ENFUSE
Connecting Master’s Students with Local Enterprises
ENFUSE is a free, award-winning programme that connects local enterprises with teams of Master’s students from Dublin’s universities.
Running over Semester 2 (January to May), the programme pairs enterprises with student teams to address a specific business challenge or opportunity. The collaboration culminates at the ENFUSE Finals in May, where student teams present their work and innovative solutions.
Apply to ENFUSE 2026
What Can Student Teams Help With?
ENFUSE teams come from a variety of Master’s programs, bringing expertise in areas such as:
- Strategy & Project Management
- Marketing & Digital Marketing
- Innovation & Design Thinking
- Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management
- Product or Service Development
- Finance & Data Analysis
- Sustainability
....and more.
No matter the sector or type of challenge, there’s likely a student team with the right expertise to bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas.
How Does ENFUSE Work?
1) Apply to ENFUSE: Enterprises complete a short online application outlining a challenge or opportunity they’d like support with.
2) Matching: Once applications are received, ENFUSE coordinators pair each selected enterprise with a team of 4–6 Master’s students from a relevant academic discipline.
3) Collaboration: Between February and April, enterprises and student teams collaborate through approximately four meetings (in person or online) to exchange information, track progress, and provide feedback. During this time, students research your business context and develop a practical, tailored action plan.
4) Plan Presentation: By April, student teams present their completed plans to you (the enterprise) and their lecturer.
5) ENFUSE Finals: Once all plans are submitted, lecturers and ENFUSE organisers review the projects and shortlist the most innovative and impactful collaborations. If your enterprise’s project is selected, your student team will represent your organisation and their university at the ENFUSE Finals in May.
Role of Enterprises
- Complete the ENFUSE Application Form.
- Propose a challenge or opportunity for the student team to develop a plan.
- Nominate a representative to liaise with.
- Meet with your student team approx. 4 times (online or in person).
- Rate the student team.
- Participate in an evaluation survey.
- Approve presentation content if your student team is selected to compete at the ENFUSE Finals!
- View & agree the terms and conditions (see below).
Who Can Apply?
ENFUSE is open to all kinds of enterprises and entrepreneurs — including private businesses, social enterprises, not-for-profits, and sole traders. Whether you are running a small local business or leading a community-focused initiative, if you have a challenge that could benefit from new ideas and perspectives, you’re welcome to apply.
- Location: Preference is given to enterprises operating in County Dublin; however enterprises located outside Dublin are welcome to apply.
- Suitable Projects: When applying, propose a project or problem that a team of students can tackle in a few months (typically 8-12 weeks).[AB1]
- Limited Places: Please note that space is limited – submitting an application does not guarantee a match.
Application portal opens from: 20 October 2025
Deadline for submitting Applications: 23:59, 19 January 2026
Benefits for Participating Enterprises
- Fresh Insights at No Cost: Access market research, analysis, and innovative ideas for your enterprise — completely free of charge.
- Innovative Solutions: Receive a tailored action plan developed by the student team, offering practical strategies and creative solutions to your specific business challenge.
- Talent Pipeline: Work closely with bright Master’s students and identify potential future employees in action.
- Promotion & Recognition: Outstanding projects may be featured in ENFUSE promotional materials and events, highlighting your enterprise’s participation and success.
- Protected Collaboration: All student teams sign confidentiality agreements, ensuring your intellectual property and business information remain fully protected throughout the process.
Ready to Join ENFUSE?
Apply Now!
Questions?
If you have any questions about the programme or the application process, please contact us at economicdevelopment@dublincity.ie. We’re happy to help.
Take a look at the ENFUSE Finals 2025
Terms and Conditions
The availability of student teams is limited. A submitted application does not guarantee that the applicant enterprise will be matched or will be matched with their preferred Masters/Skill area student team.
Plans will be produced by Master's level student teams from the participating universities/colleges and will be presented to participating enterprises during March-May. The plans will be reviewed confidentially by relevant lecturers/staff for academic assessment. Plans will also be reviewed by relevant staff in DCC/LEO Dublin City to shortlist for the ENFUSE Finals.
At the end of the module / at a lecturer assigned date, student teams may make presentations to each other in their respective module class on the plans they produced as part of a peer-to-peer learning exercise. Participating enterprises may be invited to attend these sessions.
ENFUSE is not a work placement for students in participating enterprises. The enterprises that do well in ENFUSE are those which collaborate with the students, rather than treating the students as interns. Students research and develop a plan for enterprises as part of a module on their course. During the programme, students will spend a portion of their time each week researching, liaising with the enterprise and developing the plan. Students are not responsible for implementing the plan.
Although unlikely, due to external circumstances, student teams may be forced to disband or be unable to continue their participation. University/college partners reserve the right to withdraw their students from the programme.
When matched with an enterprise, students will sign a confidentiality agreement designed to protect the commercial confidence and intellectual property rights of the enterprise. Students’ participation in the programme is governed by the ethical research guidelines of the universities/colleges as appropriate.
Enterprises are not obliged to accept or implement recommendations proposed by their allocated student team and accept full responsibility for any consequences arising from the implementation of such recommendations. ENFUSE project partners and support organisations accept no liability for any loss, debts or negative impacts incurred by enterprises arising from participation in ENFUSE and / or implementing student’s recommendations / plans.
Participating enterprises may be featured in promotional material/reports in order to promote the enterprise, ENFUSE or the services of DCC/LEO Dublin City and other project partners/support organisations. Enterprises that are represented by finalist teams at the ENFUSE Finals will be featured in promotional materials.
Privacy Notice
Dublin City Council and ENFUSE project partners respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. Please read this notice as it describes why your personal data is needed to apply and potentially participate in ENFUSE, and how your personal data will be used. For further information on privacy and your rights, please see the Dublin City Council Privacy Statement and the Local Enterprise Office Personal Data Protection Notice.
To apply to participate in ENFUSE, applicants are required to complete an online application form. In this form, applicants are asked to provide data which includes contact details and information on their enterprise and area / challenge / opportunity that they would like a student team to complete a plan.
The reason for requiring and processing this data is to process applications and to manage the programme. Contact details are required to allow for efficient communication and to inform applicants of their application status and to provide relevant updates on ENFUSE and other LEO supports. Applications are confidentially shared with participating lecturers and relevant student teams as part of selecting and matching enterprises with teams and to enable the teams to contact and directly liaise with their allocated enterprise. Participating enterprises will be connected with their student team by DCC / LEO – Dublin City and the relevant lecturer. Applications and data provided will be securely stored in line with retention protocols in DCC, LEO and university / college project partners.
If you have any questions regarding the application form, process and management of your data, please contact: economicdevelopment@dublincity.ie
Further Information
ENFUSE is led by Dublin City Council (DCC) / Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Dublin City in collaboration with Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin); Dublin City University (DCU); National College of Ireland (NCI); University College Dublin (UCD), Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and National College of Art and Designed (NCAD).
It is supported by and operated in alignment with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, South Dublin and Fingal County Councils and their respective Local Enterprise Offices, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER); Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Enterprise Ireland; GradStart; Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Dublin Regional Skills (DRS); and the Dublin Brand.
ENFUSE is managed in alignment with and towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) in particular: 4 Quality Education; 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth; 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; 10 Reduced Inequalities; 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities; 12 Responsible Consumption and Production.
Project Awards
In national recognition of the innovativeness and potential to scale, DCC was awarded Public Service Innovation Funding in 2020 from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform as part of the Our Public Service initiative. The funding was used to develop branding, communications and programme materials.
ENFUSE was selected as a National Winner in the European Commission’s - European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA) 2022 under category 3 which recognises innovative projects and approaches that improve the business environment and support the digital transition. In addition, ENFUSE was shortlisted as an overall EEPA European finalist project.
ENFUSE was shortlisted in the Chambers Ireland - Excellence in Local Government Awards 2022 in the Promoting Economic Development category and shortlisted in the Dublin City Council Three Castles Staff Awards 2022 in the Innovation Category.
