Many SMEs believe they lack the resources or expertise to invest in R&D to drive growth. Enterprise Ireland aims to change that with their Innovation Voucher scheme. Even small companies can benefit from R&D with an Innovation Voucher from Enterprise Ireland.

With an Innovation Voucher, your organisation receives funding to work with a knowledge provider and receive the expertise you need to solve a challenge or take advantage of an opportunity.

Am I eligible?

Take our quick and easy eligibility checker to find out instantly if your organisation may be eligible for innovation vouchers.

What is an Innovation Voucher?

Enterprise Ireland Innovation Vouchers encourage links between small and medium-sized enterprises and Irish higher education institutions.

Companies can apply for a €5K voucher from Enterprise Ireland to access R&D expertise in universities and other knowledge providers.

Do you lack resources and expertise to drive growth through innovation?

Overcome a lack of time, or expertise, and engage in research and development (R&D) with our learning designers, expert technologists, user experience practitioners, and business strategists. Even small companies can benefit from R&D with an Innovation Voucher from Enterprise Ireland. We can help you develop, deploy or better understand technology in learning.

How does it work?

You apply for a €5K voucher from Enterprise Ireland to explore a business challenge or opportunity. You choose an Irish higher education institution, such as Trinity College Dublin where Learnovate is located. We complete €5K worth of R&D on your behalf to help you solve EdTech and eLearning challenges, or explore an opportunity to innovate with learning technologies. You own any IP generated by the project.

How much does it cost?

Enterprise Ireland gives you €5K funding to spend on R&D services with a public knowledge provider. The only contribution your company makes is a VAT payment of €1,150, which you may reclaim.

What can I use a voucher for?

Innovation Voucher projects generally align with the areas below but we can let you know if another idea may work within the Innovation Voucher scheme:

  • New product development
  • New business model development
  • New service development
  • New service delivery and customer interface
  • Innovation management
  • Innovation or technology audits
  • Leveraging technology

Choosing Learnovate as your knowledge provider

Learnovate is a long-established research centre in Trinity College Dublin. The centre’s research is focused on the future of work and learning. We can help with our expertise in learning science, technology, computer science, cognitive science, psychology, user experience, innovation and more.

We will help you identify funding options and support you in making your application to ensure your success. Find out more about how we’ve helped Irish companies to succeed with our Case Studies

Not ready yet?

You can apply and delay beginning the project until you’re ready. Innovation Vouchers can be exchanged at any time within a year of receiving it. You can also apply for alternative funding supports throughout the year. Talk to us and we’ll help you identify the best funding options for your company.

For more information, see Enterprise Ireland.

Can I receive additional funding?

Yes! Upon completion of a successful Innovation Voucher project, you may be eligible to apply for additional funding with Learnovate and Enterprise Ireland. See the PDF below for information on our Funding Chain.

Innovation Voucher Funding Chain [PDF]