The Government strategy has a renewed focus on improving Ireland’s SME involvement in Europe’s €95bn research and innovation programme.
Ireland’s Government has launched a “strengthened” version of the Horizon Europe Action Plan, Ireland’s gateway to a €95.5bn EU funding programme focused on research, innovation and investment to address global challenges for the years 2025 to 2027.
The Action Plan, announced by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless, TD, will set out measures designed to build on Ireland’s performance in Horizon Europe. In September 2025, Ireland reached a milestone of €1bn in secured funding.
Noting that Ireland’s higher educational institutions have performed strongly in Horizon Europe, Lawless is of the opinion that this success, which demonstrates scale of opportunity, can be replicated by the country’s small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
Commenting on the announcement, Lawless said it is important that “Ireland’s enterprise base, especially small and medium businesses, have the awareness, support and clear pathways to fully benefit from Horizon Europe”.
Core pillars
Looking ahead, the plan – which was developed with key research and innovation partners in the Horizon Europe focus group, including national support network members and higher education representatives – will focus on four core priorities.
The first of these is the further development of higher education institution engagement via tailored institutional supports, stronger post-award assistance efforts and enhanced alignment with research priorities.
The second is the enhancement of SME participation and performance through targeted engagement, improved visibility of financial support, and stronger links between SMEs, higher education institutions and research centres.
The third priority is to encourage more Irish-led coordination roles, reducing administrative burdens, expanding mentoring and training, and strengthening incentives.
Lastly is the aim of attracting and supporting newcomers, including early-career researchers and first-time applicants, through mentorship, developing networks and improving career sustainability supports.
Lawless said: “Ireland has already secured €1bn in Horizon Europe funding, with two years still remaining in the programme. This Action Plan will support both our higher education institutions and our small and medium‑sized enterprises to strengthen their participation, enhance performance and maximise the impact of EU research and innovation funding.
“The next phase of our national effort must see SME participation grow significantly. It is essential that Ireland’s enterprise base, particularly small and medium businesses, have the awareness, support and clear pathways to fully benefit from Horizon Europe.
“Equally, our higher education institutions play a vital role in driving excellence, collaboration and innovation. This Action Plan commits to strengthening both, ensuring that Ireland’s research and enterprise communities succeed together.”
Earlier this month, it was discovered that, for the first time since 2018, annual venture capital funding into Irish technology SMEs fell, according to the Irish Venture Capital Association Venture Pulse report.
The report, published in partnership with Irish law firm William Fry, indicated that funding in 2025 fell by 23pc to €1.1bn – a decline from 2024’s record €1.48bn. A total of 186 deals were completed in 2025, down from 217 in 2024 – a drop of 14pc.
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