9th June 2026
Call 8 under the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund to open later this year
L-R: Mark Christal - Enterprise Ireland, Dr Ríona Ní Ghriallais – ProVerum Medical, Minister Peter Burke, Dr Bárbara Oliveira – Luminate Medical, Christian Stafford – Enterprise Ireland, Patrick McNally – Equal 1 Laboratories Ireland Ltd
The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke announced that a further €40 million will be made available under his department’s Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF), which will open for applications on October 1st this year.
DTIF seeks to invest in the development and deployment of disruptive technologies on a commercial basis; drive collaboration between Ireland’s world-class research base and industry; facilitate enterprises to compete directly for funding in support of the development and adoption of these technologies; and fund a new wave of start-ups.
Since the fund’s inception in 2018, a total of 131 collaborative projects has been supported with awards averaging €4 million over seven competitive calls to date. A further €40 million is being made available by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to support successful applications under the new Call 8.
Speaking at the announcement, Minister Burke said:
“I am very pleased to be making €40 million available for an eighth call under the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund, delivering on a key commitment in our Programme for Government, and underscoring my department’s resolute focus on deepening Ireland’s innovation capacity and underwriting Ireland’s competitiveness into the future, as set out in our Sectoral Capital Plan 2026-2030.
Through the provision of critical funding, DTIF is empowering companies to undertake ambitious, high-risk research in niche, high-value areas that might otherwise remain unexplored. The fund has supported collaboration between researchers and industry professionals to develop deep expertise in transformative technologies that aim to disrupt established markets, while generating tangible economic and societal benefits.”
Minister Burke was joined for the announcement today at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment by participants from three DTIF projects who secured funding under previous calls:
- ProVerum Ltd, an Irish owned medical technology company, and project lead on PROVIEW, a consortium also involving Innovative Catheter Solutions Ltd and Trinity College Dublin, focused on minimally invasive therapies
- Luminate Medical, an Irish owned medtech company and spin-out from the University of Galway, a participant in the LILY project to develop an innovative wearable medical device designed to prevent chemotherapy‑induced hair loss (CIA)
- Equal1 Laboratories, an Irish owned quantum computing company, involved in three DTIF projects focused on advancing quantum technologies
Welcoming the announcement, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, said:
"DTIF has proven to be a powerful catalyst for translating world-class research into tangible economic and societal benefits. Through its strong emphasis on collaboration, successful projects have created high value employment opportunities for our highly skilled graduates and deepened our expertise in emerging sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, life sciences and Quantum technologies.
Continued government investment through a new DTIF Call will further strengthen Ireland’s research and innovation ecosystem, which is fundamental to a high performing economy and a thriving society.”
The call for funding will be administered by Enterprise Ireland on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.
A series of regional information and matchmaking events will be rolled out by Enterprise Ireland around the country during September and October, that will provide an opportunity for prospective applicants to learn about the application process and link up with potential project partners.
Also commenting on the announcement, Mark Christal, Enterprise Ireland, said:
"Since its inception, DTIF has backed collaborations between Irish companies and our research base that are delivering real-world impact. Driving innovation is central to Enterprise Ireland's strategy, and DTIF has proven to be a very effective tool for it - helping ambitious businesses turn research strengths into competitive products and services. With Call 8, we look forward to working with the next cohort of Enterprise Ireland clients ready to take on that same level of ambition."
Call 8 will open on 1 October 2026 for submission of applications until 31 January 2027.
Ends
NOTE TO EDITORS:
DTIF Call 8 background information
The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) is a €500 million fund established under the National Development Plan (NDP) in 2018. The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment manages the DTIF with administrative support from Enterprise Ireland.
The government has already approved €530 million towards 131 successful projects under seven previous DTIF calls. These projects cover areas such as life sciences, medical devices, ICT, artificial intelligence, manufacturing and environmental.
Collaborative projects under the fund must be geared towards commercialisation over a 3 to 7-year timeframe.
The purpose of the fund is to drive collaboration between Ireland’s world-class research base and industry as well as facilitating enterprises to compete directly for funding in support of the development and adoption of these technologies. The aim is to support investment in the development and deployment of disruptive technologies and applications on a commercial basis.
Each project must have at least one SME and one other enterprise in a consortium of three or more project partners. Collaborations with the Irish research sectors are encouraged. All partners must be based in Ireland and be a client of Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Údarás na Gaeltachta or an eligible Research Performing Organisation.
The fund targets industrial research and / or experimental development projects of scale and impact. The minimum funding request must be €1.5 million for projects of up to three years’ duration. SME partners must provide matched funding while large companies must provide 60% project funding.
Call 8 will open for applications on 1 October 2026. All eligible applications received by the deadline of 31 January 2027 will undergo rigorous assessment by panels of independent international experts against four criteria – quality of the disruptive technology, excellence of overall approach, economic impact and sustainability, and strength of the collaboration.
Enterprise Ireland will host a series of regional promotional events around the country during September and October, offering information on the call and providing opportunities for networking and matchmaking amongst multinationals, SMEs and research performing organisations.
Prospective applicants can obtain detailed information on the fund and on the application process through the enterprise.gov.ie/DTIF webpage.
DTIF projects referenced in the release:
- PROVIEW, a consortium led by ProVerum Ltd with Innovative Catheter Solutions Ltd and Trinity College Dublin, which developed a system to deliver minimally invasive therapies for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia [DTIF Call 3]; and
- Equal1 Laboratories, a partner across three funded projects focused on advancing quantum technologies, including a platform for evaluating quantum algorithms, the development of a National Space Subsystems and Payload Initiative to support SME participation in the global space market, and the application of quantum-enabled solutions to address key challenges in areas such as energy, climate modelling, advanced materials, and pharmaceuticals.
- Luminate Medical is lead partner in LILY, along with Gentian Consultancy Services Ltd and University of Galway. The project aims to develop an innovative wearable medical device designed to prevent chemotherapy induced hair loss (CIA) innovative cancer care to patients.
They also lead on the Call 4 LILAC project, which aims to improve treatment outcomes while reducing long-term side effects of Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) and on a Call 7 LOTUS project which aims to develop a new system enabling patients to independently use subcutaneous ports for low-risk blood draws and infusions at home, with remote monitoring by clinical staff.
All three of these projects have the potential to deliver innovative cancer treatments and care to cancer patients.
For further information please contact Press Office, Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, press.office@enterprise.gov.ie or (01) 631-2200
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