Dublin’s pro-investment environment is not only driven by its talent, infrastructure, and tax advantages, it’s also reinforced by an ecosystem of grants, funding, and government support. Whether you’re a high-growth startup or a global multinational, Dublin offers a wealth of resources to support entry, expansion, and innovation.
How to access business grants in Ireland
For foreign direct investment
IDA Ireland is the principal agency supporting overseas companies establishing or scaling operations in Ireland. It offers a full suite of supports including:
- Grant assistance for R&D, employment, and training
- Introductions to key government and industry stakeholders
- Location selection and property solutions
Enterprise Ireland supports high-potential international startups, offering funding, market advice, and access to accelerator programmes. It plays a pivotal role in helping early-stage firms scale and internationalise from a Dublin base.
For Irish-owned enterprises
Enterprise Ireland is also the key agency for scaling indigenous companies. Supports include:
- Access to international markets
- Innovation and R&D grants
- Mentorship and strategic consultancy
- Partner matchmaking for collaborative projects
Additionally, Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), located in Dublin City, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin, offer tailored supports for startups and micro-enterprises (typically under 10 employees). Services include feasibility funding, expansion grants, training, and mentoring.
For businesses in food, drink, and horticulture industries, Bord Bia provides sector-specific supports including grants, marketing tools, and export assistance.
R&D-focused supports
As a strategic national priority, Ireland actively supports Research and Development (R&D) through a range of targeted supports, including:
IDA innovation grants for research, training and high-skill job creation
35% R&D Tax Credit, offering up to 47.5% tax benefit when combined with standard corporation tax reliefs
Access to world-class academic and research partnerships
Dublin is home to a concentration of leading research centres that actively collaborate with industry:
- ADAPT – Centre for Digital Content Platform Research
- AMBER – Advanced Materials and Bio-Engineering Research
- CONNECT – SFI Research Centre for Future Networks and Communications
- Enterprise Ireland – The Technology Centre programme
- FutureNeuro – SFI Research Centre for Neurological Diseases
- iCrag – Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geosciences
- iForm – SFI Research Centre for Advanced Manufacturing
- INSIGHT – Big Data and Analytics Research Centre
- Third level research institutes and centres, which work in a diverse range of industries:
These centres offer access to specialist expertise, infrastructure, and funding programmes, positioning Dublin as a destination for innovation-driven companies.
Other sources of business loans and funding
Business loans are available from Irish banks like Allied Irish Bank, Bank of Ireland and Permanent TSB. Beyond traditional banking, Ireland offers a range of alternative finance options:
Venture capital firms in the city
Dublin is a growing hub for venture capital (VC) and seed funding, with local and international firms backing Irish ventures. Sources include:
- Halo Business Angel Network (HBAN): HBAN connects angel investors with early-stage Irish companies in need of seed capital, typically ranging from €50,000 to €250,000+.
- Multiple VC firms based in Dublin that specialise in tech, life sciences, and fintech investments:
- Venture capital firms
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Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding has matured into a regulated and reliable funding route. Platforms such as Spark Crowdfunding, Linked Finance and Financefair support capital raising for startups and SMEs across Ireland. The EU Crowdfunding Regulation, now fully in effect, ensures transparency and investor protection.
Dublin’s well-integrated support system spanning grants, equity, loans, and R&D infrastructure gives investors the tools needed to launch and grow.