The business world is always evolving, so planning ahead will prepare your business to perform at its best for years to come. Here are some of the most popular supports to help your business become more sustainable, innovate or transform digitally.
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Featured sustainability supports
In today’s world, consumers increasingly want to buy from businesses committed to sustainability. But making the shift can feel overwhelming – that’s where we come in.
Here are some of the most popular supports to help you take the first step to becoming more sustainable, reduce your environmental impact and save money.
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44 supports based on your selections
Woodland Improvement Scheme
Offers financial support to forest owners for sustainable forest management
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in Ireland runs the Woodland Improvement Scheme (WIS) to provide financial support to forest owners for sustainable forest management practices. This helps meet the goals of both producing wood products and conserving the environment.
You may be eligible if:
You are an individual applicant or company
You must be the owner, leaseholder or joint manager of the land at the time of the application.
Support Scheme for Renewable Heat
Switch from fossil fuel to renewable heating
This scheme promotes the use of renewable sources for heating to reduce Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuels for a more energy-independent future.
For businesses that want to replace existing fossil fuel heating systems with renewable alternatives.
You might be eligible if:
- You are a business of any size, including agricultural, public sector bodies and non-profit organisations
- You comply with the specific requirements and regulations outlined by the SEAI
Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.
Sustainability Communication
Resources to help you communicate your food or drink business sustainability initiatives
These supports help food and drink marketing and commercial teams to communicate their sustainability activities to customers.
Food and drink businesses that want to improve their sustainability claims to strengthen their business relationships.
You may be eligible if:
- You are a Bord Bia client
Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.
Support Scheme for Energy Audits
Discover areas to improve energy efficiency within your business
This scheme provides vouchers to help businesses in Ireland assess their energy efficiency and identify areas for improvement.
Businesses that are looking for ways to save energy and reduce costs.
You might be eligible if:
- You are a small to medium business
- You spend at least €10,000 annually on energy (excluding transport costs) at the site being audited
- You are not obligated to conduct energy audits under the EU Energy Efficiency Directive
Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.
Organic Farming Scheme
Provides financial support to farmers to encourage production of organic foods
A program that financially supports farmers who are converting to or continuing organic farming practices. The scheme's goals are to encourage organic food production, reduce the environmental impact of farming and improve animal welfare.
You may be eligible if:
- You are an applicant who wishes to produce livestock and crop products according to the EU organic standards and have completed an approved training course
Origin Green Sustainability Programme Membership
Origin Green is Ireland's food and drink sustainability programme
Run by Bord Bia, it provides Irish food and drink companies with a sustainability framework and mentorship and guidance to develop a multi-annual sustainability plan and attain third party verification of the initial plan and progress against actions on an annual basis
Requirements:
- Applicants must produce or handle food for human consumption.
- Companies must have a minimum turnover of >€100,000 per annum to participate in the Origin Green Charter.
- Applicants must have a ROI based production facility(ies) to be eligible to participate in the Origin Green Charter.
- All manufacturing as it relates to inclusion in the Origin Green plan must be ROI based.
- Applicants must be in production for a minimum of one full calendar year prior to applying for the Origin Green charter. This will ensure baseline data to develop sustainability targets is available from the outset.
- Applicants must ensure they are formally registered as a Bord Bia client.
- Primary meat processor with a turnover >€50 million (Tier 1 & 2) or operations defined by Bord Bia as high risk (any Tier) must be a member of the Bord Bia Food Processor Standard (FPS)
Origin Green Academy
Sustainability Guidance & Training Programmes
The Origin Green Academy supports Irish food, drink, and horticulture businesses to develop industry leading sustainability/ESG talent and the sustainability skills required to achieve ambitious emissions reductions across the sector, accelerate their sustainability progress, and meet the expectations of global consumers and legislative requirements
You may be eligible if:
- You are a Origin Green member
Enterprise Ireland Sustainability Webinar Series/Workshops
Helping business leaders to understand the importance of sustainability and ESG, and equip you with the practical skills to incorporate these principles into your business plans
Enterprise Ireland’s Sustainability Kickstarter online workshops help SME business leaders to understand the importance of sustainability and ESG and equip them with the practical skills to incorporate these principles into their business plans.
The webinars are listed on the Enterprise Ireland website: Improve sustainability | Business Support | Enterprise Ireland
The workshops are available to senior leaders and sustainability representatives in Enterprise Ireland and Local Enterprise Office client companies across
all sectors and stages of growth. The ideal participants should have a good understanding of their business operations and a willingness to embrace sustainable
practices. For maximum engagement and impact, two representatives from a company are encouraged to participate.
Leaders Sustainability Acceleration Programme
Leaders Sustainability Acceleration Programme
A sustainability executive education programme, bespoke to the Irish food and drink industry run by Bord Bia in parnership with UCD Smurfit. Cost per participant is €4,500. Of a total cost of €9,000 - Bord Bia subsidises the fee by 50%
You may be eligible if:
- You are a board member.
- You are C-Suite – Senior Leaders in Origin Green member companies
Climate Action Supports
Online resources for a more sustainable business
A range of online resources, guides, case studies and practical tools, including access to a carbon calculator to determine your business carbon footprint and benchmark your carbon emissions nationally and internationally. These tools will help tourism and hospitality businesses meet their sustainability goals and introduce energy efficient cost-saving measures.
Businesses that want to address climate challenges and become more environmentally friendly.
You might be eligible if you are a business in the Irish hospitality and tourism industry, such as:
- an accommodation provider (hotels, B&Bs, self-catering)
- a restaurant or cafe
- an activity providers (tours, attractions, adventure activities)
- a tourism-related businesses (transport, retail, cultural experiences, festival)
Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.
Featured digitalisation supports
Go digital to make your business more efficient and flexible so you can respond quickly to opportunities and challenges.
Here are some of the most popular supports to help you on your digital transformation journey.
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14 supports based on your selections
Think Digital
Create digital marketing strategies with expert guidance
This program helps food and drink businesses use digital tools, improve their online presence, and access tailored digital training for the food and drink industry.
Food and drink businesses that need support to develop a digital marketing strategy and learn how to use online channels effectively.
You may be eligible if:
- You are a Bord Bia client
Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.
IDA Ireland Online Self-Assessment Diagnostics
Assess your digitalisation and innovation levels
IDA Ireland offers online self-assessment diagnostics tools for client companies. These free, 20-minute assessments help businesses evaluate their current and future digitalisation and innovation maturity level.
You may be eligible if:
- You are a IDA Client company in the manufacturing sector that want to assess current and future maturity levels in advanced digital and sustainable technologies can use the Advanced Manufacturing Diagnostic (AMD).
- You are a IDA Client company in services interested in assessing current and future digitalisation level and pinpointing areas for improvement can benefit from the Digitalisation Diagnostic for Services (DDS).
- Any IDA Ireland client compay can use the Innovation Scorecard Diagnostic (ISD) to assess their overall current and target innovation maturity levels
Industry Digitalisation
Digital transformation for visitor experience businesses
In today's digital world, a strong online presence and the effective use of digital technologies are crucial for long-term success in the tourism industry. Our programme helps you adopt and optimise digital technologies, enhancing your skills to give your business a competitive edge.
Tourism businesses interested in introducing digital technologies to enhance online visibility and boost online sales to new audiences.
Fáilte Ireland offers specific digital transformation programmes aimed at re-imagining the digital capability of attractions and activity providers, strategically funded festivals, tourism focused golf courses and tourism accommodations within targeted regional areas.
Expressions of interest calls are announced at intervals based on sectoral needs and demand.
In order to be eligible, businesses must demonstrate ambition for commercial growth in line with the programme's objectives.
Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.
Access Advice : Digital Discovery
Develop a digital plan and introduce new technologies
To be competitive in today’s market, businesses need to understand what digital technology can offer. This grant incentivises and supports companies to introduce new digital technologies and solutions into their operations. Leading to greater efficiency, improved customer experiences, better decision-making, and an enhanced ability to bring better and more diverse products to market
Companies looking to introduce new digital technologies to their business to boost efficiency, improve services and create a better customer experience.
You may be eligible if:
- You are an Enterprise Ireland (EI) client
- You are an Irish owned business operating in the manufacturing/internationally traded services sectors employing 10 or more.
Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.
Digital for Business
This is a free programme that helps small businesses explore the advantages that digitalisation offers.
This provides a business with an expert digital consultant, who will assist them in analysing the existing digital systems in the business, to identify potential gaps and explore the opportunities to optimise existing systems to meet their business needs
You may be eligible if:
- You are a small to medium business
- You employ up to 50 people
- You operate in the commercial sphere
- You have been operating for at least 6 months
- You are a solvent enterprise, as demonstrated by financial statements
Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions
Digital Transition Fund
Increase your business’ productivity and efficiency with digital technology
This support provides funding to invest in new digital tools, services and technology that will make your business more efficient and resilient
You might be eligible if:
- You are a small to medium business
- Your business is developing, expanding and located in a Gaeltacht region
Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.
IDA Ireland Business Development Programme
Develop your Site Strategic Plan
This programme provides consultancy support to help companies develop a strategic plan for the site that includes or specifically focuses on digitalisation, innovation, talent development and sustainability.
You may be eligible if you are:
- IDA client companies that need to build a strategic plan (including digital transformation) and value proposition for the Irish site.
Grow Digital Voucher
Financial support to embrace digital technology
Grow Digital Voucher offers financial support so your business can embrace digital technology
You may be eligible if:
- Established and trading for at least 6 months, registered, and operate within the area of the Local Enterprise Office
Grow Digital Portal
A Digital Toolkit for All Businesses
The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment's Grow Digital portal is a a digital toolkit for all businesses, to help them to embrace the opportunities that digital technologies and tools can offer.
You may be eligible if:
- You are at any stage of your digital journey, but especially for those who are just starting out. You can use the tool to assess where you are now, what you can do moving forward, and where you can go to get help.
FSAI Website
A comprehensive resource, featuring guidance documents, Q&As, training materials, and legislative updates
The site includes specific sections on food legislation, allergen management, food labelling requirements, and more, making it a valuable tool for any food business in Ireland.
The FSAI website operates as a complete resource for food businesses, consumers, inspectors and interested stakeholders
Featured innovation supports
Embracing innovation helps your business to grow and adapt to changing customer needs.
Here are some of the most popular supports to help you create a workplace that’s open to new ideas and ways to improve, to set you apart from the competition.
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40 supports based on your selections
BI:TES - Concept Testing
Ensure your food or drink products appeal to customers and sell them more effectively
This tool tests and validates your food or drink ideas, provided in partnership with Bord Bia and an independent research agency, both in Ireland and internationally.
Food or drink businesses that want to improve their packaging and concept design.
You may be eligible if:
- You are a Bord Bia client
Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.
Taste 'n' Tell
Reduce the risks of innovation by evaluating your newest food or drink products
This tool evaluates and validates your food or drink product. It’s provided by a certified research agency–available in Ireland and internationally.
Food or drink businesses looking to test a product's concept and taste with target consumers.
You may be eligible if:
- You are a Bord Bia client
Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.
CAP Network Ireland
Support network for the CAP Strategic Plan
CAP Network Ireland supports agriculture in Ireland, specifically the implementation of the CAP Strategic Plan. Their work includes research, management, demonstrations, communications and supporting the development of innovative projects and businesses
You may be eligible if:
- Any business looking for information on supports that are available through the CAP Strategic Plan, particularly producer groups, producer organisations, co-ops or those looking to form EIP-AGRI operational groups.
Innovation Capability
Bring new food and drink ideas to life
This programme teaches food and drink businesses to innovate for growth by incorporating innovation into all aspects of the business.
Food or drink businesses that need help coming up with innovative ideas.
You may be eligible if:
- You are a Bord Bia client
Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.
IDA Ireland RD&I Programme
Engage in research, development and innovation.
The RD&I Programme supports research, development, and innovation (RD&I) activities for client companies. It offers a range of resources to help companies innovate and grow and build R&D activities in Ireland.
You may be eligible if:
- You are an existing client company of IDA Ireland that want to expand or further develop your existing R&D facilitites in Ireland. Or companies that want to establish an R&D facility in Ireland.
Built to Innovate
An initiative by Enterprise Ireland under the Housing for All programme
The Built to Innovate initiative is aimed at increasing productivity and innovation with a view to reducing the cost of construction.
To be eligible for supports businesses must:
Be Irish companies with a minimum of 10 full time employees,
Construction services and manufacturing companies that have a minimum of 20% of revenue derived from home building.
Eligible Activities
Projects seeking grant funding will be assessed as follows:
For productivity projects, the project to be undertaken must involve a new process or a significant improvement to an existing process which can demonstrate an impact on the cost of home building in Ireland.
For Innovation projects, the project must result in a new product or process which will have a demonstrable impact on the cost of home building in Ireland.
European Digital Innovation Hub - ENTIRE
One-stop shop supporting companies and public sector organisations to respond to digital challenges and become more competitive
This EDIH focuses on supporting organisations active in the digitalisation of life sciences/health tech, agriculture, energy and transport sectors, advancing the exploration, exploitation, and investment by Irish SMEs and public authorities in the utilisation of intelligent secure IoT sensors, networks, and software.
You may be eligible if:
- You are a small to medium business
- You are a multi national business
- You are a public sector organisation
- You employ up to 3,000 employees
Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.
European Digital Innovation Hub - FactoryxChange
One-stop shop supporting companies and public sector organisations to respond to digital challenges and become more competitive
This EDIH is made up of businesses, innovators, and industry experts from diverse backgrounds, all working together to drive digitisation and make advanced technologies accessible for manufacturing startups and SMEs.
You may be eligible if:
- You are a small to medium business
- You are a multi national business
- You are a public sector organisation
- You employ up to 3,000 employees
Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.
Access Advice: IP Start
Help and advice on intellectual property matters
Access Advice: IP Start supports companies to obtain external expert IP advisory and support services to address immediate IP issues. For example, prior-art research in support of an RD&I Technical Feasibility study, IP Audit, drafting and filing a patent, registering a trademark etc.
Businesses actively involved in research and development that need immediate help with intellectual property matters.
You may be eligible if:
- You are an existing Enterprise Ireland, a Local Enterprise Office or Údarás na Gaeltachta client
- You are an Irish owned businesses operating in the manufacturing/internationally traded services sectors employing 10 or more.
Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.
Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund - Udaras
Investing in the development and deployment of disruptive technologies
This Fund seeks to invest in the development and deployment of disruptive technologies and drive collaboration between Ireland’s world-class industry and research base, based on existing challenges. DTIF supports enterprises wishing to engage in 'industrial research' and/or 'experimental development' for collaborative research to develop and deploy disruptive technologies, on a commercial basis
Technology-based businesses of all sizes and sectors that are creating new products, processes or services that will change the way we work and live. The fund also aims to encourage research and development collaboration between universities and businesses of all sizes and industries.
You may be eligible if:
- You are based in Ireland
- You are an existing Údarás na Gaeltachta
- You are an eligible Research Performing Organisation (RPO) – an institution that conducts research.
Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.