Recommended Free Tools
For most Irish small businesses, the best first contact is the free National Enterprise Hub if you are unsure which support applies. For an EU research or innovation project, also contact Enterprise Europe Network Ireland and, for Horizon Europe, the relevant National Contact Point. The right adviser can help you find a route and prepare, but eligibility, deadlines and submission rules come from the specific call—and no adviser can promise an award.
Start with the National Enterprise Hub if you are unsure where to turn
The National Enterprise Hub is a free, all-of-government service for businesses ranging from pre-startup entrepreneurs and sole traders to established SMEs. It brings together information on government supports and offers search and filtering, plus access to trained advisers through its online service, phone and live chat. Its role is to help you identify a relevant agency or support; it does not decide funding applications. Apply to the agency responsible for the particular scheme, not to the Hub. See the Hub FAQ for current service details.
The Department of Enterprise describes the Hub as bringing together information on over 250 government supports, including grants, loans, mentoring, management development and expert advice. That count is from the Department’s page and may differ from figures on other Hub pages; treat it as a guide to the breadth of the service, not as a count of EU grants. Read the Department’s National Enterprise Hub page for its description.
Choose specialist help for EU programmes and project partners
Enterprise Europe Network Ireland
Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) Ireland is useful when you need to identify EU funding sources, find partners for a collaborative European research project, or explore an existing project you might join. Its advisers also direct businesses to operators that may help validate or implement a project. EEN services in Ireland are delivered through a partnership involving Enterprise Ireland, Cork Chamber of Commerce, Dublin Chamber of Commerce and Local Enterprise Offices. Ask EEN which support is currently available for your programme and project; the call itself determines who can apply. See EEN Ireland’s EU funding guidance and the government’s guide to accessing EU funding for your business.
#1 Best Overall
National Contact Points for Horizon Europe
If you are considering Horizon Europe, contact the relevant Irish National Contact Point (NCP). NCPs can help applicants identify relevant topics and action types, understand administrative and contractual requirements, prepare proposals and find partners. Many also organise information and networking events or proposal-writing workshops. Use the Funding & Tenders Portal’s NCP directory to find the current contact and check the services offered. NCP support is not available for every EU programme, so do not assume a Horizon Europe contact covers another fund.
An NCP, EEN adviser or Hub adviser can guide you, but none is the call evaluator or can guarantee funding. For a different EU programme, check whether it has its own national support contact or managing authority.
Rank #2
- Ideal for Gifting
- Ideal for a bookworm
- Compact for travelling
Check which portal actually accepts the application
EU funding does not use one universal application portal. The route depends on the programme and how the funds are managed. For a direct-managed grant, the European Commission says the typical process is to find an eligible call, create an account on the Funding & Tenders Portal, register the organisation and submit the proposal there. Follow the live call’s instructions: its templates, criteria, required documents and deadline govern, and the proposal must be complete and submitted on time. See the Commission’s application process guidance.
For EU funds managed with national or regional authorities, the Commission identifies Ireland’s national portal as eufunds.ie. Consult it and the relevant programme authority for call scope, eligible applicants, objectives, timelines and applicant guidance. Do not submit through the Funding & Tenders Portal unless the call directs you there; use the route specified by the responsible programme.
Take these steps before you apply
- Summarise the project. Note your business’s size and location, the problem or opportunity, planned work, likely partners, budget and timing. This makes it easier for an adviser to direct you.
- Ask the right first contact. If you do not know the agency or scheme, ask the National Enterprise Hub to help identify one. For EU research, innovation or cross-border collaboration, contact EEN Ireland; for Horizon Europe, contact the relevant NCP.
- Find the actual call. Use the portal or programme site responsible for it, then read the eligibility criteria, funding conditions, consortium rules, required documents, templates, submission route and deadline. A general label such as “SME” does not establish that your business or project qualifies.
- Plan for the submission process. Allow time to gather documents and, where required, register your organisation or form a consortium. Submit through the portal named in the call and check that the final submission is complete before the deadline.
- Use paid help only if it suits the project. A private proposal consultant is an optional service, not a substitute for checking official call rules. Verify the provider’s experience and fees independently; the official routes above do not amount to an endorsement or an award guarantee.
Which route fits the help you need?
| Need | Useful contact | What it can help with |
|---|---|---|
| You are unsure which public support or agency to approach | National Enterprise Hub | Broad navigation across government supports and referral to the responsible agency; it does not decide applications. |
| You need EU funding leads, project or business partners, or a project to join | Enterprise Europe Network Ireland | Funding-source identification, partner searches and links to relevant operators; confirm current support for the programme. |
| You are considering a Horizon Europe call | Relevant National Contact Point | Programme-specific guidance, proposal preparation and partner-search support; NCP coverage varies by programme. |
| You need the application route and call documents | The portal or authority named by the call | Call-specific eligibility, forms, requirements, deadlines and submission instructions. |
Enterprise Ireland’s catalogue also lists programmes such as Eurostars and Innowwide among its innovation and internationalisation-related supports. These are routes to investigate for a suitable project, not general grants for every small business. Check the current programme rules and call availability in Enterprise Ireland’s funding and grants catalogue.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- It can be a gift option
- Comes with secure packaging
- Helpful in various ways
Rank #4
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
