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Enterprise Ireland

31 schemes tracked

Access Advice: Digital Discovery

This Enterprise Ireland grant funds the hire of an external Digital or AI expert for 3 to 7 days, typically over 8-12 weeks, to give a company practical hands-on guidance on adopting digital technologies or AI into its operations. It provides grant funding of up to 80% of the project cost to a maximum of €5,000, with eligible costs capped at €900 per day, inclusive of travel, subsistence and all out-of-pocket expenses.

Grant range
Up to €5,000
Funding level
80%
Support type
Grant
Last checked
4 Sept 2026
Start this application on Enterprise Ireland's website (opens in a new tab)

About this scheme

Access Advice: Digital Discovery helps Irish companies explore digital technology adoption or focus specifically on adopting AI into their operations. It funds engaging a solution-agnostic Digital or AI expert for 3 to 7 days, typically over 8-12 weeks, to provide practical hands-on guidance: analysing existing digital, data or automation systems to identify gaps, exploring opportunities to optimise or integrate systems, and guiding implementation of new or enhanced solutions. Focus areas include Data Analytics and AI; enterprise IT systems not already in use (CRM, ERP, MES, Cloud Computing); and Process Automation, Sensors, Robotics, IoT and Digital Twins. Expected outcomes are new digital/data/automation/AI technologies and/or a digital action plan implementable within 3-12 months. It is aimed at Irish-owned businesses in manufacturing or internationally traded services employing 10 or more staff, or Enterprise Ireland HPSU clients. Grant funding covers up to 80% of the project cost to a maximum of €5,000. The offer was previously funded under the Digital Transition Fund (Resilience and Recovery Fund), which no longer funds it, though the grant remains open to eligible applicants.

Who can apply

  • Irish-owned business operating in the manufacturing or internationally traded services sector, employing 10 or more full-time staff
  • OR an Enterprise Ireland High Potential Startup (HPSU) client
  • Support is based on 3 to 7 days of engagement with a Digital/AI expert, typically over 8-12 weeks; eligible costs are capped at €900 per day, inclusive of travel, subsistence and all out-of-pocket expenses (this is the maximum daily rate supported by Enterprise Ireland — the provider's actual daily rate charged may be higher or lower)
  • Digital expert engaged must be solution-agnostic (no assessments from technology platform or software providers)
  • Cannot be used for: routine/business-as-usual upgrades of digital systems already in use that would not lead to a significant change in the business; paid-for software trials with technology vendors; general management consultancy (business strategy, market research, product development, financial review and planning, sales & marketing, HR planning or health & safety training, IT training for existing systems); routine consultancy audits (web, cyber security, health & safety or energy); scoping or sourcing equipment purchases or planning for other grant applications; general business process or value stream mapping; travel costs; projects better covered by existing tools and techniques (open source, commercial tools, publicly available prototypes from Ireland's Tech Centres); or projects that do not deliver business impact using technology, short- or longer-term
  • A maximum of 1 claim can be made against this grant

How to apply

  1. Company reviews the Access Advice: Digital Discovery page and brochure to check eligibility, then applies via the “Apply now” route on the page, logging in to the Enterprise Ireland client portal and contacting its Development Advisor, within the Access Advice online application process
  2. Company applies online for Access Advice: Digital Discovery and, if approved, receives a Letter of Offer confirming the grant, Project Number, approved expenditure and Final Claim Date
  3. Company engages a solution-agnostic Digital or AI expert for 3 to 7 days, typically over 8-12 weeks, to analyse existing digital, data or automation systems, explore optimisation/integration opportunities, and get guidance on implementing new or enhanced digital, data, automation or AI solutions
  4. Company downloads and completes the Access Advice Claim Form, Checklist and Director Statement (one Excel workbook), plus a Progress Report (Word document)
  5. Company emails the completed claim (with signed/PDF Director Statement) to IndustryGrantClaims@enterprise-ireland.com, including Company Name and Project Number in the subject line, with files encrypted using the company's CES ID
  6. A Payment Officer reviews the claim; if information is missing they suspend the claim and request it, or return it as invalid if the Final Claim Date has passed or documentation is significantly incomplete
  7. If complete, the claimed expenditure and supporting documentation are desk inspected and reviewed against the submitted Progress Report
  8. The Payment Officer authorises the claim and submits a payment request to Finance; a confirmation letter issues via email and payment follows to the company's bank account