Innovation Partnership Programme (IPP)

About this scheme

The Innovation Partnership Programme (IPP) supports innovation and the commercialisation of research into business, encouraging Irish-based companies to work with Irish research institutes for mutually beneficial engagement. It allows a company to access expertise and resources to undertake research towards new or improved products, processes or services, or generate new knowledge and know-how, benefiting the company's growth and strategic R&D while the research institute develops skill sets, IP and publications. Grant rates depend on company size and research type, ranging up to 80% for Industrial Collaborative Research down to 40% for Experimental Collaborative Development at Large companies; up to 100% capital funding may be available for large equipment. Funding for established companies will typically not exceed €200,000, though larger projects with clear economic impact may be funded higher. It is aimed at manufacturing or internationally traded services companies based in the Republic of Ireland, registered clients of Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, a Local Enterprise Office, or Údarás na Gaeltachta, collaborating with Irish research institutes, with a minimum 20% cash contribution from the company. Applications proceed through an Outline Proposal (or a Feasibility Study, 100% funded up to €9,000) followed by a Full Proposal; a new IPP Express Pilot streamlines projects up to €150,000. Contract Research is not supported.

Who can apply

• Must be a manufacturing or internationally traded services company with an operating base in the Republic of Ireland
• Must be a registered client of one of the state development agencies: Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Local Enterprise Office, or Údarás na Gaeltachta
• Must collaborate with one or more research institutes also based in the Republic of Ireland (funding must be spent in Ireland; the 3rd-level institution must be Irish-based to receive funding)
• Company must have the full confirmed support of their assigned Client Advisor/Agency Contact to apply
• Clusters of companies and/or research institutes may apply
• Company partner must provide a minimum cash contribution of 20% of total project cost
• Contract Research is not supported under this programme
• A signed IP Rights Heads of Agreement is required for all approved projects, in place before the project start date
• Grant rates vary by company size and type of research: for Industrial Collaborative Research, up to 80% (Small), 75% (Medium) or 65% (Large) companies; for Experimental Collaborative Development, up to 60% (Small), 50% (Medium) or 40% (Large) companies
• Funding for established companies will normally not exceed €200,000, though projects with a clear justification of a substantial increase in employment, sales and exports may be funded higher (large multi-company projects with clear economic impact can be funded up to €3 million); funding for HPSU/early-stage companies is normally capped at €100,000 unless additional funding is separately justified
• Project duration is normally 6 months up to a maximum of 2 years
• A company is normally permitted a maximum of 2 Innovation Partnerships; a 3rd or subsequent application requires the support of the Client Advisor/Agency Contact
• Innovation Partnership Feasibility Study: 100% grant to a limit of €9,000, paid directly to the research institute, intended to help a Principal Investigator develop a full proposal
• IPP Express Pilot: a streamlined process for projects seeking funding up to €150,000
• Companies that received IPP funding in the previous 5 years are not eligible for a fully funded Standard Innovation Voucher (but can apply for a Co-Funded Innovation Voucher if other criteria are met)

How to apply

1. 1Phase 1 - Option 1 (Outline Proposal): 1. The Principal Investigator at the research institute prepares the Innovation Partnership Outline Proposal Application Form; the company partner must discuss it in detail with their Client Advisor/Agency Contact before submission. 2. The Principal Investigator submits the Outline Proposal to ipp@enterprise-ireland.com at any time (no funding is available for the Outline Proposal itself). 3. Enterprise Ireland provides feedback on the proposed research's eligibility, next steps (Full Application or Feasibility Study), and applicable grant rates
2. 2Phase 1 - Option 2 (Feasibility Study): 1. The research institute partner submits an Innovation Partnership Feasibility Proposal Application to ipp@enterprise-ireland.com. 2. If approved, the 100% grant (up to €9,000) is paid directly to the research institute to develop a full proposal
3. 3Phase 2 (Full Proposal): 1. A Full Proposal is accepted following outline proposal approval, or following a Feasibility Study completion report. 2. The company discusses the proposal in detail with their Client Advisor/Agency Contact before the research institute partner submits the Full Innovation Partnership Proposal Application to ipp@enterprise-ireland.com. 3. Full Proposals are reviewed against a published 2026 schedule of submission deadlines and IRCC funding decision dates (e.g. submission by 15 September 2026 -> decision by 28 October 2026)
4. 4Claims: forms must be signed by the authorised person and returned to the Institute Contracts Unit, Enterprise Ireland, The Plaza, East Point Business Park, Dublin 3; incomplete claims/project alteration forms are returned; the Contracts Unit reviews and seeks clarification if needed; Financial Claims in order are passed for approval and a payment request is made to Finance; Project Alteration Forms and Technical Reports are forwarded to the Programme Manager or Commercialisation Specialist for a decision