The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) is a €500 million fund established under Project Ireland 2040 and forms a key part in the delivery of Pillar 1, embracing innovation and technological change, under the Future Jobs Ireland framework. It is available for collaborative projects seeking investment in the development and deployment of disruptive innovative technologies and applications, on a commercial basis, targeted at tackling national and global challenges.
A total of 63 applications were received under DTIF Call 2, of which 49 were deemed eligible following assessment by Enterprise Ireland. As DTIF is aimed at encouraging collaborative partnerships between consortia of at least three project partners, at least one of which must be an SME, the location of the individual partners is not a criterion for the Fund. However, on 7 December, when I announced the details of the 16 successful applicants under Call 2 of the Fund that were awarded a total of €65m to be drawn down over three years, details of the location of the enterprise partners were included, along with project summaries and funding allocations for individual projects, as per the attached document.
The lead partner in each of the 33 applications that were not successful under Call 2 will receive a communication from Enterprise Ireland detailing the feedback from the international panels of experts that had evaluated their project during the evaluation process. This feedback will set out the marks they received under each of the four criteria under which the applications were assessed, along with a supporting narrative including the reasons that the panel considered the application did not meet the qualifying mark, where appropriate. The communication will also direct the applicants to the relevant enterprise agency for support in identifying suitable alternative sources of funding.
The communication will also detail the appeal process, which can only be related to procedural issues, such as the evaluation process, admissibility or eligibility checks. Applicants must seek redress within two weeks of receiving the outcome communication if they consider that their application was not treated fairly or adequately on an administrative basis.
Under Call 1, a total of €75 million was awarded to 27 projects and Enterprise Ireland, who administer the Fund on my behalf, inform me that as of 16 December 2019, payments totalling €12,160,733 have issued to the project partners.
DTIF Call 2 - Successful Projects
