Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund Call 3 (2020) now open
Webinar
Enterprise Ireland will be hosting a DTIF Call 3 webinar on 22 October from 11am to 12 noon for those who are interested in learning more about the application process for DTIF Call 3.
The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) is a €500 million fund established under Project Ireland 2040 and is run by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation with administrative support from Enterprise Ireland.
Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund Call 3 (2020)
The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD, launched the third Call for applications to the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) on 24 September 2020.
The deadline for receipt of applications is 17 December 2020 (15.00 Irish Time).
DTIF Call 3 – Main Points
The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) Call 3 is about funding collaborations that demonstrate technology-based disruptive innovation, collaborations that can:
- Alter markets;
- Alter the way business operates;
- Involve new products or the emergence of new business models.
Funding applications for Call 3 should be within the Research Priority Areas 2018-2023. We are particularly interested in projects of scale with a strong enterprise agenda to harness maximum medium-term economic impact for Ireland. Ideally, we are looking for enterprise-driven research and development challenges that can demonstrate commercial impacts within 3 to 7 years of project completion.
As with Call 2, each project must have a minimum of three partners: two of these must be enterprise partners, at least one of which must be an SME. Research organisations (including colleges) can be a partner but can receive no more than 50% of the grant funding per project. All projects should be seeking minimum funding of €1.5 million. Small companies (less than 50 employees) that are part of successful applications under the Fund may be eligible for pre-finance subject to meeting conditions as set out in the Guide for Applicants.
Key amendments from Call 2 are:
- Change to one of the Selection Criterion, now called ‘Economic Impact and Sustainability’, to incorporate the commitment in the Climate Action Plan (CAP) for all National Development Plan (NDP) funds to prioritise the selection of low-carbon investments. Applicants are asked to demonstrate, as much as possible, positive contributions to the low carbon / sustainability targets in Ireland’s Climate Action Plan. Proposals funded under the DTIF should neither hinder the achievement of Ireland’s climate objectives nor have other significant negative environmental impacts.
- Economic impact outputs should be demonstrable within a 3 to 7-year timeframe (as opposed to the previous 3-5 years).
Guide for Applicants
Please see the DTIF Call 3 Guide for Applicants to learn more about applying for the Fund.
Each project partner in a collaborative partnership will be required to complete the attached Consortium Agreement template.
Applications
Applications can be submitted online via the Enterprise Ireland website from one month before the application deadline of 17 December 2020. In the meantime, applicants can use this indicative application form to help prepare their application.
COVID-19 and the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund
The Department and Enterprise Ireland are aware that the current situation regarding the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) may be having a significant impact on the research, development and innovation activities of companies and academic researchers.
We are working to understand the nature of any impacts on projects already funded through the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF). We will try to facilitate any appropriate measures that may prove necessary, taking a flexible, constructive approach and we will consider any issues arising for projects on a case-by-case basis. Any queries should be directed to the DTIF team at Enterprise Ireland (dtif@enterprise-ireland.com) who will be happy to assist.
Please also consult the Department’s information on supports available for businesses impacted by COVID-19.
More here