Irish technology businesses considering the eighth Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund call should establish their partnership structure before treating it as an ordinary startup grant. The Department of Enterprise announced the €40 million competitive call on 1 October 2026. Its current notice gives an extended deadline of 3 February 2027 at 3pm Irish time, replacing the previously announced 31 January date. [1]

The minimum funding request is €1.5 million for a project lasting up to three years. The consortium needs at least three eligible partners, including an SME and another enterprise. Partners must be based in Ireland and meet the stated agency-client or research-organisation requirements. SMEs need matched funding; large companies must provide 60% of project funding. [1]

Check what each partner contributes

An eligible partnership is a starting condition, not proof that a project will succeed. Write down the problem, the proposed technical advance and the contribution that requires each partner’s involvement. Identify responsibility for research, development and a route towards commercial use before drafting promotional language.

The department now permits certain semi-State organisations and public bodies to join as non-funded partners, while still requiring at least three other eligible partners. Do not count a non-funded addition as automatically satisfying the core partnership threshold. [1]

Keep a list of unresolved eligibility and funding questions for the official information sessions. If one condition remains unclear, seek an answer before committing substantial application work or assuming particular costs will be supported.

Use the October information opportunities

The announcement lists a Disruptech information and partner-networking event at Mullingar Park Hotel on 13 October, followed by a Dublin event on 15 October. Separately, Enterprise Ireland advertises an online applicant webinar for 22 October at 11am, covering eligibility, funding rates, applications and questions. Use the official pages to check participation arrangements. [1][2]

The webinar is an opportunity to clarify a proposal, not an assessment or funding offer. Before attending, prepare a short project outline, a partner list and the questions that could change the application’s viability. This guide does not confirm any organisation’s eligibility or promise an award.