Minister Humphreys Launches Digital Innovation Programme
- Published on: 30 June 2021
- Last updated on: 11 April 2025
- €500,000 Programme will support rural digital initiatives with national impact
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, today announced the launch of the Our Rural Future Digital Innovation Programme 2021. This initiative will see grants of up to €200,000 provided to local authority-led digital and telecommunications projects.
This initiative builds on the previous Digital Innovation Programme that ran in 2018. It has an increased funding limit and an added opportunity to apply for funding to scale-up proven projects.
Speaking today, Minister Humphreys said:
“The Government committed to continuing the Digital Innovation Programme in both the Programme for Government and the new rural development policy, Our Rural Future. This Programme supports local authorities to collaborate with each other or with third parties such as social enterprises and community groups, to trial new technologies and new approaches to common issues."
“Under the previous 2018 Digital Innovation Programme there was a wonderful diversity of projects, from life-saving thermal imaging cameras in Galway, to a rural working hub in Roscommon. We have seen projects that support tourism in Kerry, Longford and Monaghan to robotics in Offaly and projects improving accessibility to local services in Wicklow and Tipperary.”
Minister Humphreys continued:
“I am very keen to see more of the same. I want to see creative solutions to common rural challenges, be that connectivity in isolated areas, smart farming, next generation public services or digitally-enhanced tourism.”
The 2021 Digital Innovation Programme has a specific focus on collaboration, whether between local authorities or between local authorities and third parties, such as social enterprises or educational institutions. Projects must be local authority-led and, where assets or infrastructure will established, favour rural and isolated areas.
Minister Humphreys added:
“This year’s Digital Innovation Programme is looking for original, creative and unusual projects that showcase rural ingenuity. Our heartlands, our islands and our local communities have so much to offer. Let’s take this opportunity to show that rural Ireland is home to innovation and really kick start the rural digital revolution.”
ENDS
Notes to Editor:
The Digital Innovation Programme is an initiative of the Department of Rural and Community Development. It is designed to encourage local authority led projects that support digital development. These projects must promote, support, or otherwise advance at least one of the seven pillars of digital maturity:
- Digital Skills
- Infrastructure
- Innovation & Entrepreneurship
- Digital Economy & Employment
- Digital Services
- Community & Culture
- Digital Transition
Projects that cut across more than one of the pillars are particularly welcome as are projects that involve multiple contributors.
These projects will provide innovative digital solutions to issues, or identify solutions to digital issues and should be scalable and replicable by other local authorities.
There will be two streams:
- Innovation
As with DIP 2018, these projects will include trialling of entirely new technologies or innovative uses of existing technologies. Research may also be funded under this stream. The maximum award in this stream will be €75,000.
- Scaling-up
This stream will provide funds to scale-up an already proven technology or initiative. For example, a project that has only been trialled at a municipal level in Ireland could be scaled-up to county level, or county level to national level. Alternatively, a project that sought to benefit a particular cohort within society or address a specific challenge could be broadened to include additional cohorts / challenges. The maximum award under this stream will be €200,000.
The deadline for applications is 4pm, Friday 23rd July 2021