InterTradeIreland Grants: €130,000+ in Fully Funded AI Expertise
Founder & CEO, Deep Purple AI Consulting
If your business is on the island of Ireland, InterTradeIreland offers funding for innovation, AI adoption, and academic collaboration. Business Explorer covers 100% of specialist time. Innovation Boost funds academic partnership in full and 50% of a graduate Project Manager salary. Combined, the pathway can exceed €130,000 of funded support. Here's the guide for 2026.
We've worked with clients on their InterTradeIreland applications and on the planning that feeds into them. The guide that follows reflects what we've learned from that work and from delivering AI projects under other funding programmes.
Quick Summary
Verified for 2026 Budget- ✓SMEs across the island of Ireland can access over €130,000 in fully funded expertise for AI and digital transformation.
- ✓Unlike other government grants, InterTradeIreland's innovation programmes cover 100% of specialist and academic costs – you contribute management time, not cash
- ✓Both Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland businesses can apply
- ✓Clear progression pathway from €5,800 discovery projects to full implementation
Innovation Pathway at a Glance
| Feature | Phase 1: Explore | Phase 2: Plan | Phase 3: BoostMain Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Validate AI Idea | Technical AI Roadmap | Full AI Implementation |
| Funding | €5,800 / £5,000 | €23,200 / £20,000 | €67,900 / £56,000 |
| Duration | 5 Days Specialist | 18 Days Specialist | 18 Months + Grad Hire |
| Requirement | Trading 12+ Months | Trading 18+ months | Trading 2+ years |
InterTradeIreland recommends completing earlier stages but it is not a requirement.
Why InterTradeIreland matters for AI (and why it's misunderstood)
If you're thinking about AI for the first time, InterTradeIreland's Business Explorer is probably the best place to start on the island of Ireland. Not because the funding is biggest. It isn't. Because the cash contribution is zero.
Compare that to the other grant agencies. Enterprise Ireland typically covers 50% and you pay the other 50% upfront. LEO covers up to 50% on Business Expansion Grants. Invest NI varies by programme. InterTradeIreland Business Explorer covers 100% of specialist time. You put in management time, not cash.
That matters for one specific reason. AI projects fail more often at the discovery stage than the build stage. A business that commits €30,000 to a build before understanding whether AI is the right fit is taking a real risk. A business that spends zero cash on a specialist-led discovery before committing anything is making a much safer decision.
The next thing we see misunderstood: InterTradeIreland funds innovation, not implementation. If your plan is to buy an off-the-shelf AI tool and deploy it, this isn't your programme. That's a LEO or Invest NI conversation. InterTradeIreland wants novel application. A custom solution to a specific business problem. Usually involving your own data, your own process, or your own product.
Most AI projects that deliver real value fit that brief. Predictive quality control trained on your production data. Automated quoting trained on your historical pricing. Document processing fitted to your specific forms and workflows. Those are innovation projects. Buying ChatGPT licenses for your team is not.
The third thing worth knowing: the cross-border element is about who you work with, not what your business does. A Dublin manufacturer working with an academic at Queen's University Belfast. A Belfast engineering firm working with a specialist in Galway. Your customers don't need to be cross-border. Your product doesn't need to be cross-border. Only the knowledge exchange is cross-border.
If your project is genuinely innovative, your business is SME-scale, and you're on the island of Ireland, this is probably the most accessible AI funding available to you. The detail is below.
Not sure InterTradeIreland is the right fit?
This guide covers cross-border funding specifically. To compare all grant agencies side by side — including an interactive tool that recommends the right grant for your business — see our Complete Guide to AI Grants in Ireland 2026.
Grant Guide Series
Your Complete Guide to AI Grants in Ireland
This is part of our comprehensive grant guide series. Start with the overview or jump to any agency guide:
Side-by-side comparison of every grant agency, plus an interactive tool to find your best fit
For Irish SMEs with 1–50 employees
For scaling businesses with export potential
For multinational and foreign-owned companies
InterTradeIreland Grants 2026: All-Island Innovation
You are hereFor Northern Ireland businesses
For businesses in Gaeltacht regions
For businesses in the Western Region (Clare, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Donegal, Leitrim, Roscommon)
Looking for help applying? We guide businesses through the full grant process — from identifying the right funding to delivering the project. Book a free 20-minute call.
Why InterTradeIreland for AI Projects?
The most common misconception about InterTradeIreland: you do NOT need to be trading cross-border to qualify.
The "cross-border" element refers to where your funded specialist comes from — not your business activity. Here's how it works:
- If your business is in the Republic of Ireland, you'll be matched with a specialist from Northern Ireland
- If your business is in Northern Ireland, you'll be matched with a specialist from the Republic of Ireland
Your business can be entirely domestic. A Belfast engineering firm. A Limerick manufacturer. A Cork food producer. All qualify if they meet the eligibility criteria.
InterTradeIreland is the only all-island trade and business development body, established to help businesses across Ireland and Northern Ireland grow through cross-border collaboration, innovation, and trade.
Contact: Phone: 028 3083 4100 (048 3083 4100 from Ireland) | Email: info@intertradeireland.com | Website: intertradeireland.com
While most businesses are familiar with Enterprise Ireland or LEO grants, InterTradeIreland's innovation programmes remain underutilised – particularly for AI projects. Here's why they deserve your attention:
Fully Funded Expertise
Unlike Enterprise Ireland grants where you typically pay 50% upfront, InterTradeIreland pays 100% of academic and specialist costs. Your contribution is management time, not cash.
Cross-Border Expertise
Republic of Ireland businesses work with Northern Ireland specialists; Northern Ireland businesses work with Republic of Ireland specialists. Fresh perspectives and access to expertise you wouldn't find locally.
Clear Progression Pathway
The programmes flow naturally: Explore your AI challenge (€5,800) → Plan your implementation (€23,200) → Implement with Innovation Boost (€67,900). Enter at any stage.
AI Explicitly Supported
InterTradeIreland specifically lists "Data Analytics & Artificial Intelligence (Machine Learning)" as a focus area. This is exactly what these programmes are designed for.
€130,000 AI Funding Pathway: Complete Overview
Here's how the InterTradeIreland innovation grants stack up for AI projects:
| Programme | Stage | Funding Available | Your Cash Contribution | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Explorer – Explore | Discovery | €5,800 (£5,000) per challenge | €0 | 5 days over 4-6 weeks |
| Business Explorer – Plan | Planning | €23,200 (£20,000) per plan | €0 | 18 days over 3-6 months |
| Innovation Boost | Implementation | €67,900 (£56,000) | €0 for academic; 50% for PM salary | 12-18 months |
Maximum Funding Potential
Business Explorer maximum:
- Up to 3 Explore applications = €17,400 (£15,000)
- Up to 2 Plan applications = €46,400 (£40,000)
- Total: €63,000 (£55,000)
Innovation Boost adds: €67,900 (£56,000)
Combined pathway total: Over €130,000 in funded support
Business Explorer: Up to €63,000 (£55,000) for Discovery & Planning
Business Explorer is InterTradeIreland's programme for SMEs tackling technical business challenges or developing new ideas in science, engineering, and technology – including AI. The programme connects you with academic professionals or industry specialists who help you explore innovative solutions.
Key principle: You work with a specialist from the opposite jurisdiction to where your business is based. A Dublin company would work with a Belfast-based academic; a Derry company would work with a Galway-based specialist.
Business Explorer
Explore Stage
€5,800 (£5,000) + VAT per application
5 days of specialist time
4-6 weeks
Up to 3 (different challenges)
What Explore delivers:
- Investigation of a technical challenge or new idea
- Expert assessment of potential solutions
- Identification of whether AI is the right approach
- Foundation for moving to the Plan stage
Perfect for: Businesses unsure if AI applies to their challenge, companies wanting expert validation before committing, first-time AI exploration with minimal risk.
Plan Stage
€23,200 (£20,000) + VAT per application
18 days of specialist time
3-6 months
Up to 2 (different plans)
What Plan delivers:
- Detailed implementation roadmap
- Technical specifications for your AI solution
- Training and development requirements identified
- Business case and ROI projections
- Ready-to-execute project plan
Perfect for: Businesses that know AI is right but need a detailed plan, companies preparing for Innovation Boost application, organisations needing technical specifications for procurement.
Ineligible Sectors
Innovation Boost: Up to €67,900 for Implementation
Innovation Boost is InterTradeIreland's flagship implementation programme. Where Business Explorer helps you explore and plan, Innovation Boost funds the actual delivery of your AI solution.
How Innovation Boost Works: It creates a three-way partnership between your business (defining the challenge), an academic partner (providing specialist expertise – 100% funded), and a Project Manager (a graduate you employ to drive delivery – 50% funded).
Innovation Boost
18-Month Project
Up to €67,900 (£56,000)
18 months
100% funded
50% salary funded
Best for: New AI-powered products, services, or major capabilities that require comprehensive development and integration.
Shorter 12-month projects are possible but the maximum funding is lower. Confirm current figures directly with InterTradeIreland for any specific project duration.
What Innovation Boost Delivers: Working AI systems implemented in your business, embedded expertise through the Project Manager, academic partnership with ongoing access to specialist knowledge, capability transfer so your team learns to manage and extend the solution, and documented outcomes with measurable business impact.
Where InterTradeIreland isn't the right fit
Business Explorer doesn't fund everything. Areas not supported include sales and marketing, training, equipment purchase, business consultancy, business plans, website development, and e-commerce platforms. If your AI project is really a website rebuild with a chatbot bolted on, this isn't your programme.
Ineligible sectors are wholesale, retail, distribution, tourism, hospitality, primary agriculture, and personal services. Professional services are only eligible where the project develops a product or service that can be traded internationally.
If you're in an ineligible sector and serious about AI, there's often a route through productisation. A consultancy that builds an AI-powered product it can sell internationally moves from a service business to a tradable product business. That's covered in the AI Pivot section below.
If you're outside both the eligible sectors and the productisation route, InterTradeIreland probably isn't your best route. LEO, Enterprise Ireland, or Invest NI may fit better. Our complete grants guide covers all of these.
The AI Pivot Strategy: Moving from Services to Products
⚠️ Is Your Service Business Ineligible? The AI Pivot Strategy
InterTradeIreland typically excludes professional services. However, in 2026, businesses can qualify by focusing on Productisation. If you are building a custom AI product, platform, or automated process that can be sold internationally, you move from "Service" to "Tradable Product".
Action Points:
- Focus on R&D for a proprietary AI tool
- Ensure the project solves a technical "challenge" rather than just business scaling
- Highlight how the AI product will be sold in the cross-border market
Insider Tips for Application Success
Here are the factors that separate successful applications from rejections:
Frame It as Innovation, Not IT
InterTradeIreland funds innovation – novel applications of technology to solve business problems. Simply buying off-the-shelf software doesn't qualify.
Do say:
"We want to develop a custom AI model trained on our specific production data to predict equipment failures before they occur."
Don't say:
"We want to buy some AI software."
Demonstrate Senior Management Commitment
Both programmes require evidence that leadership is behind the project: a named executive sponsor, clear allocation of management time, commitment to provide data and resources, and willingness to act on recommendations.
Be Specific About the Business Challenge
Vague applications fail. Be concrete about what problem you're solving, what it currently costs you (time, money, quality), what success looks like, and how you'll measure improvement.
Use Business Explorer to Strengthen Innovation Boost Applications
Completing Explore and Plan stages creates documented evidence of your commitment, technical feasibility validated by experts, a clear implementation roadmap, and realistic expectations.
Engage Early
Don't wait until you have everything figured out. InterTradeIreland's team can help you determine which programme is right, shape your application, and connect you with relevant specialists.
Consider the Project Manager Strategically
For Innovation Boost, think about what skills you need (data science, engineering, project management), whether you'll retain them after the project (many businesses do), and how they'll work with the academic partner.
InterTradeIreland's AI Grant Pathway
The most effective approach to InterTradeIreland funding is to use the programmes as a progressive pathway. Here's how a typical AI implementation journey unfolds:
Explore (€5,800)
Identify your business challenge
Perhaps inventory forecasting is unreliable, or quality control is inconsistent. You're not sure if AI is the answer.
Work with a cross-border specialist
An academic or industry expert investigates your challenge and assesses potential solutions.
Outcome
Confidence that you're pursuing the right solution, backed by expert analysis.
Plan (€23,200)
Develop detailed implementation plan
The Explore stage confirmed AI is the right approach. Now you need technical specifications, training requirements, and ROI projections.
Create your Innovation Boost foundation
The plan you develop forms the basis of your Innovation Boost application.
Outcome
A ready-to-execute project plan that forms the foundation of your Innovation Boost application.
Implement via Innovation Boost (€67,900)
Recruit your Project Manager
Employ a graduate to drive delivery (50% salary funded by InterTradeIreland).
Partner with academic expertise
Work with an academic partner from the opposite jurisdiction (100% funded).
Deliver your AI solution
The three-way partnership delivers your working AI systems.
Outcome
Working AI systems, embedded capability, and measurable business results.
Why This Pathway Works
- De-risks your investment – Each stage validates before you commit further
- Builds your application strength – Completing earlier stages demonstrates commitment
- Creates continuity – Learning from Explore/Plan feeds directly into implementation
- Maximises funding – Access the full €130,000+ across all programmes
Pro tip: You don't have to start at Explore. If you already know what you need, you can apply directly to Plan or Innovation Boost. But having completed earlier stages significantly strengthens your application.
Who Can Apply? Eligibility Criteria
| Requirement | Business Explorer | Innovation Boost |
|---|---|---|
| Employee count | 3-249 | 5-249 (full-time) |
| Business type | Manufacturing or tradable services | Manufacturing or tradable services |
| Location | Island of Ireland | Island of Ireland |
| Turnover | £100k - £40m | Must be financially viable |
| Trading history | 1.5 years minimum | 2 years minimum |
| Indigenous | Must be indigenous to island | Not explicitly required |
InterTradeIreland's definition of 'innovation' is broader than most people expect. If your business is service-based, frame your AI project around how it transforms your service delivery into something scalable or exportable. We've seen consulting firms, logistics companies, and professional services businesses all successfully access Innovation Boost funding by positioning their AI project as a capability transformation rather than just an internal efficiency gain.
Application Process: From First Contact to Funding
Your Complete Application Roadmap
Phase 1: Business Explorer Application
Check Eligibility
Review the criteria at the Business Explorer page
Register for an Information Session
Not sure where to start? Register for a one-to-one session with the Business Explorer team
Submit Application
Complete the online application form describing your technical challenge and what you hope to achieve
Matching
InterTradeIreland identifies suitable academic or industry specialists from the opposite jurisdiction
Project Delivery
Work with your matched specialist to explore your AI solution (4-6 weeks for Explore, 3-6 months for Plan)
Phase 2: Innovation Boost Application
Initial Assessment
Complete an initial assessment to discuss your business needs and confirm eligibility
Consultant Meeting
If eligible, an Innovation Boost consultant meets you to understand your needs in detail
Academic Matching
InterTradeIreland identifies academic partners with relevant expertise from the opposite jurisdiction
Joint Application
You and your matched academic partner submit a joint application for funding
Project Manager Recruitment
Once approved, you recruit a Project Manager (graduate) for the project
Project Delivery
The three-way partnership delivers your AI solution over 12-18 months
If you're considering using InterTradeIreland funding for a data or analytics project, see our guide: Data Analytics for Irish SMEs — A Practical Guide →
Real AI projects that fit InterTradeIreland's criteria
We've delivered AI projects under other grant programmes and worked with clients on their InterTradeIreland applications. Here's what a fundable AI project actually looks like. These examples are informed by our delivery experience, not by ITI case studies we've run.
Business Explorer – Explore: AI readiness assessment for a manufacturer
A manufacturer wants to know whether computer vision could help with quality inspection on their production line. They have no experience with AI. They have paper-based quality records going back ten years.
The Explore stage gives them 5 days of specialist time to assess the opportunity. The output is a clear go/no-go recommendation. Is the data usable? Is the inspection problem well-suited to AI? What's the likely accuracy and what's the ROI?
Cash cost to the business: zero. Management time: roughly 2-3 hours a week across 4-6 weeks.
Business Explorer – Plan: Implementation roadmap for a predictive demand project
A food producer has historical sales data and wants to move from spreadsheet forecasting to a predictive model. Explore confirmed the approach was viable. Plan develops the technical specification, integration points, training data requirements, and the 12-18 month implementation plan.
The output is an implementation-ready project document. It also becomes the basis for the Innovation Boost application.
Innovation Boost: Full implementation of a predictive quality system
An engineering SME builds a predictive quality system trained on their sensor and inspection data. The project runs for 18 months. The business employs a graduate as Project Manager (50% salary funded). An academic specialist from the opposite jurisdiction provides technical expertise (100% funded).
At the end, the business has a working AI system, an embedded person who understands it, and documented methodology the team can extend.
Your Next Steps
You now have the complete roadmap to accessing over €130,000 in InterTradeIreland funding for AI transformation. Here's exactly what to do next:
If You're New to InterTradeIreland:
Today
Review the Business Explorer and Innovation Boost pages
This Week
Register for a one-to-one information session
Next 2 Weeks
Discuss your AI challenge and get guidance
Within 30 Days
Submit your first application
If You've Already Explored AI Options:
Today
Assess whether Business Explorer Plan or Innovation Boost is the right entry point
This Week
Contact InterTradeIreland at info@intertradeireland.com
Next 2 Weeks
Prepare your application with specific project details
Within 30 Days
Submit your application
Ready to Access Your AI Funding?
Access up to €130,000+ in funding for your AI transformation through InterTradeIreland grants.
Arrange a short call below to talk through whether InterTradeIreland is the right fit for your project.
Prefer to email? hello@deeppurple.ai
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long does approval take?
A: Business Explorer applications typically take 4-6 weeks. Innovation Boost applications take 6-10 weeks due to the academic matching process.
Q: Can I apply directly to Innovation Boost without doing Business Explorer first?
A: Yes, you can enter at any stage. However, completing Business Explorer stages strengthens your Innovation Boost application by demonstrating commitment and providing validated project plans.
Q: Can I combine InterTradeIreland funding with other grants?
A: You cannot double-fund the same costs. However, InterTradeIreland funding can complement other programmes. For example, you might use Business Explorer for AI planning, then Enterprise Ireland grants for broader digital transformation. Discuss your specific situation with both agencies.
Q: What happens to the Project Manager after Innovation Boost ends?
A: The Project Manager becomes your employee from day one. Many businesses retain them permanently, giving you embedded AI capability. The 50% salary funding ends when the programme concludes.
In summary
InterTradeIreland is the most accessible AI funding on the island of Ireland. Business Explorer costs you nothing in cash. Innovation Boost scales that up with 12-18 months of funded delivery. Combined, the pathway can exceed €130,000 of support.
If your business is SME-scale, on the island of Ireland, and in an eligible sector, there's no good reason not to start with a one-to-one information session. It costs nothing and the feedback is useful even if you don't apply.
In our next comprehensive guide, we'll explore funding opportunities for businesses in the West of Ireland with the Western Development Commission. Learn about:
- Western Investment Fund for scaling businesses
- Creative West funding for creative enterprises
- Regional development supports
- Equity and loan investment funds for SMEs
Stay updated: Follow Deep Purple AI Consulting on LinkedIn or Instagram to be notified when our next guide is published.
About Brian Egan
Founder & CEO, Deep Purple AI Consulting
Brian Egan is the Founder and CEO of Deep Purple AI Consulting. With over 26 years in software and AI, from studying neural networks at Dublin City University, to building intelligent mobile systems for Vodafone, Nokia and Hutchison 3G, to building technology companies that delivered machine learning, computer vision and predictive AI solutions to real businesses, Brian has been building with AI technologies at every stage of their evolution.
His interest in artificial intelligence began at DCU, where he studied neural networks and pattern recognition as part of his BSc in Computer Applications. As a Marie Curie Research Fellow in Germany, he worked on EU Framework projects developing intelligent systems for integrating emerging mobile technologies with enterprise software. At Cibenix (2003 to 2011), he spent eight years designing on-device software for Vodafone, Nokia, Hutchison 3G, Sony Ericsson and other global operators, work that increasingly involved content personalisation, user behaviour analysis and adaptive delivery logic.
In 2012, Brian founded Purpledecks, a software consultancy that incorporated machine learning, computer vision, data classification, predictive features and recommendation engines into client projects years before the current generative AI wave. From Purpledecks came Hype4 (UX research including AI-powered biometric identification for government programmes) and Reactable AI, an autonomous AI marketing platform built internally by the Deep Purple team, funded by Enterprise Ireland's Pre-Seed Start Fund, with 600+ users and paying customers across five continents.
A former Marie Curie Research Fellow, Brian leads Deep Purple's work with established businesses across Ireland, the UK, the EU, and the US, helping them identify where AI delivers genuine commercial value and guiding them from first assessment through to working system.
Related Resources
LEO Grants Guide 2026: Free Consultancy to €150,000
Complete guide to Local Enterprise Office grants for small businesses with 1-50 employees.
Enterprise Ireland Grants 2026: Up to €400,000 for AI Projects
Comprehensive guide to Enterprise Ireland funding for scaling Irish companies.
Údarás na Gaeltachta Grants 2026
AI funding opportunities for businesses in Gaeltacht regions.
IDA Ireland Grants 2026 for Multinationals
Digital transformation funding for multinational and FDI companies in Ireland.
Deep Purple AI Consulting (deeppurple.ai) is an AI consultancy and custom software development company based in Longford, Ireland, serving clients across Ireland, the UK, the EU, and the US. We help established businesses identify where AI can make a real difference, then build the systems to make it happen. Senior-led delivery. Grant-funded where possible. No hype.