Ireland’s regional economy is set for a major lift after gov.ie published details of a new €18 million investment package aimed at innovation-led growth. The Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme will fund 40 projects nationwide, backing enterprise hubs, training, sector clusters and early-stage feasibility work designed to strengthen local business ecosystems.
Announced by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, the programme is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund. The funding is being administered by Enterprise Ireland and supports projects aligned with the National Smart Specialisation Strategy for Innovation and the Regional Enterprise Plans.
gov.ie Smart Regions funding targets regional growth
The latest gov.ie announcement shows how regional development policy is increasingly focused on practical infrastructure and innovation support outside the capital. The approved funding to date is split across two programme areas:
- Northern and Western region: €3,485,882 for 17 projects
- Southern, Eastern and Midland region: €14,571,766 for 23 projects
This round of investment is expected to support sectors including artificial intelligence, agritech, food innovation, sustainability, insurtech and advanced manufacturing. It also reflects wider government priorities spanning Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Further and Higher Education, Climate Action, Transport and Agriculture.
Minister Peter Burke said the projects will help build innovation capacity across sectors and regions, while Minister Alan Dillon highlighted the collaborative “triple helix” approach linking industry, academia and the public sector.
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Key projects backed under the gov.ie announcement
Among the most notable developments is Catalyst HQ in Carlow town, an enterprise centre project approved for more than €7.15 million. During the announcement, the site was highlighted as a strong example of how smart regional infrastructure can help attract entrepreneurship, support scaling firms and improve local economic activity.
Other projects approved under the scheme include:
- Partas in Dublin
- ACE – Agritech Centre of Excellence in Kerry
- Instech Hub in Dublin
- Platform 94 in Galway
- Future Mobility Campus Ireland in Clare
- RDI Hub in Kerry
- AIM Centre in Sligo
- Greentech HQ in Wexford
There is also a strong spread of smaller feasibility and priming grants supporting local ideas in counties such as Donegal, Monaghan, Kilkenny, Cork, Leitrim, Louth and Galway. That broad county mix reinforces the regional balance goals often referenced across gov.ie policy updates and by agencies such as Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and the CSO in wider economic planning discussions.
How the scheme works
The Smart Regions scheme operates through four funding streams for eligible not-for-profit bodies:
- Local Enterprise Infrastructure
- Cluster and Consortium Development
- SME Training and Development
- Feasibility and Priming Grants
These streams are intended to tackle market gaps, increase SME competitiveness and support place-based innovation in communities that need stronger enterprise capacity.
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What this means for Irish business and local communities
Beyond the headline figure, the gov.ie investment matters because it supports long-term enterprise capacity rather than one-off grants alone. Business hubs, training programmes and cluster-building initiatives can help startups, exporters and scaling companies connect with talent, research expertise and new markets.
The announcement also comes as the Department of the Taoiseach and Finance continue to focus on balanced regional development, productivity and competitiveness. A new Regional Enterprise Development Fund is also being explored for 2026, suggesting this policy direction will continue.
For local authorities, entrepreneurs and regional partnerships, the message from gov.ie is clear: future growth will rely on innovation being developed across every part of Ireland, not just in major urban centres.
In short, the gov.ie Smart Regions package is more than a funding announcement. It is a strategic push to make regional Ireland more competitive, more connected and better equipped for sustainable enterprise growth.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie
