# Digital Process Innovation > Enterprise Ireland's Digital Process Innovation pays up to 50% of the eligible costs, with a maximum grant of €150,000, for a project that brings in a new way of working. Who qualifies, what it excludes and how to apply. Enterprise Ireland Digital Process Innovation. Digital Process Innovation is an Enterprise Ireland grant for a project that brings a new way of working into your business. An example is new digital or automation systems for your operations. For SMEs and large companies it pays up to 50% of the eligible costs, with a maximum grant of €150,000. Applications for eligible grant support of less than €20,000 are not accepted. The scheme's Terms of Reference, dated 15/01/2025, set the conditions. The company must be a client of Enterprise Ireland or Údarás na Gaeltachta with an assigned adviser. It must be in business for 2 years or more. It must employ 10 or more full-time staff. This requirement may be reduced to 5 or more in certain cases, such as for high potential start-up clients. Further conditions apply, and the full criteria are behind Enterprise Ireland's client log-in. For best effect, Enterprise Ireland suggests a core team of 5–10 people. The team should spend a significant portion of their time on the project, over a period ranging from 2–3 months to up to 12–18 months. Our Build work can be an outside part of that project. From €2,500, excluding VAT, for AI Automation and Agents. ## Who qualifies Check these before you plan around the grant. The scheme page says it is for "Businesses seeking greater integration of digital technology for improved productivity." The Terms of Reference linked from the scheme page are dated 15/01/2025. They say: "To be eligible to apply, the company must": - "be registered in Ireland," - "be in business for 2 years or more," - "be engaged in manufacturing or an eligible services industry," - "be internationally trading or have the potential to do so in the short term." - "be a client of Enterprise Ireland or Údarás na Gaeltachta with an assigned Agency Advisor." - "employ 10 or more full time staff at the time of application. This requirement may be reduced to 5 or more in certain cases such as for Enterprise Ireland high potential start-up clients." - "Be able to show adequate cash resources to implement the proposed project." The brochure says the full criteria are behind Enterprise Ireland's client log-in: "All eligibility criteria are outlined on our website and can be accessed upon logging into your account." If you are not a client yet, the brochure says: "If you are not a client of Enterprise Ireland, please contact your local Enterprise Ireland office to discuss eligibility criteria." Meeting the criteria does not guarantee a grant. The Terms of Reference say: "Approval will be based on such criteria as Enterprise Ireland may deem to be appropriate such as the company need and value for money for the state. As such, there is no automatic entitlement to funding for valid applications, but rather a strategic decision by Enterprise Ireland to support a project based on the goals of the organisation." ### The agency decides Enterprise Ireland decides eligibility; its brochure says "We advise you to consult with your Enterprise Ireland Advisor before submitting an application", and asks a business that is not a client to "contact your local Enterprise Ireland office to discuss eligibility criteria". This page is information, not advice, and we never promise approval. ## What it pays What the grant covers. The scheme page says: "For SMEs and Large Companies, 50% of the eligible costs, up to a maximum grant of €150,000." The Terms of Reference add: - "The Committee may offer grant at a lower rate than the maxima above." - "Applications for eligible grant support of less than €20,000 will not be accepted." - For large companies, the grant "is classified as De Minimis funding and any grant awarded will be subject to the limit on De Minimis funding of €300,000 over a rolling 3-year period." The brochure lists the eligible costs: - "Salary costs for the time staff are working on the project" - "Reasonable external consultancy costs" - "Materials costs" - "Defined overheads costs" The Terms of Reference describe the consultancy costs as "costs to the company of availing of consultancy support or contract development directly related to the project." On staff costs they say: "Only salary costs for those directly employed by the grantee company in Ireland are eligible (e.g., paying income tax in Ireland)." They also say: "For best effect, projects should be based around a core team of 5-10 people spending a significant portion of their time on the project over a period ranging from 2-3 months to up to 12-18 months." The scheme page says the grant can be used to: - "Support a step-change in the company capability and operational effectiveness." - "Implementing an innovative new way of working to increase quality, speed, dependability or flexibility of the company’s operations." - "Introducing new digital technology systems or customer experiences" - "Implementing new production methods for enhanced sustainability" The Terms of Reference say: "Projects should include:" - "the introduction of new or significantly enhanced digital or automation technology platforms for company operations and/or," - "the introduction of new or significantly enhanced digital delivery experience for customers, including new digital services or business models and/or," - "the implementation of new production methods for enhanced sustainability including significantly reduced waste, emissions or increased materials reuse in terms of circular economy practices." They add: "The level of innovation is considered relative to the current state of the company rather than the state of the art in the industry." ## What it excludes What the scheme does not pay for. The brochure and the Terms of Reference both set this condition: "The project must involve some level of innovation or risk of failure and must not be focused on routine operational changes or responding to changes in regulation." The Terms of Reference also say: - "The committee shall reject routine or ‘business as usual’ projects." - "The committee may reject projects that will not have a measurable impact on Operational Effectiveness." - "The committee may reject projects that are unlikely to lead to an increase in company capability." Their definition of process innovation leaves some changes out: "Excluded from this definition are minor changes or improvements, increases in production or service capabilities through the addition of manufacturing or logistical systems which are very similar to those already in use, ceasing to use a process, simple capital replacement or extension, changes resulting purely from changes in factor prices, customisation, localisation, regular, seasonal and other cyclical changes and trading of new or significantly improved products". Their definition of organisational innovation does the same: "Excluded from this definition are changes that are based on organisational methods already in use in the undertaking, changes in management strategy, mergers and acquisitions, ceasing to use a process, simple capital replacement or extension, changes resulting purely from changes in factor prices, customisation, localisation, regular, seasonal and other cyclical changes and trading of new or significantly improved products". Outside help has limits. The Terms of Reference say: - "If the amount of eligible expenditure for subcontracted/consultancy work on the project exceeds 60% of the total costs, the project is deemed ineligible. The requirement is that at least 40% of the expenditure on the project (related to salaries) must be carried out in house in order to build internal capability." - "The project should not be effectively ‘outsourced’ to a third party to implement without sufficient capability development in-house." - "The consultancy concerned shall not be a continuous or periodic activity nor relate to the undertaking's usual operating costs, such as routine tax consultancy services, regular legal services or advertising." - Under consultancy: "Only work carried out in Ireland is eligible." The brochure counts "Defined overheads costs". The Terms of Reference say: "Overheads which are wholly and exclusively incurred directly in the carrying on of the qualifying activity may qualify for support where they can be separately identified and must be agreed at the time of application approval." They exclude indirect overheads, in a sentence that speaks of "the R&D activity": "Costs which are not wholly and exclusively incurred in the carrying on of the R&D activity, including indirect overheads such as recruitment fees, insurance, travel, equipment repairs or maintenance, shipping, business entertainment, telephone, internet, bank charges and interest, do not qualify as relevant expenditure." ## How to apply The agency's process, step by step. The scheme page says: "Supports under the Digital Transition Fund are no longer funded under the Resilience and Recovery Fund. This grant offer remains open to applications from eligible Enterprise Ireland clients." It gives no closing date. 1. Talk to your adviser first. The brochure says: "We advise you to consult with your Enterprise Ireland Advisor before submitting an application." The Terms of Reference say: "Applications should always be discussed with an agency advisor in advance of submission." 2. If you are not a client, the brochure says to "contact your local Enterprise Ireland office to discuss eligibility criteria." 3. Log in to Enterprise Ireland's site. The scheme page says to log in to "View more information on eligibility, application and claims." It adds: "Once logged in, you can access the client portal to find contact information for your assigned Client Advisor who will guide you with your application." 4. Apply before any work starts. The Terms of Reference say: "In order to be eligible for project support, the beneficiary MUST submit an application to Enterprise Ireland for support BEFORE any work on the project starts. Only expenditure incurred AFTER a valid application is submitted can be considered for funding support." The Terms of Reference say: "Completed applications are emailed to the Grant Applications unit in Enterprise Ireland". Then: "Application evaluation will consist of a commercial assessment and a technical assessment." Approval goes "through the Enterprise Ireland Investment Committee or delegated to the Management Approvals Committee." The committee looks for impact: "Projects should normally show an expected measurable impact on at least two of the following key performance indicators." The three indicators are the quality of the product or service delivered, the speed, dependability and flexibility of its delivery, and its cost. ## Which packages fit Our packages that match this scheme. The grant pays towards a project, not a package. Work you buy from us would be an outside cost. The Terms of Reference fund outside work under consultancy: "costs to the company of availing of consultancy support or contract development directly related to the project." Enterprise Ireland decides which costs count: "only those costs that are considered to be reasonable and required for the project will be approved." Our Build offers fit only where the project as a whole meets the scheme's condition: "The project must involve some level of innovation or risk of failure and must not be focused on routine operational changes or responding to changes in regulation." Enterprise Ireland judges that, not us. Three of our Build offers could form part of a project of a type the Terms of Reference list: - [AI Automation and Agents](https://wisdomengineers.ie/services/ai-automation/). From €2,500, excluding VAT. It delivers "A defined workflow automated end to end". The Terms list "the introduction of new or significantly enhanced digital or automation technology platforms for company operations". - [Prototype to Production](https://wisdomengineers.ie/services/prototype-to-production/). From €9,500, excluding VAT. It hardens a working proof of concept or MVP. - [Product and MVP Development](https://wisdomengineers.ie/services/product-development/). From €12,000, excluding VAT. It builds a new product from first commit to first paying user. The last two match "the introduction of new or significantly enhanced digital delivery experience for customers, including new digital services or business models". Both definitions above exclude "trading of new or significantly improved products". If your project is a product you will sell, ask your adviser how that exclusion applies before you plan around the grant. Two rules shape the size of the project: - You must apply for at least €20,000 of eligible grant support, and the grant pays at most 50% of the eligible costs. So the eligible costs must be at least double that minimum. - Subcontracted or consultancy work, ours included, can be no more than 60% of the total costs. Your own staff's salary costs must be at least 40%. So this scheme suits a larger project that your own team helps to deliver, with our work as one part of it. Our Code Health Check (€1,450, excluding VAT) and Prototype-To-Production Assessment (€2,450, excluding VAT) are Build offers too. On its own, neither comes near a project that could apply for the €20,000 minimum. If you buy one before you apply, note that "Only expenditure incurred AFTER a valid application is submitted can be considered for funding support." ## Get help with Digital Process Innovation Two ways in. Pick whichever suits you. ### Talk to a founder. Tell us what you want funded. You get an honest answer on whether we can help. [Book a free 30-minute call (opens Google Calendar)](https://calendar.app.google/68i8SZpvW5XfCv2n6) ### Read about the service. See what the service includes and what it costs before you talk to anyone. [See AI Automation and Agents](https://wisdomengineers.ie/services/ai-automation/) References (Checked 9 October 2026) 1. 2. 3.