The Launch of Ireland's Updated Horizon Europe Action Plan

On February 20, 2026, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless unveiled a strengthened Horizon Europe Action Plan, placing a major emphasis on elevating small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) participation in the European Union's premier research and innovation funding programme. This timely update, covering 2025 to 2027, responds to Ireland's impressive track record while addressing gaps, particularly for the 90% of Irish businesses that are SMEs. The minister highlighted the plan's role in ensuring that Irish enterprises and researchers are primed not only for the remaining Horizon Europe phase but also for the successor framework programme spanning 2028 to 2034.

Lawless emphasized the collaborative development of the plan through consultations with the Horizon Europe Focus Group, comprising members from the National Support Network and higher education representatives. This inclusive approach underscores the pivotal partnership between government, universities, and industry in driving national innovation.

Horizon Europe: Foundations of EU Research and Innovation

Horizon Europe, the European Union's flagship funding initiative for research and innovation from 2021 to 2027, boasts a substantial budget of €95.5 billion. Structured around three core pillars—Excellent Science, Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness, and Innovative Europe—it supports groundbreaking research across disciplines while addressing pressing societal issues through five missions: adapting to climate change, beating cancer, restoring oceans and waters, achieving climate-neutral and smart cities, and caring for soil health.

For Irish higher education institutions (HEIs), Horizon Europe represents a vital conduit for international collaboration, talent attraction, and knowledge transfer. Programmes like the European Research Council (ERC) grants and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) have enabled universities to host top-tier researchers, fostering environments where academic excellence meets real-world application. The programme's emphasis on open science and interdisciplinarity aligns seamlessly with Ireland's Impact 2030 strategy, which prioritizes research commercialization and societal impact.

Ireland's Remarkable Achievements Under Horizon Europe

Ireland has excelled in Horizon Europe, securing €1 billion in funding by September 2025—well ahead of the national target of €1.5 billion set under Impact 2030. This milestone encompasses participation in 1,605 projects involving 487 organizations, with Irish entities leading 151 projects, accounting for 10% of total participations. Higher education institutions have captured 58% of this funding, underscoring their dominance in areas like health (€92 million), digital industries (€151 million), and bioeconomy (€140 million).

University College Cork (UCC), for instance, ranks 18th among European universities for Horizon Europe innovation projects, participating in 24 initiatives across health, sustainability, and social innovation, amassing over €13.3 million. Such successes highlight how Irish colleges and universities serve as innovation hubs, often partnering with SMEs to translate research into marketable solutions. Enterprise Ireland-backed SMEs have also shone, with companies like CroíValve and Lios securing €18.75 million through the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator.

Why SME Participation Matters for Ireland's Economy

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)—defined by the EU as businesses with fewer than 250 employees and turnover under €50 million—form the backbone of Ireland's economy, comprising 90% of all businesses and driving job creation and exports. Yet, their involvement in Horizon Europe lags behind larger entities and HEIs. While 217 Irish SMEs have received €233 million to date, placing Ireland fourth among EU states for SME project participation, the potential remains untapped.

The Action Plan identifies key barriers: limited awareness, complex application processes, and insufficient post-award support. By addressing these, the government aims to enhance SME success rates, particularly for repeat applicants and newcomers—317 since 2021, of whom 105 are yet to win funding. Increased SME engagement promises accelerated innovation, job growth in high-tech sectors, and stronger university-industry synergies, positioning Ireland as a European R&I leader.Discover research positions that bridge academia and industry through such collaborations.

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Strategic Priorities of the Updated Action Plan

The plan revolves around four interconnected priorities:

• HEI Engagement: Tailored pre- and post-award supports, enhanced alignment with national research priorities, and stronger institutional networks.
• SME Enhancement: Targeted outreach, better visibility of financial aids like Enterprise Ireland grants, and forged links with universities and research performing organisations (RPOs).
• Coordination Leadership: Reduced admin burdens, expanded mentoring/training, and incentives for Irish-led consortia.
• Newcomer Support: Champions networks, career sustainability programmes, and dedicated resources for early-career researchers and first-timers.

These measures, co-designed with stakeholders, ensure a holistic approach to maximizing Ireland's Horizon Europe return on investment.

Fostering University-SME Collaborations

Irish universities are central to the SME push, acting as knowledge brokers and project anchors. The plan promotes deeper HEI-SME linkages through joint workshops, matchmaking events, and shared infrastructures. For example, Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) engages SMEs via initiatives like ARISE, focusing on applied research prototyping. Similarly, the Irish Universities Association (IUA) hosts sessions on effective SME-university partnerships, emphasizing networks and funding navigation.

Such collaborations yield tangible outcomes: UCC's sustainability projects involve SMEs in circular economy solutions, while University College Dublin (UCD) leverages Horizon Europe for engineering innovations partnering with startups. These ties not only boost funding success but also enhance technology transfer, with universities providing expertise in grant writing and IP management.Research assistant roles often facilitate these partnerships. For more on European opportunities, visit the Horizon Europe Ireland portal.

Tailored Supports for Higher Education Institutions

Recognizing HEIs' outsized role—leading over 10% of projects—the Action Plan introduces specialized supports: customized training for national contact points (NCPs), post-award management tools, and alignment with Ireland's research strengths in health, digital, and climate. The Higher Education Authority (HEA) coordinates these, ensuring universities like Trinity College Dublin and Maynooth University optimize participation.

Stats reveal HEIs' edge: 58% funding share supports thousands of researchers via MSCA (€110 million+) and ERC grants. The plan extends this by integrating SME co-applicants, creating win-win scenarios where academic rigor meets commercial agility.Explore higher ed in Europe.

Case Studies: Irish Universities Leading the Way

UCC's 24 innovation projects exemplify HEI prowess, funding health tech and sustainable materials with SME partners. In Cluster 6, Irish marine research (€76.5 million) involves colleges like Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology collaborating with aquaculture SMEs.

Another standout: EIC Accelerator successes for Enterprise Ireland clients, often anchored by university spinouts like Altratech (€10.5 million). These cases demonstrate step-by-step impact—from proposal ideation in university labs, consortium building, to commercialization—offering blueprints for SMEs eyeing Horizon Europe. Detailed insights available via Enterprise Ireland.

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Overcoming Challenges for Newcomers and Repeat Success

Of 317 newcomers since 2021, many struggle with bureaucracy. The plan counters this with mentoring networks, simplified processes, and incentives like coordinator training. For universities, this means nurturing early-career staff for leadership roles, sustaining Ireland's 10% coordination rate.

Risks include funding cliffs post-2027, addressed by FP10 preparations. Benefits: diversified portfolios, reduced reliance on national grants, and enhanced global competitiveness.

Future Outlook and Next Steps

As Horizon Europe's 2026-2027 work programme allocates €14 billion—with SME-friendly calls in widening participation—the Action Plan positions Ireland for outsized gains. Long-term, it prepares for FP10 amid EU shifts toward security and tech sovereignty.

Stakeholders urge immediate action: SMEs to engage NCPs, universities to host info days. The result? A vibrant ecosystem where higher education fuels SME innovation, creating high-value jobs and addressing Europe's grand challenges. Professionals can advance careers via higher ed career advice and higher ed jobs.

For official details, consult the Department press release.