(Please note this is an information page for ENFUSE 2021. For Information and to apply to participate in ENFUSE 2022, please click here: ENFUSE 2022) 

ENFUSE 2021

ENFUSE matches enterprises and social enterprises in Dublin with teams of Masters - University Students. During semester 2 (January-May) as part of a module, students work in teams of 4-6 with selected enterprises. The students help provide insights, propose solutions and ultimately present a bespoke and tangible plan that sets out how challenges and opportunities could be addressed by the enterprise.

The student teams present the plan directly to the enterprise and also submit it to their module lecturer for academic assessment. Shortlisted student teams then go on to compete at the ENFUSE finals in May. The teams represent their university and compete by pitching to industry / expert judges on how their assigned enterprise could address challenges and develop opportunities.

Student teams can assist participating enterprises regarding:

Innovation, Marketing, Digital Marketing, Strategy, Design Thinking, New Product / Service Development, Business Development, Opportunity Identification and Evaluation, Commercialisation, New Venture Creation, Data Analysis, Machine Learning and more.

ENFUSE is a pilot project led by Dublin City Council / Local Enterprise Office in collaboration with Technological University Dublin, Dublin City University and National College of Ireland. During 2020, ENFUSE received funding from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform - Public Service Innovation Fund 2020 to scale the pilot project further.

ENFUSE Aims:

• Support micro / small-medium enterprises by providing bespoke plans to address challenges and develop opportunities
• Provide participating masters students with real-world consultancy and enterprise experience
• Develop enterprise ecosystem links and synergies between stakeholders and enterprises

Benefits of participating as an enterprise

• Bespoke plan on how to address challenges / develop opportunities in your enterprise
• Gain valuable market research, insights and new ideas
• No cost to the enterprise
• Intellectual property rights and confidentiality are protected
• Promotional opportunities
• Enable talented students to gain relevant real-world experience 
• Opportunity to screen potential employees from the student teams

Role of the Enterprise

1. Complete the ENFUSE – Application Form (Link Below)
2. Propose a relevant challenge / opportunity / area for a student team to develop a plan on 
3. Nominate a person to liaise with, meet the student team at least four times and provide relevant information
4. Interact responsibly and respectfully with the student team
5. Participate in an evaluation survey for promotional and research purposes.
6. Review and approve presentation content, if your student team is shortlisted to compete at the ENFUSE Pitch Competition

 (Please note the timeline is subject to change)

*Meetings will be arranged directly between the student team and enterprise. Depending on government restrictions and university health and safety advice, meetings can be physical or virtual. Please review up to date government restrictions regarding meeting physically before arranging etc. If physical meetings are permitted, students are covered under TU Dublin and DCU insurance respectively to visit enterprises / sites. After each meeting, student teams will share minutes / notes taken with their respective enterprise. 

*ENFUSE pitch competition will feature shortlisted student teams that participated, which pending approval from their allocated enterprise regarding content - will pitch a summary of their plan. At the event, a winning student team will be chosen by a panel of expert judges. All participating students and enterprises will be invited to attend the pitch competition. 

Enterprise Selection Process

• ENFUSE is open to registered enterprises and social enterprises that are primarily trading and based in the Dublin City area
• Preference will be given to existing Local Enterprise Office – Dublin City client enterprises
• Enterprises will be selected according to the suitability of their proposed challenge / opportunity / area for the students to develop a plan on
• Student teams will be allocated / self-select an enterprise that they wish to work with
• Please note the allocation of student teams to enterprises is limited
• Enterprises will be informed of their application status by 07/02/2021
• Submission Deadline for Applications: 23:59, 24/01/2021

Terms and Conditions

Plans will be produced by teams of masters students from TU Dublin or DCU and will be presented to participating enterprises in April 2021. The plans will be reviewed confidentially by relevant TU Dublin or DCU lecturers to academically assess students work. Plans may also be disclosed to relevant staff in Dublin City Council / Local Enterprise Office - Dublin City as part of assessing students work and shortlisting for the ENFUSE Pitch Competition.

Students participating in the programme will sign and include in the plan, a confidentiality agreement designed to protect the commercial confidence and intellectual property rights of the enterprise.

Students’ participation in the programme will be governed by the ethical research guidelines of TU Dublin or DCU as appropriate.

The enterprise is not obliged to accept or implement any recommendation proposed by the student team and accepts full responsibility for any consequences arising from the implementation of such recommendations. TU Dublin, DCU, Dublin City Council, Local Enterprise Office - Dublin City bear no liability for any loss, debts or negative impacts incurred by participant enterprises arising from participation in ENFUSE and / or implementing students recommendations / plans.

Application to ENFUSE 2021 is closed 

Further Information on Project Partners

• Dublin City Council is the Local Authority and the democratically elected body that governs Dublin City. It is the largest Local Authority in Ireland and provides a vast range of services. Through its Economic Development Office and the Local Enterprise Office – Dublin City, it encourages and supports strategic economic and enterprise ecosystem development in the city. ( http://www.dublincity.ie/ )
• Local Enterprise Office Dublin City is a first stop shop for entrepreneurs and micro and small businesses. The office provides various supports and services to help start, grow and develop businesses in the Dublin City area. ( https://www.localenterprise.ie/DublinCity/ )
• Technological University Dublin, Ireland’s first Technological University, is where career-focused students, dedicated staff and academic excellence in science, the arts, business, engineering, and technology converge to create the leaders of tomorrow. TU Dublin offers an inclusive and open learning experience with pathways to graduation from Apprenticeship to PhD where 28,500 students learn in a practice-based environment informed by the latest research and enabled by technological advances. TU Dublin welcomes opportunities for students to collaborate with real-world businesses, identify challenges and opportunities, and leverage their studies to develop fresh insights and innovative solutions. ( https://www.tudublin.ie/ )
• Dublin City University is a young, dynamic and ambitious Irish university with a distinctive mission to transform lives and societies through education, research and innovation. Since admitting students in 1980, DCU has grown substantially, to host over 17,000 students and 1,800 staff, across 3 academic campuses. DCU’s student body is cosmopolitan, with 109 countries represented. The number of DCU alumni worldwide now exceeds 57,000. DCU currently delivers more than 200 programmes through five faculties: DCU’s Institute of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, Science and Health, Engineering and Computing and DCU Business School. ( https://www.dcu.ie/ ) 
• National College of Ireland (NCI) provides a supportive learning environment for students from all over the world. With experienced staff, modern facilities and a prime city-centre location, NCI is tailored for all study needs. From accredited degrees to chartered qualifications, NCI’s courses are designed to be career-relevant and developed in partnership with industry. The college is based near Dublin’s historic Docklands area, which places students right in the heart of the action. Key features include: Internationally recognised qualifications accredited by QQI; smaller class sizes and experienced educators. (https://www.ncirl.ie/)