This aims to develop the market development skills of companies by providing support towards internal costs which they may incur when researching new markets for products and services.

What Costs Are Eligible?

Maximum expenditure limits are:

Salaries/Wages	€1500 per week (must be existing company staff who are working full time on an agreed market development project whose employment is not being funded by EI or another State source at the same time)
Travel	Economy class fare
Subsistance	€100 per night within Ireland, €200 per night outside Ireland

There must be no element of export aid in this initiative. This means that eligible costs cannot include any support towards the setting up of an overseas office, the setting up of a distribution network or any costs which could subsidise the unit costs of the final products.

Maximum Support Limits

Support of up to €65,000 or 50% of eligible expenditure subject to a maximum of €130,000 may be available.

The Market Research initiative is provided under the de minimis rule*. This means that funding under Market Research is restricted to €100,000 over three years.

Please note that €65,000 is the combined maximum level of support available for all funding awarded under "Funding for Exploring New Opportunities" category over a rolling two-year period.

This category includes funding for Consultancy, Recruitment of a key person, Graduate Placements (Export Orientation Programme), Feasibility Studies, Market Research, Mentor Programme, Trade Fair Participation support.

Do I Qualify?

You are eligible to apply for this funding if you are one of the following:

• A manufacturing or internationally traded services SME company employing 10 - 249 employees
• A new High Potential Start-Up company
• companies must not be eligible to receive marketing support from An Bord Bia or An Bord Iascaigh Mhara

How Can I Apply?

Project ideas must be discussed with your local Enterprise Ireland Development Adviser prior to submitting a completed application form.

Grant Application Forms must be completed and returned to:

Enterprise Ireland Client Service Unit prior to the commencement of the project.

* De Minimis

De Minimis Aid is small amounts of State Aid given to an enterprise which cannot exceed €100,000 in any three year period from any State body, agency or department. Such amounts are regarded as falling outside the category of State aid that is banned by the EC Treaty and can be awarded to an enterprise without notification to or clearance from the European Commission