Ireland Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund

Program Overview

The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) is a €500 million initiative under Ireland’s National Development Plan and the Government’s research and innovation strategy. Administered by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, and Science Foundation Ireland, the fund co-finances large-scale collaborations that harness disruptive technologies to deliver new products, services, and manufacturing processes. Projects typically involve advanced manufacturing, health and life sciences, food and agri-tech, energy and climate solutions, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and quantum technologies. The objective is to anchor high-value jobs in Ireland, expand export-led growth, and create world-class clusters that compete on a global stage.

Why DTIF Is Transformative

Disruptive technologies require significant upfront investment, multi-disciplinary expertise, and risk tolerance. The DTIF bridges gaps between research excellence and market demand by:

• Encouraging strategic alliances between enterprises (including SMEs), research-performing organizations (RPOs), and international partners.
• Providing long-term funding that supports multi-year R&D, pilot-scale manufacturing, and commercialization activities.
• Catalyzing regional development by incentivizing participation from clusters outside Dublin and supporting balanced economic growth.
• Aligning public investment with national priorities such as the Climate Action Plan, Industry 4.0 strategy, and the Innovation 2020 agenda.
• Requiring robust governance and ESG commitments that ensure responsible innovation and inclusive participation.

Funding Model and Eligible Activities

DTIF awards range from €5 million to €50 million per project, with government contributions covering up to 50% of eligible costs for industry partners and up to 60% for RPOs. Eligible activities include:

• Collaborative industrial research and experimental development.
• Design, construction, and operation of pilot plants, demonstrators, or testbeds.
• Technology integration, validation, certification, and regulatory compliance.
• Manufacturing process innovation, automation, and digitalization.
• Intellectual property management, including patent filing and freedom-to-operate analyses.
• Commercialization planning, market readiness activities, and skills development linked directly to project outcomes.

Grant payments are milestone-based and subject to financial audits. Consortia must provide matching funds through company equity, debt financing, or other public/private sources. Co-funding documentation is required at the full proposal stage.

Eligibility and Consortium Composition

Applications must come from consortia with at least three partners, including at least one industry participant and one SME. Consortia may include universities, Technological Universities (TUs), research centers, hospitals, and international collaborators, provided the majority of project activity and value creation occurs in Ireland. Requirements include:

1. Demonstrated financial capacity and commitment from all partners.
2. Clear governance structures that define roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes.
3. Evidence that the lead enterprise can commercialize outcomes from Ireland, retaining IP and production where feasible.
4. Inclusion of SMEs and regional partners to promote balanced development and supply-chain participation.
5. Compliance with EU state aid rules and Irish public procurement regulations.

Application Timeline and Process

The 2025 call closes on 30 April. The process comprises two main stages:

1. Stage 1 – Expression of Interest: Submit an outline proposal via the DTIF portal covering project vision, consortium profile, indicative budget, and alignment with disruptive technology themes. Outline proposals are assessed on strategic fit, potential impact, and consortium quality.
2. Stage 2 – Full Proposal: Shortlisted teams submit comprehensive applications including technical plans, TRL roadmaps, commercialization strategies, IP frameworks, detailed budgets, ESG plans, and governance structures. International expert panels evaluate proposals, followed by an advisory board recommendation to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Successful projects negotiate grant agreements that set milestones, reporting cadence, and intellectual property obligations.

Crafting a Compelling Proposal

To stand out, consortia should deliver a coherent narrative that demonstrates:

• Disruptive Impact: Explain how the technology fundamentally changes the market, creates new value chains, or solves an urgent global challenge. Include benchmarking data against incumbent solutions.
• Economic Benefit: Quantify expected exports, productivity gains, and job creation. Detail spillover effects for SMEs, suppliers, and regional clusters.
• Technology Readiness: Provide a TRL baseline and describe the progression toward commercialization. Include Gantt charts, work breakdown structures, and integration plans across partners.
• Commercial Pathway: Present customer validation, pilot commitments, go-to-market strategies, and revenue models. Identify regulatory pathways and international market entry plans.
• Team Excellence: Highlight leadership, technical expertise, and prior collaboration track records. Showcase advisory boards, industrial partners, or investors supporting the consortium.
• Sustainability and Inclusion: Address environmental benefits, circular economy approaches, gender balance initiatives, and talent development programmes.

Work Packages and Governance

DTIF expects rigorous project management. Organize the program into work packages such as:

1. WP1 – Research & Technology Development: Fundamental research, algorithm design, material characterization.
2. WP2 – Prototype & Pilot Engineering: System integration, pilot plant construction, validation testing.
3. WP3 – Commercial Readiness: Regulatory approvals, supply chain development, customer pilots, and business model refinement.
4. WP4 – Skills & Ecosystem Development: Workforce training, outreach to SMEs, STEM education initiatives.
5. WP5 – Management & Dissemination: Governance, reporting, risk management, and communication activities.

Establish a steering committee with senior representatives from each partner and a project management office to oversee execution. Include subcommittees for technical reviews, finance, IP, and ESG. Document conflict resolution mechanisms and escalation paths.

Budget Planning and Co-Funding Strategy

Prepare partner-specific budgets with clear cost categories—personnel, equipment, consumables, subcontracting, travel, and overhead. Example structure:

Include letters of commitment, audited financial statements, and cash flow forecasts. Ensure budgets align with state aid limits and demonstrate value for money.

Intellectual Property and Commercialization Framework

Before submission, consortia must agree on background IP access, ownership of foreground IP, revenue sharing, and exploitation routes. Provide term sheets or draft collaboration agreements. Outline plans for patent filings, licensing, spin-outs, or joint ventures. Describe manufacturing and export strategies, highlighting how the project will anchor high-value activities in Ireland. Address data governance, cybersecurity, and compliance with EU regulations (GDPR, medical device directives, etc.).

ESG, Risk Management, and Compliance

DTIF emphasizes responsible innovation. Develop ESG metrics covering carbon reduction, resource efficiency, workforce diversity, and community engagement. Create a risk register with mitigation strategies for technical, regulatory, financial, and partnership risks. Detail compliance procedures for procurement, ethics (human/animal research), and environmental impact assessments. Demonstrate alignment with Ireland’s Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act and relevant sector regulations.

Communication and Dissemination Plan

Outline how the consortium will communicate progress to stakeholders, policymakers, and the public. Activities may include white papers, industry conferences, demonstrators, media briefings, and collaboration with education providers. Highlight initiatives that inspire future innovators—apprenticeships, hackathons, or open data portals. Effective dissemination strengthens Ireland’s reputation as a hub for disruptive technologies and showcases the value of public investment.

Application Checklist

Ensure the following documentation is ready:

1. Stage 1 outline proposal with executive summary and consortium credentials.
2. Stage 2 full proposal with technical plan, TRL roadmap, commercialization strategy, and market analysis.
3. Detailed budgets, financial statements, and co-funding letters for each partner.
4. Signed consortium agreement or heads of terms covering IP, governance, and financial arrangements.
5. Risk management plan, ESG strategy, and compliance documentation.
6. Communication and dissemination strategy, including KPIs for outreach and impact.
7. Evidence of stakeholder engagement—letters from customers, regulators, or cluster organizations.

Maximizing Post-Award Success

Winning DTIF funding is only the beginning. Establish project management offices capable of tracking milestones, managing audits, and coordinating partner activities. Engage Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland for export promotion, inward investment, and talent attraction. Leverage Ireland’s research infrastructure—Technology Gateways, Science Foundation Ireland research centres, and European networks—to sustain innovation beyond the grant period. By executing with discipline and ambition, DTIF consortia can deliver transformative technologies that elevate Ireland’s global competitiveness.

Insider Tips to Win Ireland Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund

• Stage proposals through Irish ecosystem partners. Secure endorsements from Enterprise Ireland, IDA, or regional clusters to show demand for your solution beyond the consortium.
• Map TRL progression explicitly. Translate each work package into TRL milestones and exit criteria so reviewers see a credible path to commercialization.
• Demonstrate co-investment capacity. Document private or industry matching funds to reinforce value for money under state-aid rules.