Industry-led Awards

The Marine Institute provides funding to SMEs through the Industry-Led Awards under the Marine Research Programme. The Industry-Led Awards provide assistance for appropriate research activities that aim to fulfill national strategic objectives. The funding aims to:

• Support research and innovation costs for the development of innovative technologies, products ad services from existing or new marine-based business.
• Help marine companies to develop capacity, capability and their networks and relationships.
• Support "novel" marine research that has not previously received funding to create new knowledge or a new product, process or service or to substantially improve existing products, processes or services.

Collaboration with HEIs and other public research bodies is encouraged.

In 2024 the Marine Institute provided funding to 10 projects under the Industry-Led Awards providing a total grant-aid value of €3.3m. A summary of the Awards are available: Industry-Led Awards. 

In 2018 the Marine Institute provided funding to 12 projects from a total of 22 applications under the Industry-Led Awards, providing a total grant-aid value of €2.3m. Details of the projects funded are available in the Industry-Led Call Awards 2018 document. 

This scheme is funded by the Marine Institute under the National Marine Research Programme with the support of the Irish Government. Please contact funding@marine.ie for further information on this Programme.