The ‘Technical Assistance for Micro Exporters’ 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:
- Attending international Trade Fairs and renting exhibition space to meet potential customers face-to-face.
- 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.
If you want unlock export markets….
Take the first steps by talking to your Local Enterprise Office.
If this grant will support the development of your business (and if your business is eligible), they will ask you to fill out a short application form.
Find your nearest Local Enterprise Office here: Find-Your-Local-Enterprise-Office
Here’s how the grant is helping a small business in Kerry to unlock export markets -
The Busy Botanist (Jo Arbor and Clair Kelly) – supported by LEO Kerry
Set-up in 2017, the company sells and markets a range of herb-based drinks under the ‘Busy Botanist’ brand that contain no added sweeteners, artificial colourings or flavours.
“Thanks to the Technical Assistance for Micro Exporters’ Grant, we’re exhibiting our full product range for the first time at a trade event in London called the Speciality and Fine Food Fair.
By meeting independent retailers and distributors from all over Europe, this could open up many new international markets for us and in new sectors. We’re using this grant from our Local Enterprise Office to help fund our exhibition space, travel costs and new marketing materials to make the best possible first impression on overseas buyers.”
Top Tip: Start researching the costs of your planned expenditure and getting written quotations as soon as possible. However, it’s important to remember that applications can only be submitted to your Local Enterprise Office before you incur any expenditure which are potentially “eligible costs”.
Don’t forget…
The maximum Technical Assistance for Micro Exporters grant is €2,500 (excluding VAT), up to a maximum of 50% of eligible costs. Micro enterprises cannot receive more than one Technical Assistance for Micro Exporters’ grant per year.
Eligibility criteria, and general conditions of the Financial Support Instruments apply.
The Local Enterprise Offices are co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020.
Technical Assistance for Micro Exporters’ Grant
Grant terms, eligible projects and expenditure
Grant terms:
- • Grant Covers 50% of eligible costs (net of vat) to a max of €2,500.
- • 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.
- • 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
- • 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;
*Note - Economy Flight Costs are eligible with other travel and subsistence costs subject to the Local Enterprise Office maximum limits.
