Innovation supports look like they are for research companies with laboratories. Two of these three are not: the Innovation Voucher exists to buy a small firm some expertise it could not otherwise afford, and Green for Business costs nothing at all.
Quick facts
- Innovation Voucher
- Co-funded, up to €20,000
- Voucher validity
- 18 months, available all year round
- RD&I Fund
- New products or services with a real technical challenge
- Green for Business
- Free — up to two days of expert consultancy
- Green eligibility
- 1 to 50 employees
- One application
- Holding groups, franchises and linked companies get one between them
Innovation Vouchers — up to €20,000
Aimed at "SMEs seeking innovative input", with "Co-Funded Vouchers up to €20,000".
"All vouchers are valid for 18 months and available all year round" — so there is no round to wait for, and eighteen months is long enough to fit around a small firm's actual workload.
The voucher is spent with a registered knowledge provider — a university, institute of technology or research body — on a specific question your business cannot answer itself. It is not cash for general development.
The RD&I Fund — for a genuine technical problem
Enterprise Ireland's Research, Development and Innovation Fund is "To develop new products or services".
The bar is specific: "The project must involve the resolution of some technical challenge, be non-routine or represent a ‘step-up’ for the company in terms of the level of RD&I capability."
Read that before applying. Routine product improvement does not qualify — the project has to solve something the company does not currently know how to solve.
Green for Business — free, and wider than it sounds
"The Green for Business support is a free consultancy programme designed to help small businesses like yours become more sustainable. Through up to two days of expert consultancy, you’ll work with a specialist Green Consultant who will identify practical, impactful changes tailored to your business."
The commercial case rather than the environmental one is what sells it: "Adopting more sustainable business practices can help reduce operating costs through more efficient use of energy, water and materials."
"The Green for Business support is open to all enterprises with 1-50 employees except those involved in activities that the Local Enterprise Offices consider as ineligible for example primary agricultural businesses - farms or as involving an unacceptable reputational risk: gambling including ‘gaming’ (as defined in the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956), adult entertainment, tobacco products and cannabis-based products which are not authorised as medicines)"
One to fifty employees is almost every small business in the country. And an unexpected inclusion: "Sporting bodies that carry on activities which would be chargeable to tax under Case I or II of Schedule D but for an exemption set out in section 235 TCA are eligible to apply for the Green for Business support."
Two rules that catch groups out
"The enterprise must be established, registered and operate within the geographic location of the Local Enterprise Office" — you apply to your own LEO, not whichever one answers fastest.
"Companies forming part of a holding group, franchise, linked companies etc. are only permitted to make one application. Multiple applications will not be considered." One application across the group, so decide which entity needs it most before anybody applies.
Common questions
How much is an Innovation Voucher worth?
Co-funded vouchers are available up to €20,000, for SMEs seeking innovative input. All vouchers are valid for 18 months and are available all year round.
What does the RD&I Fund support?
Developing new products or services, where the project involves resolving a technical challenge, is non-routine, or represents a step-up for the company in RD&I capability.
Is Green for Business free?
Yes. It is a free consultancy programme giving up to two days with a specialist Green Consultant who identifies practical changes tailored to your business.
Who can apply for Green for Business?
All enterprises with 1 to 50 employees, except activities the Local Enterprise Offices consider ineligible — primary agricultural businesses such as farms, gambling and gaming, adult entertainment, tobacco, and unauthorised cannabis-based products.
Can a sporting body apply?
Yes. Sporting bodies carrying on activities that would be chargeable to tax under Case I or II of Schedule D but for the section 235 TCA exemption are eligible for Green for Business.
Can each company in our group apply?
No. Companies forming part of a holding group, franchise or linked companies are only permitted to make one application, and multiple applications will not be considered.