AI grants Ireland: what Digital Discovery pays for and what it leaves out
Enterprise Ireland's Digital Discovery grant pays up to 80% of the cost of an external AI or digital expert, to a maximum grant of EUR 5,000. Eligible costs are the expert's advisory or training days, so the build itself needs other money.
Funding guide, Ireland
- Grant
- Digital Discovery
- Rate
- Up to 80%
- Maximum grant
- EUR 5,000
- Expert time
- 3 to 7 days
- Day rate cap
- EUR 900 per day
The short answer
Digital Discovery covers 3 to 7 days of an independent expert, with eligible costs capped at EUR 900 per day, for Irish-owned firms in manufacturing or internationally traded services with 10 or more staff, and high-potential start-up clients. The expert must be solution-agnostic and can't be your IT services provider.
Digital Discovery as the page reads today
We read Enterprise Ireland's Access Advice: Digital Discovery page on 5 October 2026. Its terms:
- Up to 80% of the project cost, to a maximum grant of EUR 5,000.
- An external digital or AI expert for 3 to 7 days, typically over 8 to 12 weeks.
- Eligible costs capped at EUR 900 per day, including travel and all out-of-pocket expenses.
- Irish-owned firms in manufacturing or internationally traded services with 10 or more employees, and high-potential start-up clients.
- Uses include guidance on implementing new digital, data, automation or AI solutions.
- The outcome is new technology introduced, an action plan for the next 3 to 12 months, or both.
- Not covered: routine upgrades, paid software trials, general management consultancy, travel costs and assessments from software providers.
- One claim per grant, after the project, with a progress report and proof of payment.
Where the page and the FAQ disagree
The Digital Discovery FAQ is older than the page. It describes 7 days of consultancy and 80% of a project cost up to EUR 6,300, the same EUR 5,000 grant, and ties the offer to Digital Transition Fund budget up to 2026. The page offers 3 to 7 days and says the offer remains open.
Scope is where they differ most. The FAQ calls this a strategic consultancy grant whose output is a digital roadmap, and it names an implementation-focused project as a common reason for rejection. It also says neither implementation nor product development is covered. The page lists guidance on implementing new solutions as a use. Where the two differ, the page wins, so write your outline against its wording and confirm with your Client Advisor.
The rule that decides who your expert can be
No approved list exists. You pick the expert, and Enterprise Ireland recommends talking to up to three before choosing. The page sets four limits:
- The expert can't be your employee or shareholder.
- The expert can't hold a direct financial interest in your company.
- The expert can't have a contract with you as your IT technology or services provider.
- Enterprise Ireland may judge a proposed consultant unsuitable.
Digiton is a builder. If you want us on the build, the cleaner route is an independent expert for Discovery and the roadmap brought to us afterwards. We make no claim that Enterprise Ireland would accept Digiton as a Discovery expert.
Making the roadmap buildable
A roadmap a builder can price without starting over answers five questions:
- Which single workflow comes first, and what does it cost you today?
- Where does the data live, and can a vendor get read access for a week?
- Which decisions would the system make about people, and does that raise EU AI Act questions?
- What volume must it handle on its worst day?
- Who runs it after launch, your team, the builder or both?
Bring those answers to a free 25-minute scoping call and we can tell you quickly whether we're a fit. Our own back office runs on ten scheduled agents behind tested rails, and the code is public. For the AI Office of Ireland and its sandbox, see our Dublin AI consultancy page.
Sources, checked 2026-10-05
8 sources
- Digital Discovery funds up to 80% of the project cost to a maximum grant of EUR 5,000, for an external digital expert over 3 to 7 days, typically 8 to 12 weeks, with eligible costs capped at EUR 900 per day inclusive of travel and expenses.Source: enterprise-ireland.com, checked 2026-10-05.
- Eligible applicants on the page: Irish-owned businesses in manufacturing or internationally traded services employing 10 or more, and Enterprise Ireland high-potential start-up clients.Source: enterprise-ireland.com, checked 2026-10-05.
- There is no list of approved consultants. Consultants may not be employees or shareholders, have a direct financial interest, or have a contractual relationship with the company as its IT technology or services provider, and the expert must be solution-agnostic.Source: enterprise-ireland.com, checked 2026-10-05.
- The page notes Digital Transition Fund supports are no longer funded under the RRF recovery fund and that the offer remains open to eligible Enterprise Ireland clients.Source: enterprise-ireland.com, checked 2026-10-05.
- The FAQ describes a strategic consultancy grant whose output is a digital roadmap, states that neither implementation nor product development is covered, and gives 80% of a project cost up to EUR 6,300 based on 7 days.Source: enterprise-ireland.com, checked 2026-10-05.
- The FAQ says a company may avail of Digital Discovery once, a follow-on may be approved after 18 months, and the final claim date is 12 months from the Letter of Offer.Source: enterprise-ireland.com, checked 2026-10-05.
- The Digital Discovery page lists uses including analysis of existing digital, data or automation systems and guidance on the implementation of new or enhanced digital, data, automation or AI solutions. Expected outcomes are the introduction of new technologies and solutions and/or an action plan with initiatives for the next 3 to 12 months. The support is based on training or advisory services.Source: enterprise-ireland.com, checked 2026-10-05.
- AI Discovery is described as a specialised part of Enterprise Ireland's Digital Discovery support with a similar size and approach. Companies apply through the Access Advice (Digital Discovery) option, and the output is a consultant's report with actionable steps and named owners within six, twelve and eighteen months.Source: enterprise-ireland.com, checked 2026-10-05.
Digiton Dynamics OÜ is registered in Tallinn, Estonia, and delivers from Lisbon.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Digital Discovery grant?
Up to 80% of the project cost, to a maximum grant of EUR 5,000, with eligible expert costs capped at EUR 900 per day. The current page describes 3 to 7 days of expert time.
Does Digital Discovery fund building an AI system?
No. Eligible costs are an expert's advisory or training days, capped at EUR 900 a day. The current page lists guidance on implementation as a use, so the expert can advise on the build. The FAQ says implementation itself and product development aren't covered.
What is AI Discovery?
Enterprise Ireland describes AI Discovery as a specialised part of Digital Discovery, similar in size and approach. You apply through the same Access Advice (Digital Discovery) option. The output is a consultant's report with named owners and steps achievable within six, twelve and eighteen months.
Is there a list of approved Digital Discovery consultants?
No. The applicant chooses the expert, who must be solution-agnostic and independent of the company, and Enterprise Ireland can reject a proposed consultant.
Can our current IT provider do the Digital Discovery work?
The page says consultants may not have a contractual relationship with the company as its IT technology or services provider. Read that rule with your Development Adviser before naming anyone.
How long does approval take, and when can work start?
Enterprise Ireland aims to process applications within two weeks and asks for replies to queries within 5 working days. Work starts after you sign the Letter of Offer, and the final claim date is 12 months after it is issued. A company can use Digital Discovery once. A follow-on project may be approved 18 months after the claim was received.
Is Digital Discovery still open in October 2026?
The page we read on 5 October 2026 says Digital Transition Fund supports are no longer funded under the RRF and that this offer remains open to eligible Enterprise Ireland clients. The older FAQ ties it to Digital Transition Fund budget up to 2026, so confirm with your adviser.
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