€159 Million Awarded under Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund to Drive Ireland’s Next Wave of Innovation
December 8, 2025
In a significant boost to Ireland’s innovation ecosystem, the government announced today a record €159 million in funding awarded under Call 7 of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF). This funding supports 27 ground-breaking projects spanning cutting-edge sectors such as healthcare, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technologies, and sustainable agriculture. The latest awards include seven additional projects amounting to nearly €39 million, reaffirming the country’s commitment to fostering collaboration between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), multinational corporations, and research institutions.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke, pictured alongside representatives from the RECAP project—which received €6.6 million to develop a new non-pharmaceutical treatment for musculoskeletal pain—emphasized the transformative potential of this investment. “These projects will play a pivotal role in addressing key societal and economic challenges, including climate action, digital transformation, health innovation, and upskilling Ireland’s workforce for global competitiveness.”
Collaborative and Impactful Innovation
Call 7, launched in May 2024 as a rolling application process with a deadline extension into 2025, received 41 applications. Following rigorous evaluation by international expert panels, 27 projects were selected for funding based on criteria such as disruptive technology quality, economic impact, sustainability, and strength of collaboration.
Among the funded initiatives are several high-impact MedTech and Life Sciences projects:
• AINM (€9.1 million): Led by National University of Ireland Dublin (UCD) with partners including Deciphex, Dell Technologies, and Microsoft Ireland, this project leverages AI to develop hospital-ready decision support solutions aimed at transforming health services.
• PIONEER (€7.2 million): A multi-institutional effort focusing on next-generation screening and electroporation techniques for enhanced colorectal cancer treatment.
• RECAP (€6.6 million): Developing resorbable embolization therapies for chronic musculoskeletal pain with collaboration between CrannMed, Salaso Health Solutions, University of Galway, and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
Other innovative projects address sustainability and climate goals, such as the FutureLives project targeting reductions in agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, and NAIRA, aimed at making mobile networks greener by reducing energy consumption.
Government Leadership in Innovation
James Lawless TD, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, praised the success and collaborative nature of Call 7. “It is inspiring to witness the engagement between industry and academia, ensuring that highly specialized skills from our research institutions meet the needs of pioneering projects,” he said.
Jenny Melia, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, highlighted the strategic importance of the DTIF in positioning Ireland as a leader in transformative innovation, particularly in areas like AI-driven healthcare, quantum technologies, and sustainable agriculture. “These investments strengthen industry-research partnerships, accelerate commercialization of disruptive technologies, and create high-value employment opportunities. We encourage continued collaboration to translate these innovations into measurable economic impact and solidify Ireland’s role as a global innovation hub.”
About the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund
Established under the National Development Plan in 2018 with a €500 million allocation, the DTIF is managed by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, supported administratively by Enterprise Ireland. The fund’s primary objective is to catalyze the development and deployment of disruptive technologies through collaborative projects that unite Ireland’s research excellence and enterprise sectors.
Further information about the DTIF, including Call 7 guidance and application details, is available on the Enterprise Ireland website: enterprise.gov.ie/DTIF.
Key Call 7 Funded Projects Overview
| Project Name | Consortium Members | Focus Area | Regions | DTIF Award (€ million) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AINM | UCD, Deciphex, Dell Technologies, Microsoft Ireland, others | Health & Wellbeing | Dublin | 9.1 |
| PIONEER | Mirai Medical, University of Galway, TCD, UCD, Eurofins | Health & Wellbeing | Galway, Dublin | 7.2 |
| RECAP | CrannMed Limited, Salaso Health, University of Galway, RCSI | Health & Wellbeing | Galway, Kerry, Dublin | 6.6 |
| HealAsystant | FeelTect Ltd, Professional Granite Consulting, University of Galway | Health & Wellbeing | Galway, Cork | 6.3 |
| SPARC | Danalto Ltd, Decawave Ltd, UCC | ICT | Dublin, Cork | 3.5 |
| SmartMobility CNM | Rockfield Medical Devices, Invermed Teo, Irish Manufacturing Research | Health & Wellbeing | Various | – |
These projects symbolize Ireland’s ambition to lead in disruptive technological innovation, support sustainable economic growth, and improve quality of life through advanced science and technology.
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