Grant Aid for Micro-enterprises in Ireland

Are you the owner/manager of a microenterprise in Ireland?

 

Are you aware of all the grants currently available from state enterprise development agencies?

 

Local Enterprise Office Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, the Irish partner in the '2inno - Do Innovation Now!' EU Project which helps small businesses to create their own innovation strategy, has compiled a list of 7 financial supports to help small Irish businesses to fund their innovation activities. Eligibility criteria apply to each offering.

 

     

 

 

1. Trading Online Vouchers
Grants of up to €2,500 ex VAT are available to support micro-enterprises part-fund the cost of undertaking a range of web site development and digital marketing strategy activities. An initiative of the National Digital Strategy, the scheme is funded by the Dept. of Communication, Energy & Natural Resources. The 1,000th voucher was awarded to a company from Kilkenny in July 2015.

 

2. Innovation Vouchers
If you own or manage a small business and you have a market opportunity you want to explore, you can apply for an Innovation Voucher worth €5,000. The voucher can be used to purchase expert assistance from one of 38 registered third level knowldege providers on the island of Ireland. Administered by Enterprise Ireland, the next call opens from 9th-23rd September 2015.

 

 

 

 

 

3. Feasibility Study Grants
Feasibility grants worth up to €15,000 are designed to assist a business owner with researching market demand for a product or service and with examining its sustainability. Eligible cost categories include market research, prototype development and product protection. The grants are administered by the national network of 31 Local Enterprise Offices located across Ireland.

 

4. Ireland's Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) Competition 2015
The IBYE competition is open to 18-30 year olds. A national prize fund of €2m is on offer across 3x award categories; Best Idea (Not Yet Trading), Best Start-Up (Trading < 24 months) & Best Established Business (Trading > 24 months). Now in its second year, the intiative is organised by the national network of 31 Local Enterprise Offices. Entries via www.ibye.ie before Friday, 21st August 2015.

 

 

 

 

5. Business Priming Funding
This part-grant, part-repayable instrument is designed to assist microenterprises that trading for less than 18 months to part-fund eligible salary & non-salary business costs. An application form together with a business plan and financial projections are required. Administered by the national network of 31 Local Enterprise Offices.

 

6. Business Expansion Funding
This part-grant, part-repayable instrument is designed to assist microenterprises that are trading for more than 18 months of trading to part-fund eligible salary & non-salary business costs. An application form together with a business plan and financial projections are required. Administered by the national network of 31 Local Enterprise Offices.

 

 

 

 

7. European Business Exchange Programme
If you are an aspiring entrepreneur or early-stage business owner, you can avail of a monthly grant of up to €1,100 to part-fund your stay of 1 to 6 months with a host business in another EU member state. 'Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs' is an EU initiative which has been running successfully since 2009 and its Irish partner, Local Enterprise Office Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, has to date funded Irish entrepreneurs across a range of sectors to gain skills, knowledge and contacts in Spain, Italy, Germany and Belgium. The scheme is open to business owners aged 18-65.

 

  For further options, visit the Supporting SMEs Online Tool