From Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
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Over 600 disruptive tech leaders, researchers and investors attended Ireland’s first DisrupTech Summit to learn more about how Disruptive Technologies are improving people’s lives, tackling global challenges and inspiring a better future.
The €500 million Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund, established under Project Ireland 2040, supports projects that have the potential to create new products, services or business processes which can significantly disrupt existing markets. Over €371 million has been awarded to 104 projects to date with €58.8 million awarded last year alone.
Several organisations who’ve been supported through the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) spoke about their projects. A-techsyn, whose drone technology can survey large areas of coastline, improve maritime surveillance and support Ireland’s ability to combat drug smuggling. Deciphex, use AI to target accurate screening which will contribute to improved outcomes for cancer patients while the Subsea Micropiles project is developing solutions for seabed drilling systems for installing marine anchors, a technology that has huge potential to support the growth of offshore wind applications.
Speaking at the summit, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke highlighted how:
"DisrupTech 24 is a clear example of the incredible success stories which have emerged as a result of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund. The strength of these projects lies in the ability of the individual partners to collaborate, bringing complementary expertise and knowledge to addressing societal challenges. This event has given many potential applicants both the information and opportunity needed to find prospective partners, with a shared vision and bring their innovative ideas to life.
"With the seventh round of DTIF open for applications, we are ready to invest in projects with the potential to bring real and meaningful benefits to our citizens together with providing new and exciting opportunities for our graduates. Successful DTIF projects will play a key role in maintaining a strong economy while working towards achieving Ireland’s ambition to be a global leader in the development and deployment of disruptive technologies."
The event focused on inspiring, innovating and investing by demonstrating how companies of all sizes, together with Irish research institutions, are working together to deliver change which is disrupting markets and industry practices. Expert panellists emphasised how Ireland is investing at scale in Disruptive Technology Research & Development, enabling companies to compete internationally and subsequently leverage further investment and growth.
Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, said:
"The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund was established to deliver new solutions for the Irish economy, where the projects funded help to create the jobs of the future. It is wonderful to see so many strong projects emerge from the process. The range of challenges that they have overcome is truly impressive. I am delighted too to see their outputs, in terms of the number of jobs created and sustained, in the levels of investment received, and in the numbers of patents granted. They are wonderful success stories and serve to illustrate the benefits of investing in the long-term future of our economy."
Speaking at the event Marina Donohoe, Enterprise Ireland Head of Research said:
"DisrupTech 2024 has demonstrated the incredible potential of disruptive technologies to transform industries and create new opportunities for growth and innovation in Ireland. Through the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund, we are committed to fostering collaborations between industry and research to drive impactful results for the economy and society. The enthusiasm and quality of the projects showcased today are a testament to the talent and ambition within our ecosystem. As DTIF Call 7 is now open, we encourage all innovators to seize this opportunity to bring their game-changing ideas to life and contribute to Ireland's leadership in disruptive technologies."
The seventh round of funding, DTIF Call 7, launched in May this year and is currently open for applications. Applications are encouraged across sectors including ICT, food, energy, climate action and sustainability, manufacturing and materials, business services and processes, as well as health and wellbeing projects. This latest call for proposals especially welcomes projects that can contribute to Ireland’s economic growth, improve digitalisation and help achieve climate action targets.
Further information including details on how to apply can be found by visiting enterprise.gov.ie/DTIF.
The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) is a €500 million fund established under the National Development Plan (NDP) in 2018. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment manages the DTIF with administrative support from Enterprise Ireland.
The purpose of the fund is to drive collaboration between Ireland’s world-class research base and industry as well as facilitating enterprises to compete directly for funding in support of the development and adoption of these technologies. The aim is to support investment in the development and deployment of disruptive technologies and applications on a commercial basis.
Each project must have at least one SME and one other enterprise in a consortium of three or more project partners. Collaborations with the Irish research sectors are encouraged. All partners must be based in Ireland and be a client of Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Údarás na Gaeltachta or an eligible Research Performing Organisation.
The fund targets industrial research and / or experimental development projects of scale and impact. The minimum funding request must be €1.5 million for projects of up to three years’ duration. SME partners must provide matched funding while large companies must provide 60% project funding.
All eligible applications received by the deadline of 30 April 2025 will undergo rigorous assessment by panels of independent international experts against four criteria – quality of the disruptive technology, excellence of overall approach, economic impact and sustainability, and strength of the collaboration.
Prospective applicants can obtain detailed information on the fund and on the application process through the enterprise.gov.ie/DTIF webpage.
This day-long event, at the Printworks, Dublin Castle and online via webcast, provided the opportunity to learn from international thought leaders and real life case studies, to listen to and interact with panel discussions, to take part in facilitated networking and potential matchmaking and get advice on applying for the Disruptive Technology Innovation Fund at the advice desk.
This event was designed to stimulate and energise an organisation’s ambitions to be at the forefront of developments in disruptive technologies. It included a panel discussion titled ‘Appetite for Disruption’, bringing forward the real stories behind some of the diverse technologies that are emerging through the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund, including: