Which AI grants are available to Irish SMEs?

Enterprise Ireland offers Access Advice: Digital Discovery and Digital Process Innovation, which together support its AI Discovery pathway for Enterprise Ireland clients. For builders and manufacturers, Enterprise Ireland's Built to Innovate programme supports digitalisation, lean construction, advanced manufacturing, and research and innovation. Local Enterprise Offices offer Digital for Business and the Grow Digital Voucher. The Government also publishes an overview of all AI and digital supports.

Are we with Enterprise Ireland or a Local Enterprise Office?

Digital Discovery is for Irish-based businesses in manufacturing or internationally traded services, and Enterprise Ireland high potential start-up clients. The Local Enterprise Office supports on this page are for businesses with up to 50 employees that are not Enterprise Ireland or IDA clients. If you are not sure, the agency can confirm which applies to you.

Can a grant pay for an AI consultant?

Some can. Digital Discovery funds a digital expert for 3 to 7 days to analyse your systems, explore AI opportunities and create a digital action plan. Digital Process Innovation can include external consultancy as part of the project. The Grow Digital Voucher covers software subscriptions, training and IT configuration.

How much funding can we get?

It depends on the support. Digital Discovery offers up to 80% grant funding, to a maximum of €5,000. Digital Process Innovation covers up to 50% of eligible costs, to a maximum of €150,000. The Grow Digital Voucher covers 50% of eligible costs, from €500 up to €5,000. Digital for Business is free.

AI Grants and Funding for Irish SMEs

Many AI projects in Irish SMEs can be part-funded. Which support applies to you depends on the size of your company and which agency you work with.

This guide sets out the main Enterprise Ireland and Local Enterprise Office supports in plain English, each with a link to the official page.

The supports at a glance

Comparison of AI and digital supports for Irish SMEs
Support	Agency	Who it is for	What it funds	Grant rate and maximum	Official link
Access Advice: Digital Discovery	Enterprise Ireland	Irish-based businesses in manufacturing or internationally traded services, and Enterprise Ireland high potential start-up clients.	A digital expert for 3 to 7 days over 8 to 12 weeks to analyse your existing systems, explore AI opportunities and create a digital action plan.	Up to 80% grant funding, maximum grant €5,000	Official pagefor Access Advice: Digital Discovery (opens in a new tab)
Digital Process Innovation	Enterprise Ireland	Check eligibility with Enterprise Ireland.	Putting new digital ways of working in place, including staff time on the project and external consultancy.	Up to 50% of eligible costs, maximum grant €150,000	Official pagefor Digital Process Innovation (opens in a new tab)
AI Discovery pathway	Enterprise Ireland	Enterprise Ireland clients.	Three stages: AI Discovery, AI Prototype and Operationalise AI. Stage one is supported by the Digital Discovery grant and stage three by the Digital Process Innovation grant.	Through the Digital Discovery and Digital Process Innovation grants	Official pagefor AI Discovery pathway (opens in a new tab)
Built to Innovate	Enterprise Ireland	Builders and manufacturers looking to improve productivity and adopt modern methods of construction (MMC).	Support for advanced manufacturing, digitalisation, lean construction, and research and innovation.	Grant rates are not set out on the official summary. Check current terms with Enterprise Ireland.	Official pagefor Built to Innovate (opens in a new tab)
Digital for Business	Local Enterprise Office	Businesses with 1 to 50 employees that are not Enterprise Ireland or IDA clients.	A digital and AI readiness review with a tailored roadmap.	Free	Official pagefor Digital for Business (opens in a new tab)
Grow Digital Voucher	Local Enterprise Office	Businesses with up to 50 employees that have completed a Digital for Business project in the previous two years and are not Enterprise Ireland or IDA clients.	New software subscriptions, including AI and analytics software, plus training and IT configuration. Custom or bespoke software is not eligible.	50% of eligible costs, minimum grant €500, maximum €5,000	Official pagefor Grow Digital Voucher (opens in a new tab)

Enterprise Ireland

Access Advice: Digital Discovery

Who it is for: Irish-based businesses in manufacturing or internationally traded services, and Enterprise Ireland high potential start-up clients.
What it funds: A digital expert for 3 to 7 days over 8 to 12 weeks to analyse your existing systems, explore AI opportunities and create a digital action plan.
Grant rate and maximum: Up to 80% grant funding, maximum grant €5,000

Official page

Enterprise Ireland

Digital Process Innovation

Who it is for: Check eligibility with Enterprise Ireland.
What it funds: Putting new digital ways of working in place, including staff time on the project and external consultancy.
Grant rate and maximum: Up to 50% of eligible costs, maximum grant €150,000

Official page

Enterprise Ireland

AI Discovery pathway

Who it is for: Enterprise Ireland clients.
What it funds: Three stages: AI Discovery, AI Prototype and Operationalise AI. Stage one is supported by the Digital Discovery grant and stage three by the Digital Process Innovation grant.
Grant rate and maximum: Through the Digital Discovery and Digital Process Innovation grants

Official page

Enterprise Ireland

Built to Innovate

Who it is for: Builders and manufacturers looking to improve productivity and adopt modern methods of construction (MMC).
What it funds: Support for advanced manufacturing, digitalisation, lean construction, and research and innovation.
Grant rate and maximum: Grant rates are not set out on the official summary. Check current terms with Enterprise Ireland.

Official page

Local Enterprise Office

Digital for Business

Who it is for: Businesses with 1 to 50 employees that are not Enterprise Ireland or IDA clients.
What it funds: A digital and AI readiness review with a tailored roadmap.
Grant rate and maximum: Free

Official page

Local Enterprise Office

Grow Digital Voucher

Who it is for: Businesses with up to 50 employees that have completed a Digital for Business project in the previous two years and are not Enterprise Ireland or IDA clients.
What it funds: New software subscriptions, including AI and analytics software, plus training and IT configuration. Custom or bespoke software is not eligible.
Grant rate and maximum: 50% of eligible costs, minimum grant €500, maximum €5,000

Official page

For every AI and digital support available, see the Government overview of AI and digital supports.

Which one fits you

Enterprise Ireland supports

Digital Discovery is for Irish-based businesses in manufacturing or internationally traded services, and Enterprise Ireland high potential start-up clients. Enterprise Ireland clients can also follow the AI Discovery pathway: AI Discovery, AI Prototype and Operationalise AI. Builders and manufacturers adopting modern methods of construction can look at Built to Innovate.

Access Advice: Digital Discovery
Digital Process Innovation
AI Discovery pathway
Built to Innovate

Local Enterprise Office supports

For businesses with up to 50 employees that are not Enterprise Ireland or IDA clients. Start with a free Digital for Business review; once that is done, the Grow Digital Voucher can help pay for new software, training and IT configuration.

Digital for Business
Grow Digital Voucher

How Ketecso helps

Ketecso can help you work out which support may fit your business and scope the AI project you want funded. Applications are made by the business to the relevant agency. John Kelly of Ketecso is an approved Digital for Business consultant with Cork City LEO.

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Frequently asked questions

Which AI grants are available to Irish SMEs?: Enterprise Ireland offers Access Advice: Digital Discovery and Digital Process Innovation, which together support its AI Discovery pathway for Enterprise Ireland clients. For builders and manufacturers, Enterprise Ireland's Built to Innovate programme supports digitalisation, lean construction, advanced manufacturing, and research and innovation. Local Enterprise Offices offer Digital for Business and the Grow Digital Voucher. The Government also publishes an overview of all AI and digital supports.
Are we with Enterprise Ireland or a Local Enterprise Office?: Digital Discovery is for Irish-based businesses in manufacturing or internationally traded services, and Enterprise Ireland high potential start-up clients. The Local Enterprise Office supports on this page are for businesses with up to 50 employees that are not Enterprise Ireland or IDA clients. If you are not sure, the agency can confirm which applies to you.
Can a grant pay for an AI consultant?: Some can. Digital Discovery funds a digital expert for 3 to 7 days to analyse your systems, explore AI opportunities and create a digital action plan. Digital Process Innovation can include external consultancy as part of the project. The Grow Digital Voucher covers software subscriptions, training and IT configuration.
How much funding can we get?: It depends on the support. Digital Discovery offers up to 80% grant funding, to a maximum of €5,000. Digital Process Innovation covers up to 50% of eligible costs, to a maximum of €150,000. The Grow Digital Voucher covers 50% of eligible costs, from €500 up to €5,000. Digital for Business is free.
How does Ketecso help?: Ketecso can help you work out which support may fit your business and scope the AI project you want funded. Applications are made by the business to the relevant agency. John Kelly of Ketecso is an approved Digital for Business consultant with Cork City LEO.

Scheme details last checked on 12 November 2026. Always confirm current terms with the agency before applying.

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