The ‘Technical Assistance for Micro Exporters’ (TAME) grant is available through all Local Enterprise Offices to help more small businesses in Ireland develop products and services that will unlock export markets.
This grant can cover up to 50% of qualifying expenditure, up to a maximum of €2,500 (excluding VAT). The grant is designed to help micro enterprises explore, develop and unlock new overseas markets for their products and services, within Europe and beyond.
The Technical Assistance for Micro Exporters grant can help part-fund the costs of:
- Exhibiting at international Trade Fairs (stand rental costs etc).
- Developing export-focused websites and marketing materials and the translation of these materials into foreign languages, to communicate directly with new target audiences overseas.
- Investigating new ways and processes to develop export business, such as setting up a new business model or fulfilling non-regulatory technical requirements.
Grant terms, eligible projects and expenditure
Grant terms:
- Clients cannot be approved a Technical Assistance for Micro Exporter's Grant/s of more than a max. of €2,500 per calendar year.
- The Grantee must drawdown any funding offer within a max. 12 months of the letter of offer or within 2 months from the date of attendance at the approved Trade Show. Any approved amount not drawn down by whichever applicable date beyond the grant offer will automatically be decommitted.
- Applications must be made prior to any expenditure being incurred.
- Payments will be made to approved projects on receipt of proof of payment of all qualifying and approved expenses.
- The cost of a client's first and second-time participation at an International Trade Show may be eligible for support.
- Successful applicants should consider using an Enterprise Ireland Mentor to develop an export/marketing plan.
Projects eligible for support include:
- Enterprises not employing more than 10 people
- Enterprises located within the geographic location of the Local Enterprise Office Wicklow
- Enterprises operating in the commercial sphere
- Enterprises must demonstrate a market for their proposed product/service
- Enterprises engaged in manufacturing or internationally traded services
- Innovative businesses with prototype products
- Enterprises must not have received any funding for this proposal from any other source
Eligible expenditure categories:
- Participation at trade fairs and shows covering Trade Show Exhibitor costs including rental/fees relating to space/stands*
- Participation at international trade networking events organised through the Enterprise Europe Network
- Development of specific Marketing Materials aimed at exploring new export markets
- Translation, e.g. of existing material (booklets, webpages, etc. for export markets)
- Development of export related websites
- Investigation of new internal or external processes to develop export business, e.g. new business model or the carrying out of non-regulatory technical requirements
Ineligible expenditure categories:
- Domestic trade fairs and shows unless proven that overseas buyers participate
- Researching expanding market/sales activities within the Republic of Ireland
- Researching into existing markets for existing products
- Attendance at international conferences, summits, forums, symposiums, stand-alone company events are not eligible for support
*Note - Economy Flight Costs are eligible with other travel and subsistence costs subject to the Local Enterprise Office maximum limits.