What is the Market Explorer Grant?
The Market Explorer Grant is open to small enterprises (with between 1 and 50 paid employees) that meet the following criteria:
- Operate as Manufacturing or eligible internationally traded services businesses and are solvent as demonstrated in the financial statements supplied and have current tax clearance from Revenue.
- Are not currently clients of Enterprise Ireland or IDA.
- Operate commercially and are established and trading for at least 12 months, registered, and carrying on activity within the area of the Local Enterprise Office.
- Have demonstrated intention to internationalise i.e.
- have completed Export Accelerator or
- similar LEO Exporter Programme or
- have developed an internationalisation plan or
- have initial small-scale exports that can be increased (suggestion is <10K).
The amount of the grant is to a maximum of €10,000 or 50% of eligible costs. Support for the Market Explorer for Business grant applies when eligible companies seek to explore either a new geographic market for an existing product/service or an existing geographic market for a new product/service.
The grant will support first time and small-scale exporters to undertake essential market research and to support the development of viable and sustainable market entry strategies in new geographic markets for businesses. The financial assistance proposed will provide support towards costs incurred in researching new market opportunities for products and services. The eligible activities supported under the Market Explorer grant can be supported under the following cost categories:
- Market Research
- In Market Consultancy
- Trade Fair Attendance
- Trade Fair Exhibition
- Overseas Travel
- Subsistence
Who is Eligible for the Market Explorer Grant?
The Market Explorer Grant is open to small enterprises (with between 1 and 50 paid employees) that meet the following criteria:
- Operate as Manufacturing or eligible internationally traded services businesses and are solvent as demonstrated in the financial statements supplied and have current tax clearance from Revenue.
- Are not currently clients of Enterprise Ireland or IDA.
- Operate commercially and are established and trading for at least 12 months, registered, and carrying on activity within the area of the Local Enterprise Office.
- Have demonstrated intention to internationalise.
Eligibile costs
The eligible activities supported under the Market Explorer grant are outlined under the following categories;
- Market Research
- In Market Consultancy
- Trade Fair Attendance
- Trade Fair Exhibition
- Overseas Travel & Subsistence
Ineligibile costs
- Research into expanding market activities in the Republic of Ireland
- Research into existing markets for existing products.
- Activities relating to export aid, for example 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 product or service.
- Direct Sales and Marketing activities cannot be supported.
How to Apply?
It is strongly recommended that you discuss your Market Explorer Grant proposal with your Local Enterprise Office before applying. An application must be submitted before any project expenditure is incurred or any project activity commences. While supporting documentation may be provided after submission where permitted, applicants must not commit to, order, purchase, contract for, or commence any element of the project before the application is submitted, as this may indicate that the project would otherwise proceed without grant assistance (deadweight) and could result in the project being deemed ineligible for grant support.
The amount of the grant is to a maximum of €10,000 or 50% of eligible costs. Find your Local Enterprise Office here
Please contact your Local Enterprise Office for further information