enterprise.gov website:  https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/innovation-research-development/disruptive-technologies-innovation-fund/ .You are also of course welcome to discuss any aspect of innovation grant funding and how your business can benefit by contacting our team.

Irish R&D grant funding opportunities - and how to get your hands on them

There are numerous opportunities to obtain R&D grant funding if your business is located in the Republic of Ireland. All sorts of support is on offer, including feasibility grants, innovation vouchers and much more.

So the big question is - how are you supposed to know which grant would suit your plans for innovation best? When are the competitions run and how do you apply? That’s where R&D funding consultancies like us at Myriad Associates come in.

Our Dublin-based team has years of experience in matching our clients to the ideal R&D funding options for them. We take the time to understand what your plans for innovation are and will then help you identify the right scheme for you. Plus, when it comes to making your application, we’re on hand to advise you every step of the way.

At Myriad Associates we’re proud of our exceptional track record in winning our clients the cash they need to innovate - could your business be next?

Send us a message using our contact page or call our friendly expert team on +353 1 566 2001.