Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke TD has announced details of an €18 million investment in 40 projects across Ireland under the Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme, designed to strengthen regional enterprise, drive innovation and support sustainable economic growth. Almost €3.5 million of the allocation is ring fenced for 17 projects in the Northern and Western Region.
The Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union, through the European Regional Development Fund Northern and Western Regional Programme 2021-2027 and Southern, Eastern and Midland and Regional Programme 2021-2027.
The Smart Regions scheme supports the different regions of the country in harnessing cutting-edge technologies and world-class expertise. Aligned with the regional priorities set out in the National Smart Specialisation Strategy for Innovation and the nine Regional Enterprise Plans, Smart Regions drives high-impact projects in priority sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), agritech and food, sustainability, insurance technology, and advanced manufacturing.
“I am very pleased to announce this group of 40 innovative projects that have been funded under the Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme, which is co-funded under the European Regional Development Fund. These projects, spread across the entire country, will make vital contributions to strengthening innovation in all sectors, regional ecosystems and the Irish economy.”
“These 40 projects will provide enterprise infrastructure, cluster development and business animation services that will benefit entrepreneurs and enterprise growth in a variety of sectors. The scheme will see physical facilities and training opportunities made available to businesses throughout the country through an existing network of enterprise centres and hubs that have been supported by Enterprise Ireland.”
Minister of State for Employment, Small Business and Retail, Alan Dillon said:
“The Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union under the European Regional Development Fund. The projects announced today are reflective of the collaborative approach at the heart of this scheme. Smart Regions aims to address specific issues in each region, building on regional strengths in line with the National Smart Specialisation Strategy for Innovation.”
“The 40 projects that have been launched will see growing collaboration among regional stakeholders under the triple helix model of industry, academia and the public sector.”
Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation Niamh Smyth said:
“This Government is committed to growing our economy and fostering regional enterprise growth; the Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme reflects this and the approved projects are also well aligned to the priorities set out in the Regional Enterprise Plans, which provide a clear set of objectives and actions to support enterprise development in each region.
“The Catalyst project announced for Carlow is a great example of how providing for smart regional infrastructure will drive economic animation in an area.”
Paddy Austin, Assistant Director of the Northern and Western Regional Assembly:
“As Managing Authority for ERDF in the Northern and Western Region, we welcome the allocation of almost €3.5 million in ERDF funding through Enterprise Ireland’s Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme to 17 projects in our region. This initiative aligns with our Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy and Smart Specialisation Strategy, supporting innovation in sectors where the region has distinct strengths. These investments will accelerate place-based innovation, foster collaboration, and deliver on priorities identified with our regional partners.”
Kevin Sherry, Executive Director, Enterprise Ireland, said:
“Enterprise Ireland is pleased to confirm the investment of over €18m to date in 40 regionally diverse projects from across Ireland, which have been funded through Enterprise Ireland’s Smart Regions Scheme. This investment is a key element in building sustainable communities and infrastructure across Ireland by investing in and supporting the development of Irish businesses, our exporters and potential future exporters.”
“Our long-term ambition is that Irish exporters become the primary driver of the Irish economy, and critical to achieving this will be collaborating with our partners from across the ecosystem. This announcement reflects the work of our partnerships with the Regional Assemblies. We have ambitious objectives for our enterprise base, and the Smart Regions scheme is helping to realise this for our SMEs.”
The Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union, through the European Regional Development Fund Northern and Western Regional Programme 2021-2027 and Southern, Eastern and Midland and Regional Programme 2021-2027.
The Smart Regions scheme supports the different regions of the country in harnessing cutting-edge technologies and world-class expertise. Aligned with the regional priorities set out in the National Smart Specialisation Strategy for Innovation and the nine Regional Enterprise Plans, Smart Regions drives high-impact projects in priority sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), agritech and food, sustainability, insurance technology, and advanced manufacturing.
“I am very pleased to announce this group of 40 innovative projects that have been funded under the Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme, which is co-funded under the European Regional Development Fund. These projects, spread across the entire country, will make vital contributions to strengthening innovation in all sectors, regional ecosystems and the Irish economy.”
“These 40 projects will provide enterprise infrastructure, cluster development and business animation services that will benefit entrepreneurs and enterprise growth in a variety of sectors. The scheme will see physical facilities and training opportunities made available to businesses throughout the country through an existing network of enterprise centres and hubs that have been supported by Enterprise Ireland.”
Minister of State for Employment, Small Business and Retail, Alan Dillon said:
“The Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union under the European Regional Development Fund. The projects announced today are reflective of the collaborative approach at the heart of this scheme. Smart Regions aims to address specific issues in each region, building on regional strengths in line with the National Smart Specialisation Strategy for Innovation.”
“The 40 projects that have been launched will see growing collaboration among regional stakeholders under the triple helix model of industry, academia and the public sector.”
Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation Niamh Smyth said:
“This Government is committed to growing our economy and fostering regional enterprise growth; the Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme reflects this and the approved projects are also well aligned to the priorities set out in the Regional Enterprise Plans, which provide a clear set of objectives and actions to support enterprise development in each region.
“The Catalyst project announced for Carlow is a great example of how providing for smart regional infrastructure will drive economic animation in an area.”
Paddy Austin, Assistant Director of the Northern and Western Regional Assembly:
“As Managing Authority for ERDF in the Northern and Western Region, we welcome the allocation of almost €3.5 million in ERDF funding through Enterprise Ireland’s Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme to 17 projects in our region. This initiative aligns with our Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy and Smart Specialisation Strategy, supporting innovation in sectors where the region has distinct strengths. These investments will accelerate place-based innovation, foster collaboration, and deliver on priorities identified with our regional partners.”
Kevin Sherry, Executive Director, Enterprise Ireland, said:
“Enterprise Ireland is pleased to confirm the investment of over €18m to date in 40 regionally diverse projects from across Ireland, which have been funded through Enterprise Ireland’s Smart Regions Scheme. This investment is a key element in building sustainable communities and infrastructure across Ireland by investing in and supporting the development of Irish businesses, our exporters and potential future exporters.”
“Our long-term ambition is that Irish exporters become the primary driver of the Irish economy, and critical to achieving this will be collaborating with our partners from across the ecosystem. This announcement reflects the work of our partnerships with the Regional Assemblies. We have ambitious objectives for our enterprise base, and the Smart Regions scheme is helping to realise this for our SMEs.”