1import{j as e}from"./query-vendor-UuWeB2Au.js";import{S as k,b as A,N as T,a as s,L as i,T as B,U as o,d as l,e as E,A as d,X as P,c as g,F as S}from"./index-DgnQ-8ow.js";import{L as C}from"./router-vendor-CwPLJAK4.js";import{A as M}from"./AuthorBio-BKi-6cAj.js";import{A as W,a as L}from"./ArticleSignOff-CX5vFM14.js";import{S as D,T as F}from"./TableOfContents-DnBWsAxN.js";import{B as G}from"./BreadcrumbNav-ZrS_szpo.js";import{C as q}from"./CallToActionBox-BDPzIkJF.js";import{I as H}from"./InternalLinkingSection-DDKiBDp8.js";import{W as f,I as c,S as b,H as U}from"./ContentComponents-z-an-UcH.js";import{G as R,P as j}from"./GrantSeriesNavigation-CKKz6k-J.js";import{H as a}from"./helmet-vendor-DBM5ZoS-.js";import{C as r}from"./circle-check-big-j9QhlIog.js";import{T as p}from"./target-DBmnmMZX.js";import{F as m}from"./file-text-BqPmnwCW.js";import{G as O}from"./globe-XFeb9FHx.js";import{D as h}from"./dollar-sign-ZNc_rcWP.js";import"./react-vendor-DU8b7Rjc.js";import"./chevron-up-DtRHV2qm.js";import"./triangle-alert-DQAzXoMg.js";import"./star-Yb7ICupx.js";import"./piggy-bank-C6v0Ouxh.js";import"./book-open-zvKAtxki.js";const he=()=>{const x=n=>new Date(n).toLocaleDateString("en-GB",{day:"numeric",month:"long",year:"numeric"}),t={title:"InterTradeIreland Grants 2026: Access Over â¬130,000 in Fully Funded AI Expertise",author:{name:s.name,title:s.title,credibility:s.credibility,bio:s.bio,linkedinUrl:s.linkedinUrl,email:s.email},publishDate:"2026-01-16",modifiedDate:"2026-04-18",readTime:"15 min read",hashtags:["InterTradeIrelandGrants","BusinessExplorer","InnovationBoost","AIFunding","CrossBorderBusiness","IrishSME","NorthernIrelandBusiness","AIConsulting","DigitalTransformation","BusinessAutomation","InnovationFunding","AIImplementation","AllIslandBusiness"]},u="https://deeppurple.ai/blog/intertradeireland-grants-guide-2026",y=[{id:"why-iti-matters",title:"Why InterTradeIreland matters for AI",level:2},{id:"article-series",title:"Grant Guide Series",level:2},{id:"why-intertradeireland",title:"Why InterTradeIreland for AI Projects?",level:2},{id:"funding-overview",title:"â¬130,000 AI Funding Pathway: Complete Overview",level:2},{id:"business-explorer",title:"Business Explorer: Up to £55,000 for Discovery & Planning",level:2},{id:"innovation-boost",title:"Innovation Boost: Up to â¬67,900 for Implementation",level:2},{id:"where-not-fit",title:"Where InterTradeIreland isn't the right fit",level:2},{id:"success-tips",title:"Insider Tips for Application Success",level:2},{id:"strategic-pathway",title:"InterTradeIreland's AI Grant Pathway",level:2},{id:"eligibility",title:"Eligibility Requirements",level:2},{id:"how-to-apply",title:"Application Process: From First Contact to Fu
1nding",level:2},{id:"use-cases",title:"Real AI projects that fit InterTradeIreland's criteria",level:2},{id:"next-steps",title:"Your Next Steps",level:2},{id:"faq",title:"Frequently Asked Questions",level:2},{id:"conclusion",title:"In summary",level:2}],v=[{title:"LEO Grants Guide 2026: Free Consultancy to â¬150,000",description:"Complete guide to Local Enterprise Office grants for small businesses with 1-50 employees.",url:"/blog/leo-grants-guide-2025",type:"article"},{title:"Enterprise Ireland Grants 2026: Up to â¬400,000 for AI Projects",description:"Comprehensive guide to Enterprise Ireland funding for scaling Irish companies.",url:"/blog/enterprise-ireland-grants-guide-2025",type:"article"},{title:"Ãdarás na Gaeltachta Grants 2026",description:"AI funding opportunities for businesses in Gaeltacht regions.",url:"/blog/udaras-na-gaeltachta-grants-guide-2025",type:"article"},{title:"IDA Ireland Grants 2026 for Multinationals",description:"Digital transformation funding for multinational and FDI companies in Ireland.",url:"/blog/ida-grants-guide-2025",type:"article"}],N={"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BlogPosting",headline:t.title,author:{"@id":"https://deeppurple.ai/#brian-egan"},publisher:{"@id":"https://deeppurple.ai/#organization"},datePublished:t.publishDate,dateModified:t.modifiedDate,description:"Access over â¬130,000 in fully funded AI expertise through InterTradeIreland. Complete guide to Business Explorer and Innovation Boost programmes for SMEs across the island of Ireland.",mainEntityOfPage:u},w=[{question:"How long does approval take?",answer:"Business Explorer applications typically take 4-6 weeks. Innovation Boost applications take 6-10 weeks due to the academic matching process."},{question:"Can I apply directly to Innovation Boost without doing Business Explorer first?",answer:"Yes, you can enter at any stage. However, completing Business Explorer stages strengthens your Innovation Boost application by demonstrating commitment and providing validated project plans."},{question:"Can I combine InterTradeIreland funding with other grants?",answer:"You cannot double-fund the same costs. However, InterTradeIreland funding can complement other programmes. For example, you might use Business Explorer for AI planning, then Enterprise Ireland grants for broader digital transformation."},{question:"What happens to the Project Manager after Innovation Boost ends?",answer:"The Project Manager becomes your employee from day one. Many businesses retain them permanently, giving you embedded AI capability. The 50% salary funding ends when the programme concludes."}],I={"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"HowTo",name:"How to Apply for InterTradeIreland Grants",description:"Step-by-step guide to applying for InterTradeIreland Business Explorer and Innovation Boost programmes for cross-border AI and innovation projects.",totalTime:"PT10W",step:[{"@type":"HowToStep",name:"Check your eligibility for Business Explorer",text:"Review the eligibility criteria on the InterTradeIreland Business Explorer page. Your business must be an SME located on the island of Ireland in an eligible sector.",position:1},{"@type":"HowToStep",name:"Register for an information session",text:"Register for a one-to-one session with the Business Explorer team to discuss your business needs and confirm the programme is right for you.",position:2},{"@type":"HowToStep",name:"Submit your Business Explorer application",text:"Complete the online application form describing your technical challenge and what you hope to achieve. InterTradeIreland will identify suitable specialists from the opposite jurisdiction.",position:3},{"@type":"HowToStep",name:"Complete the Business Explorer project",text:"Work with your matched specialist to explore and plan your AI solution. The Explore stage takes 4-6 weeks; the Plan stage takes 3-6 months. Specialist costs are 100% funded by InterTradeIreland.",position:4},{"@type":"HowToStep",name:"Apply for Innovation Boost (optional next step)",text:"Complete an initial assessment for Innovation Boost. An Innovation Boost consultant meets you to understand your needs, then InterTradeIreland matches you with academic partners.",position:5},{"@type":"HowToStep",name:"Submit joint Innovation Boost application",text:"You and your matched academic partner submit a joint application for Innovation Boost funding, which covers 100% of academic costs and 50% of a dedicated Project Manager salary.",position:6},{"@type":"HowToStep",name:"Deliver the Innovation Boost project",text:"Work with your academic partner and Project Manager to implement your AI solution. The Project Manager becomes your permanent employee, giving you embedded AI capability.",position:7}]};return e.jsxs("div",{className:"min-h-screen bg-background",children:[e.jsx(k,{title:"InterTradeIreland Grants 2026 Guide",description:"InterTradeIreland grants 2026: Business Explorer and Innovation Boost. Over â¬
1130,000 in fully funded AI expertise for SMEs on the island of Ireland.",keywords:"InterTradeIreland grants, Business Explorer programme, Innovation Boost funding, cross-border business funding Ireland, cross-border grants Northern Ireland, SME innovation funding, all-island business support, InterTradeIreland 2026",url:u,type:"article",suppressPageSchema:!0,author:{name:t.author.name,title:t.author.title},publishDate:t.publishDate,modifiedDate:t.modifiedDate}),e.jsx(a,{children:e.jsx("script",{type:"application/ld+json",children:JSON.stringify(A)})}),e.jsx(a,{children:e.jsx("script",{type:"application/ld+json",children:JSON.stringify(N)})}),e.jsx(a,{children:e.jsx("script",{type:"application/ld+json",children:JSON.stringify({"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage",mainEntity:w.map(n=>({"@type":"Question",name:n.question,acceptedAnswer:{"@type":"Answer",text:n.answer}}))})})}),e.jsx(a,{children:e.jsx("script",{type:"application/ld+json",children:JSON.stringify(I)})}),e.jsx(T,{}),e.jsxs("main",{className:"container mx-auto px-4 py-12",children:[e.jsx("div",{className:"max-w-7xl mx-auto",children:e.jsxs("div",{className:"lg:grid lg:grid-cols-12 lg:gap-12",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"lg:col-span-8",children:[e.jsx(G,{articleTitle:t.title}),e.jsxs("header",{className:"mb-8",children:[e.jsx("h1",{className:"text-4xl font-bold text-foreground mb-6 leading-tight",children:"InterTradeIreland Grants: â¬130,000+ in Fully Funded AI Expertise"}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex flex-wrap items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground mb-6",children:[e.jsx("time",{dateTime:t.publishDate,children:x(t.publishDate)}),e.jsx("span",{children:"â¢"}),e.jsxs("span",{className:"text-deep-purple font-medium",children:["Updated ",x(t.modifiedDate)]}),e.jsx("span",{children:"â¢"}),e.jsx("span",{children:t.readTime}),e.jsx("span",{children:"â¢"}),e.jsxs("span",{children:["By ",t.author.name]})]}),e.jsx(D,{title:t.title,className:"mb-8"})]}),e.jsx("div",{className:"mb-8",children:e.jsx(W,{name:t.author.name,title:t.author.title,credibility:t.author.credibility,linkedinUrl:t.author.linkedinUrl,avatarUrl:s.avatarUrl,size:"compact"})}),e.jsx("div",{className:"prose max-w-none my-8",children:e.jsxs("p",{className:"text-lg text-gray-700 font-brand-text leading-relaxed",children:["If your business is on the island of Ireland, ",e.jsx("strong",{children:e.jsx("a",{href:"https://intertradeireland.com/",target:"_blank",rel:"noopener noreferrer",className:"text-deep-purple hover:text-deep-purple-dark underline",children:"InterTradeIreland"})})," offers funding for innovation, AI adoption, and academic collaboration. Business Explorer covers 100% of specialist time. Innovation Boost funds academic partnership in full and 50% of a graduate Project Manager salary. Combined, the pathway can exceed â¬130,000 of funded support. Here's the guide for 2026."]})}),e.jsx("p",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text leading-relaxed mb-6",children:"We've worked with clients on their InterTradeIreland applications and on the planning that feeds into them. The guide that follows reflects what we've learned from that work and from delivering AI projects under other funding programmes."}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"bg-gradient-to-br from-deep-purple/5 via-white to-electric-purple/5 border-2 border-deep-purple/30 rounded-xl p-6 mb-8 shadow-lg",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex flex-wrap items-center justify-between gap-4 mb-4",children:[e.jsxs("h3",{className:"text-lg font-bold text-foreground flex items-center gap-2",children:[e.jsx(r,{className:"w-5 h-5 text-deep-purple"}),"Quick Summary"]}),e.jsxs("span",{className:"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 bg-[#6B46C1] text-white text-xs font-bold px-3 py-1.5 rounded-full shadow-md",children:[e.jsx(r,{className:"w-3.5 h-3.5"}),"Updated July 2026"]})]}),e.jsxs("ul",{className:"space-y-2 text-muted-foreground mb-6",children:[e.jsxs("li",{className:"flex items-start gap-2",children:[e.jsx("span",{className:"text-deep-purple mt-1",children:"â"}),e.jsx("span",{children:"SMEs across the island of Ireland can access over â¬130,000 in fully funded expertise for AI and digital transformation."})]}),e.jsxs("li",{className:"flex items-start gap-2",children:[e.jsx("span",{className:"text-deep-purple mt-1",children:"â"}),e.jsx("span",{children:"Unlike other government grants, InterTradeIreland's innovation programmes cover 100% of specialist and academic costs â you contribute management time, not cash"})]}),e.jsxs("li",{className:"flex items-start gap-2",children:[e.jsx("span",{className:"text-deep-purple mt-1",children:"â"}),e.jsx("span",{children:"Both Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland businesses can a
1pply"})]}),e.jsxs("li",{className:"flex items-start gap-2",children:[e.jsx("span",{className:"text-deep-purple mt-1",children:"â"}),e.jsx("span",{children:"Clear progression pathway from â¬5,800 discovery projects to full implementation"})]})]}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"border-t border-deep-purple/20 pt-6",children:[e.jsxs("h2",{className:"text-xl font-bold text-foreground flex items-center gap-2 mb-6",children:[e.jsx(p,{className:"w-5 h-5 text-deep-purple"}),"Innovation Pathway at a Glance"]}),e.jsx("div",{className:"overflow-x-auto",children:e.jsxs("table",{className:"w-full border-collapse",children:[e.jsx("thead",{children:e.jsxs("tr",{children:[e.jsx("th",{className:"text-left p-3 bg-muted/30 border-b border-deep-purple/20 text-sm font-semibold text-muted-foreground",children:"Feature"}),e.jsx("th",{className:"text-center p-3 bg-muted/30 border-b border-deep-purple/20",children:e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex flex-col items-center gap-1",children:[e.jsx("div",{className:"w-8 h-8 bg-gradient-to-br from-deep-purple/60 to-electric-purple/60 rounded-lg flex items-center justify-center",children:e.jsx(i,{className:"w-4 h-4 text-white"})}),e.jsx("span",{className:"text-sm font-bold text-foreground",children:"Phase 1: Explore"})]})}),e.jsx("th",{className:"text-center p-3 bg-muted/30 border-b border-deep-purple/20",children:e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex flex-col items-center gap-1",children:[e.jsx("div",{className:"w-8 h-8 bg-gradient-to-br from-deep-purple/80 to-electric-purple/80 rounded-lg flex items-center justify-center",children:e.jsx(m,{className:"w-4 h-4 text-white"})}),e.jsx("span",{className:"text-sm font-bold text-foreground",children:"Phase 2: Plan"})]})}),e.jsx("th",{className:"text-center p-4 bg-gradient-to-br from-deep-purple/10 to-electric-purple/10 border-b-2 border-deep-purple/40 rounded-tr-lg",children:e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex flex-col items-center gap-1",children:[e.jsx("div",{className:"w-10 h-10 bg-gradient-to-br from-deep-purple to-electric-purple rounded-lg flex items-center justify-center shadow-lg",children:e.jsx(B,{className:"w-5 h-5 text-white"})}),e.jsx("span",{className:"text-base font-bold text-deep-purple",children:"Phase 3: Boost"}),e.jsx("span",{className:"text-xs text-deep-purple/70 font-medium",children:"Main Goal"})]})})]})}),e.jsxs("tbody",{children:[e.jsxs("tr",{className:"border-b border-deep-purple/10",children:[e.jsx("td",{className:"p-3 text-sm font-medium text-foreground",children:"Purpose"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"p-3 text-center text-sm text-muted-foreground",children:"Validate AI Idea"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"p-3 text-center text-sm text-muted-foreground",children:"Technical AI Roadmap"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"p-4 text-center text-sm font-medium text-deep-purple bg-deep-purple/5",children:"Full AI Implementation"})]}),e.jsxs("tr",{className:"border-b border-deep-purple/10",children:[e.jsx("td",{className:"p-3 text-sm font-medium text-foreground",children:"Funding"}),e.jsxs("td",{className:"p-3 text-center",children:[e.jsx("span",{className:"text-sm font-bold text-foreground",children:"â¬5,800"}),e.jsx("span",{className:"text-xs text-muted-foreground",children:" / £5,000"})]}),e.jsxs("td",{className:"p-3 text-center",children:[e.jsx("span",{className:"text-sm font-bold text-foreground",children:"â¬23,200"}),e.jsx("span",{className:"text-xs text-muted-foreground",children:" / £20,000"})]}),e.jsxs("td",{className:"p-4 text-center bg-deep-purple/5",children:[e.jsx("span",{className:"text-base font-bold text-deep-purple",children:"â¬67,900"}),e.jsx("span",{className:"text-sm text-muted-foreground",children:" / £56,000"})]})]}),e.jsxs("tr",{className:"border-b border-deep-purple/10",children:[e.jsx("td",{className:"p-3 text-sm font-medium text-foreground",children:"Duration"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"p-3 text-center text-sm text-muted-foreground",children:"5 Days Specialist"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"p-3 text-center text-sm text-muted-foreground",children:"18 Days Specialist"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"p-4 text-center text-sm font-medium text-deep-purple bg-deep-purple/5",children:"18 Months + Grad Hire"})]}),e.jsxs("tr",{children:[e.jsx("td",{className:"p-3 text-sm font-medium text-foreground",children:"Requirement"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"p-3 text-center text-sm text-muted-foreground",children:"Trading 12+ Months"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"p-3 text-center text-sm text-muted-foreground",children:"Trading 18+ months"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"p-4 text-center text-sm font-medium text-deep-purple bg-deep-purple/5",children:"Trading 2+ years"})]})]})]})}),e.jsx("p",{className:"text-xs text-muted-foreground text-center mt-4",children:"InterTradeIreland recommends completing earlier stages but it is not a requirement."})]})]}),e.jsxs("figure",{className:"my-8 rounded-lg overflow-hidden bg-gradient-to-r from-deep-purple/5 to-electric-purple/5 border border-deep-purple/10",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"relative w-full h-64 md:h-80",children:[e.jsx("img",{src:"/lovable-uploads/intertradeireland-hero.webp",alt:"InterTradeIreland - Forward, further, together - Supporting cross-border business collaboration",className:"w-full h-full object-cover",width:"1500",height:"500",loading:"eager",fetchPriority:"high"}),e.jsx("div",{className:"absolute inset-0 bg-gradient-to-r from-deep-purple/20 to-electric-purple/15 mix-blend-multiply"})]}),e.jsx("figcaption",{className:"text-sm text-muted-foreground text-left py-3 px-4 bg-white/50 backdrop-blur-sm",children:"Figure 1: InterTradeIreland connects businesses across the island of Ireland with fully funded AI expertise"})]}),e.jsx("h2",{id:"why-iti-matters",className:"text-3xl font-bold text-foreground mt-12 mb-6",children:"Why InterTradeIreland matters for AI (and why it's misunderstood)"}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text leading-relaxed space-y-4 mb-8",children:[e.jsx("p",{children:"If you're thinking about AI for the first time, InterTradeIreland's Business Explorer is probably the best place to start on the island of Ireland. Not because the funding is biggest. It isn't. Because the cash contribution is zero."}),e.jsx("p",{children:"Compare that to the other grant agencies. Enterprise Ireland typically covers 50% and you pay the other 50% upfront. LEO covers up to 50% on Business Expansion Grants. Invest NI varies by programme. InterTradeIreland Business Explorer covers 100% of specialist time. You put in management time, not cash."}),e.jsx("p",{children:"That matters for one specific reason. AI projects fail more often at the discovery stage than the build stage. A business that commits â¬30,000 to a build before understanding whether AI is the right fit is taking a real risk. A business that spends zero cash on a
1specialist-led discovery before committing anything is making a much safer decision."}),e.jsx("p",{children:"The next thing we see misunderstood: InterTradeIreland funds innovation, not implementation. If your plan is to buy an off-the-shelf AI tool and deploy it, this isn't your programme. That's a LEO or Invest NI conversation. InterTradeIreland wants novel application. A custom solution to a specific business problem. Usually involving your own data, your own process, or your own product."}),e.jsx("p",{children:"Most AI projects that deliver real value fit that brief. Predictive quality control trained on your production data. Automated quoting trained on your historical pricing. Document processing fitted to your specific forms and workflows. Those are innovation projects. Buying ChatGPT licenses for your team is not."}),e.jsx("p",{children:"The third thing worth knowing: the cross-border element is about who you work with, not what your business does. A Dublin manufacturer working with an academic at Queen's University Belfast. A Belfast engineering firm working with a specialist in Galway. Your customers don't need to be cross-border. Your product doesn't need to be cross-border. Only the knowledge exchange is cross-border."}),e.jsx("p",{children:"If your project is genuinely innovative, your business is SME-scale, and you're on the island of Ireland, this is probably the most accessible AI funding available to you. The detail is below."})]}),e.jsx(f,{title:"Not sure InterTradeIreland is the right fit?",children:e.jsxs("p",{children:["This guide covers cross-border funding specifically. To compare all grant agencies side by side â including an interactive tool that recommends the right grant for your business â see our ",e.jsx("a",{href:"/blog/ai-grants-ireland-complete-guide",className:"text-deep-purple hover:text-deep-purple-dark underline font-semibold",children:"Complete Guide to AI Grants in Ireland 2026"}),"."]})}),e.jsx("h2",{id:"article-series",className:"text-3xl font-bold text-foreground mt-12 mb-6",children:"Grant Guide Series"}),e.jsx(R,{currentSlug:"intertradeireland"}),e.jsx("h2",{id:"why-intertradeireland",className:"text-3xl font-bold text-foreground mt-12 mb-6",children:"Why InterTradeIreland for AI Projects?"}),e.jsxs(c,{title:"What 'Cross-Border' Actually Means for InterTradeIreland Grants",children:[e.jsxs("p",{className:"mb-3",children:["The most common misconception about InterTradeIreland: ",e.jsx("strong",{children:"you do NOT need to be trading cross-border to qualify."})]}),e.jsx("p",{className:"mb-3",children:`The "cross-border" element refers to where your funded specialist comes from â not your business activity. Here's how it works:`}),e.jsxs("ul",{className:"mb-3",children:[e.jsxs("li",{children:["If your business is in the ",e.jsx("strong",{children:"Republic of Ireland"}),", you'll be matched with a specialist from ",e.jsx("strong",{children:"Northern Ireland"})]}),e.jsxs("li",{children:["If your business is in ",e.jsx("strong",{children:"Northern Ireland"}),", you'll be matched with a specialist from the ",e.jsx("strong",{children:"Republic of Ireland"})]})]}),e.jsx("p",{children:"Your business can be entirely domestic. A Belfast engineering firm. A Limerick manufacturer. A Cork food producer. All qualify if they meet the eligibility criteria."})]}),e.jsxs(c,{title:"What is InterTradeIreland?",children:[e.jsxs("p",{className:"mb-4",children:[e.jsx("a",{href:"https://www.intertradeireland.com/",target:"_blank",rel:"noopener noreferrer",className:"text-deep-purple hover:underline",children:"InterTradeIreland"})," is the only all-island trade and business development body, established to help businesses across Ireland and Northern Ireland grow through cross-border collaboration, innovation, and trade."]}),e.jsxs("p",{className:"mb-0",children:[e.jsx("strong",{children:"Contact:"})," Phone: 028 3083 4100 (048 3083 4100 from Ireland) | Email: ",e.jsx("a",{href:"mailto:[email protected]",className:"text-deep-purple hover:underline",children:"[email protected]"})," | Website: intertradeireland.com"]})]}),e.jsx("p",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text leading-relaxed mb-6",children:"While most businesses are familiar with Enterprise Ireland or LEO grants, InterTradeIreland's innovation programmes remain underutilised â particularly for AI projects. Here's why they deserve your attention:"}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"grid md:grid-cols-2 gap-6 my-8",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"bg-gradient-to-br from-deep-purple/5 to-electric-purple/5 border border-deep-purple/20 rounded-lg p-6",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex items-center gap-3 mb-4",children:[e.jsx("div",{className:"w-10 h-10 bg-gradient-to-br from-deep-purple to-electric-purple roun
1ded-lg flex items-center justify-center",children:e.jsx(r,{className:"w-5 h-5 text-white"})}),e.jsx("h3",{className:"text-lg font-bold text-foreground",children:"Fully Funded Expertise"})]}),e.jsxs("p",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text",children:["Unlike Enterprise Ireland grants where you typically pay 50% upfront, InterTradeIreland pays ",e.jsx("strong",{children:"100% of academic and specialist costs"}),". Your contribution is management time, not cash."]})]}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"bg-gradient-to-br from-deep-purple/5 to-electric-purple/5 border border-deep-purple/20 rounded-lg p-6",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex items-center gap-3 mb-4",children:[e.jsx("div",{className:"w-10 h-10 bg-gradient-to-br from-deep-purple to-electric-purple rounded-lg flex items-center justify-center",children:e.jsx(O,{className:"w-5 h-5 text-white"})}),e.jsx("h3",{className:"text-lg font-bold text-foreground",children:"Cross-Border Expertise"})]}),e.jsx("p",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text",children:"Republic of Ireland businesses work with Northern Ireland specialists; Northern Ireland businesses work with Republic of Ireland specialists. Fresh perspectives and access to expertise you wouldn't find locally."})]}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"bg-gradient-to-br from-deep-purple/5 to-electric-purple/5 border border-deep-purple/20 rounded-lg p-6",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex items-center gap-3 mb-4",children:[e.jsx("div",{className:"w-10 h-10 bg-gradient-to-br from-deep-purple to-electric-purple rounded-lg flex items-center justify-center",children:e.jsx(p,{className:"w-5 h-5 text-white"})}),e.jsx("h3",{className:"text-lg font-bold text-foreground",children:"Clear Progression Pathway"})]}),e.jsxs("p",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text",children:["The programmes flow naturally: Explore your AI challenge (â¬5,800) â Plan your implementation (â¬23,200) â Implement with ",e.jsx("a",{href:"https://intertradeireland.com/innovation/innovation-boost",target:"_blank",rel:"noopener noreferrer",className:"text-deep-purple hover:underline",children:"Innovation Boost"})," (â¬67,900). Enter at any stage."]})]}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"bg-gradient-to-br from-deep-purple/5 to-electric-purple/5 border border-deep-purple/20 rounded-lg p-6",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex items-center gap-3 mb-4",children:[e.jsx("div",{className:"w-10 h-10 bg-gradient-to-br from-deep-purple to-electric-purple rounded-lg flex items-center justify-center",children:e.jsx(i,{className:"w-5 h-5 text-white"})}),e.jsx("h3",{className:"text-lg font-bold text-foreground",children:"AI Explicitly Supp
1orted"})]}),e.jsx("p",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text",children:'InterTradeIreland specifically lists "Data Analytics & Artificial Intelligence (Machine Learning)" as a focus area. This is exactly what these programmes are designed for.'})]})]}),e.jsxs("figure",{className:"my-8 rounded-lg overflow-hidden bg-gradient-to-r from-deep-purple/5 to-electric-purple/5 border border-deep-purple/10",children:[e.jsx("img",{src:"/lovable-uploads/whyInterTradeIrelandForAIProjects.webp",alt:"Graphic showing InterTradeIreland's 100% fully funded model for AI specialist costs compared to 50/50 matching grants",className:"w-full h-48 md:h-64 object-cover object-[center_50%]",width:"1344",height:"768",loading:"lazy",decoding:"async"}),e.jsx("figcaption",{className:"text-sm text-muted-foreground text-left py-3 px-4 bg-white/50 backdrop-blur-sm",children:"Figure 2: Unlike most Irish government grants, InterTradeIreland covers the total cost of specialist fees, allowing SMEs to focus their capital on internal management and growth."})]}),e.jsx("h2",{id:"funding-overview",className:"text-3xl font-bold text-foreground mt-12 mb-6",children:"â¬130,000 AI Funding Pathway: Complete Overview"}),e.jsx("p",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text leading-relaxed mb-6",children:"Here's how the InterTradeIreland innovation grants stack up for AI projects:"}),e.jsx("div",{className:"overflow-x-auto not-prose my-8",children:e.jsxs("table",{className:"w-full border-collapse border border-border",children:[e.jsx("thead",{children:e.jsxs("tr",{className:"bg-deep-purple/15",children:[e.jsx("th",{className:"!bg-deep-purple/10 border border-border p-3 text-left",children:"Programme"}),e.jsx("th",{className:"!bg-deep-purple/10 border border-border p-3 text-left",children:"Stage"}),e.jsx("th",{className:"!bg-deep-purple/10 border border-border p-3 text-left",children:"Funding Available"}),e.jsx("th",{className:"!bg-deep-purple/10 border border-border p-3 text-left",children:"Your Cash Contribution"}),e.jsx("th",{className:"!bg-deep-purple/10 border border-border p-3 text-left",children:"Duration"})]})}),e.jsxs("tbody",{children:[e.jsxs("tr",{children:[e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3 font-semibold",children:"Business Explorer â Explore"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3",children:"Discovery"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3",children:"â¬5,800 (£5,000) per challenge"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3 text-green-600 font-medium",children:"â¬0"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3",children:"5 days over 4-6 weeks"})]}),e.jsxs("tr",{className:"bg-deep-purple/5",children:[e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3 font-semibold",children:"Business Explorer â Plan"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3",children:"Planning"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3",children:"â¬23,200 (£20,000) per plan"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3 text-green-600 font-medium",children:"â¬0"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3",children:"18 days over 3-6 months"})]}),e.jsxs("tr",{children:[e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3 font-semibold",children:"Innovation Boost"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3",children:"Implementation"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3",children:"â¬67,900 (£56,000)"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3",children:"â¬0 for academic; 50% for PM salary"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3",children:"12-18 months"})]})]})]})}),e.jsxs(b,{title:"Maximum Funding Potential",children:[e.jsx("p",{className:"mb-2",children:e.jsx("strong",{children:"Business Explorer maximum:"})}),e.jsxs("ul",{className:"mt-3 space-y-2 !m-0 !pl-1.5 !list-none",children:[e.jsxs("li",{className:"flex items-start gap-2 !mb-0",children:[e.jsx(r,{className:"w-5 h-5 text-green-600 flex-shrink-0 mt-0.5"}),e.jsx("span",{children:"Up to 3 Explore applications = â¬17,400 (£15,000)"})]}),e.jsxs("li",{className:"flex items-start gap-2 !mb-0",children:[e.jsx(r,{className:"w-5 h-5 text-green-600 flex-shrink-0 mt-0.5"}),e.jsx("span",{children:"Up to 2 Plan applications = â¬46,400 (£40,000)"})]}),e.jsxs("li",{className:"flex items-start gap-2 !mb-0",children:[e.jsx(r,{className:"w-5 h-5 text-green-600 flex-shrink-0 mt-0.5"}),e.jsx("span",{children:"Total: â¬63,000 (£55,000)"})]})]}),e.jsxs("p",{className:"mt-4 mb-2",children:[e.jsx("strong",{children:"Innovation Boost adds:"})," â¬67,900 (£56,000)"]}),e.jsx("p",{className:"font-bold text-green-700",children:"Combined pathway total: Over â¬
1130,000 in funded support"})]}),e.jsx("h2",{id:"business-explorer",className:"text-3xl font-bold text-foreground mt-12 mb-6",children:"Business Explorer: Up to â¬63,000 (£55,000) for Discovery & Planning"}),e.jsxs("p",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text leading-relaxed mb-6",children:[e.jsx("a",{href:"https://intertradeireland.com/innovation/business-explorer",target:"_blank",rel:"noopener noreferrer",className:"text-deep-purple hover:underline",children:"Business Explorer"})," is InterTradeIreland's programme for SMEs tackling technical business challenges or developing new ideas in science, engineering, and technology â including AI. The programme connects you with academic professionals or industry specialists who help you explore innovative solutions."]}),e.jsxs("p",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text leading-relaxed mb-6",children:[e.jsx("strong",{children:"Key principle:"})," You work with a specialist from the opposite jurisdiction to where your business is based. A Dublin company would work with a Belfast-based academic; a Derry company would work with a Galway-based specialist."]}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"bg-gradient-to-r from-deep-purple/5 to-electric-purple/5 border border-deep-purple/20 rounded-lg p-6 my-8 not-prose",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex items-center gap-3 mb-6",children:[e.jsx("div",{className:"w-10 h-10 bg-gradient-to-br from-deep-purple to-electric-purple rounded-lg flex items-center justify-center flex-shrink-0",children:e.jsx("svg",{className:"w-5 h-5 text-white",fill:"none",stroke:"currentColor",viewBox:"0 0 24 24",children:e.jsx("path",{strokeLinecap:"round",strokeLinejoin:"round",strokeWidth:2,d:"M9.663 17h4.673M12 3v1m6.364 1.636l-.707.707M21 12h-1M4 12H3m3.343-5.657l-.707-.707m2.828 9.9a5 5 0 117.072 0l-.548.547A3.374 3.374 0 0014 18.469V19a2 2 0 11-4 0v-.531c0-.895-.356-1.754-.988-2.386l-.548-.547z"})})}),e.jsx("h3",{className:"text-xl font-bold text-foreground",children:"Business Explorer"})]}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"space-y-5",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"bg-white/50 rounded-lg p-4 border border-deep-purple/10",children:[e.jsx("h4",{className:"text-lg font-semibold text-foreground mb-4",children:"Explore Stage"}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"grid grid-cols-2 gap-4 mb-4",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"p-3 rounded-lg bg-white/60",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex items-center gap-2 mb-2",children:[e.jsx(h,{className:"w-4 h-4 text-deep-purple"}),e.jsx("span",{className:"text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wide",children:"Funding"})]}),e.jsx("p",{className:"font-bold text-foreground",children:"â¬5,800 (£5,000) + VAT per application"})]}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"p-3 rounded-lg bg-white/60",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex items-center gap-2 mb-2",children:[e.jsx(o,{className:"w-4 h-4 text-deep-purple"}),e.jsx("span",{className:"text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wide",children:"Support"})]}),e.jsx("p",{className:"font-bold text-foreground",children:"5 days of specialist time"})]}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"p-3 rounded-lg bg-white/60",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex items-center gap-2 mb-2",children:[e.jsx(l,{className:"w-4 h-4 text-deep-purple"}),e.jsx("span",{className:"text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wide",children:"Duration"})]}),e.jsx("p",{className:"font-bold text-foreground",children:"4-6 weeks"})]}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"p-3 rounded-lg bg-white/60",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex items-center gap-2 mb-2",children:[e.jsx(m,{className:"w-4 h-4 text-deep-purple"}),e.jsx("span",{className:"text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wide",children:"Maximum Applications"})]}),e.jsx("p",{className:"font-bold text-foreground",children:"Up to 3 (different challenges)"})]})]}),e.jsx("p",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text mb-4",children:e.jsx("strong",{children:"What Explore delivers:"})}),e.jsxs("ul",{className:"list-disc ml-5 text-gray-700 font-brand-text space-y-1",children:[e.jsx("li",{children:"Investigation of a technical challenge or new idea"}),e.jsx("li",{children:"Expert assessment of potential solutions"}),e.jsx("li",{children:"Identification of whether AI is the right approach"}),e.jsx("li",{children:"Foundation for moving to the Plan stage"})]}),e.jsxs("p",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text !mt-6",children:[e.jsx("strong",{children:"Perfect for:"})," Businesses unsure if AI applies to their challenge, companies wanting expert validation before committing, first-time AI exploration with minimal risk."]})]}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"bg-white/50 rounded-lg p-4 border border-deep-purple/10",children:[e.jsx("h4",{className:"text-lg font-semibold text-foreground mb-4",children:"Plan Stage"}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"grid grid-cols-2 gap-4 mb-4",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"p-3 rounded-lg bg-white/60",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex items-center gap-2 mb-2",children:[e.jsx(h,{className:"w-4 h-4 text-deep-purple"}),e.jsx("span",{className:"text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wide",children:"Funding"})]}),e.jsx("p",{className:"font-bold text-foreground",children:"â¬23,200 (£20,000) + VAT per application"})]}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"p-3 rounded-lg bg-white/60",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex items-center gap-2 mb-2",children:[e.jsx(o,{className:"w-4 h-4 text-deep-purple"}),e.jsx("span",{className:"text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wide",children:"Support"})]}),e.jsx("p",{className:"font-bold text-foreground",children:"18 days of specialist time"})]}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"p-3 rounded-lg bg-white/60",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex items-center gap-2 mb-2",children:[e.jsx(l,{className:"w-4 h-4 text-deep-purple"}),e.jsx("span",{className:"text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wide",children:"Duration"})]}),e.jsx("p",{className:"font-bold text-foreground",children:"3-6 months"})]}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"p-3 rounded-lg bg-white/60",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex items-center gap-2 mb-2",children:[e.jsx(m,{className:"w-4 h-4 text-deep-purple"}),e.jsx("span",{className:"text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wide",children:"Maximum Applications"})]}),e.jsx("p",{className:"font-bold text-foreground",children:"Up to 2 (different plans)"})]})]}),e.jsx("p",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text mb-4",children:e.jsx("strong",{children:"What Plan delivers:"})}),e.jsxs("ul",{className:"list-disc ml-5 text-gray-700 font-brand-text space-y-1",children:[e.jsx("li",{children:"Detailed implementation roadmap"}),e.jsx("li",{children:"Technical specifications for your AI solution"}),e.jsx("li",{children:"Training and development requirements identified"}),e.jsx("li",{children:"Business case and ROI projections"}),e.jsx("li",{children:"Ready-to-execute project plan"})]}),e.jsxs("p",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text !mt-6",children:[e.jsx("strong",{children:"Perfect for:"})," Businesses that know AI is right but need a detailed plan, companies preparing for Innovation Boost application, organisations needing technical specifications for procurement."]})]})]})]}),e.jsx(f,{title:"Ineligible Sectors",children:"Wholesale/retail, distribution, tourism, hospital
1ity, primary agriculture, personal services. Professional services only eligible if developing internationally tradable products/services."}),e.jsx("h2",{id:"innovation-boost",className:"text-3xl font-bold text-foreground mt-12 mb-6",children:"Innovation Boost: Up to â¬67,900 for Implementation"}),e.jsxs("p",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text leading-relaxed mb-6",children:[e.jsx("a",{href:"https://intertradeireland.com/innovation/innovation-boost",target:"_blank",rel:"noopener noreferrer",className:"text-deep-purple hover:underline",children:"Innovation Boost"})," is InterTradeIreland's flagship implementation programme. Where Business Explorer helps you explore and plan, Innovation Boost funds the actual delivery of your AI solution."]}),e.jsxs("p",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text leading-relaxed mb-6",children:[e.jsx("strong",{children:"How Innovation Boost Works:"})," It creates a three-way partnership between your business (defining the challenge), an academic partner (providing specialist expertise â 100% funded), and a Project Manager (a graduate you employ to drive delivery â 50% funded)."]}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"bg-gradient-to-r from-deep-purple/5 to-electric-purple/5 border border-deep-purple/20 rounded-lg p-6 my-8 not-prose",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex items-center gap-3 mb-6",children:[e.jsx("div",{className:"w-10 h-10 bg-gradient-to-br from-deep-purple to-electric-purple rounded-lg flex items-center justify-center flex-shrink-0",children:e.jsx(p,{className:"w-5 h-5 text-white"})}),e.jsx("h3",{className:"text-xl font-bold text-foreground",children:"Innovation Boost"})]}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"space-y-5",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"bg-white/50 rounded-lg p-4 border border-deep-purple/10",children:[e.jsx("h4",{className:"text-lg font-semibold text-foreground mb-4",children:"18-Month Project"}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"grid grid-cols-2 gap-4 mb-4",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"p-3 rounded-lg bg-white/60",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex items-center gap-2 mb-2",children:[e.jsx(h,{className:"w-4 h-4 text-deep-purple"}),e.jsx("span",{className:"text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wide",children:"Funding"})]}),e.jsx("p",{className:"font-bold text-foreground",children:"Up to â¬67,900 (£56,000)"})]}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"p-3 rounded-lg bg-white/60",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex items-center gap-2 mb-2",children:[e.jsx(l,{className:"w-4 h-4 text-deep-purple"}),e.jsx("span",{className:"text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wide",children:"Duration"})]}),e.jsx("p",{className:"font-bold text-foreground",children:"18 months"})]}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"p-3 rounded-lg bg-white/60",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex items-center gap-2 mb-2",children:[e.jsx(o,{className:"w-4 h-4 text-deep-purple"}),e.jsx("span",{className:"text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wide",children:"Academic Partner"})]}),e.jsx("p",{className:"font-bold text-foreground",children:"100% funded"})]}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"p-3 rounded-lg bg-white/60",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex items-center gap-2 mb-2",children:[e.jsx(E,{className:"w-4 h-4 text-deep-purple"}),e.jsx("span",{className:"text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wide",children:"Project Manager"})]}),e.jsx("p",{className:"font-bold text-foreground",children:"50% salary funded"})]})]}),e.jsxs("p",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text !mt-6",children:[e.jsx("strong",{children:"Best for:"})," New AI-powered products, services, or major capabilities that require comprehensive development and integration."]})]}),e.jsx("p",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text leading-relaxed",children:"Shorter 12-month projects are possible but the maximum funding is lower. Confirm current figures directly with InterTradeIreland for any specific project duration."})]})]}),e.jsxs("p",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text leading-relaxed mb-6",children:[e.jsx("strong",{children:"What Innovation Boost Delivers:"})," Working AI systems implemented in your business, embedded expertise through the Project Manager, academic partnership with ongoing access to specialist knowledge, capability transfer so your team learns to manage and extend the solution, and documented outcomes with measurable business impact."]}),e.jsx("h2",{id:"where-not-fit",className:"text-3xl font-bold text-foreground mt-12 mb-6",children:"Where InterTradeIreland isn't the right fit"}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text leading-relaxed space-y-4 mb-8",children:[e.jsx("p",{children:"Business Explorer doesn't fund everything. Areas not supported include sales and marketing, training, equipment purchase, business consultancy, business plans, website development, and e-commerce platforms. If your AI project is really a website rebuild with a chatbot bolted on, this isn't your programme."}),e.jsx("p",{children:"Ineligible sectors are wholesale, retail, distribution, tourism, hospital
1ity, primary agriculture, and personal services. Professional services are only eligible where the project develops a product or service that can be traded internationally."}),e.jsx("p",{children:"If you're in an ineligible sector and serious about AI, there's often a route through productisation. A consultancy that builds an AI-powered product it can sell internationally moves from a service business to a tradable product business. That's covered in the AI Pivot section below."}),e.jsxs("p",{children:["If you're outside both the eligible sectors and the productisation route, InterTradeIreland probably isn't your best route. LEO, Enterprise Ireland, or Invest NI may fit better. Our ",e.jsx("a",{href:"/blog/ai-grants-ireland-complete-guide",className:"text-deep-purple hover:underline font-semibold",children:"complete grants guide"})," covers all of these."]})]}),e.jsx("h3",{id:"ai-pivot-strategy",className:"text-2xl font-bold text-foreground mt-8 mb-6",children:"The AI Pivot Strategy: Moving from Services to Products"}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"p-5 bg-gradient-to-br from-amber-50 to-orange-50 rounded-lg border-2 border-amber-400/60 shadow-sm mb-8",children:[e.jsxs("h4",{className:"text-lg font-bold text-foreground mb-3 flex items-center gap-2",children:[e.jsx("span",{className:"text-xl",children:"â ï¸"})," Is Your Service Business Ineligible? The AI Pivot Strategy"]}),e.jsxs("p",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text mb-4",children:["InterTradeIreland typically excludes professional services. However, in 2026, businesses can qualify by focusing on ",e.jsx("strong",{children:"Productisation"}),'. If you are building a custom AI product, platform, or automated process that can be sold internationally, you move from "Service" to "Tradable Product".']}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"space-y-2",children:[e.jsx("p",{className:"text-sm font-semibold text-foreground mb-2",children:"Action Points:"}),e.jsxs("ul",{className:"space-y-2 text-gray-700 font-brand-text text-sm",children:[e.jsxs("li",{className:"flex items-start gap-2",children:[e.jsx(d,{className:"w-4 h-4 text-amber-600 flex-shrink-0 mt-0.5"}),e.jsx("span",{children:"Focus on R&D for a proprietary AI tool"})]}),e.jsxs("li",{className:"flex items-start gap-2",children:[e.jsx(d,{className:"w-4 h-4 text-amber-600 flex-shrink-0 mt-0.5"}),e.jsx("span",{children:'Ensure the project solves a technical "challenge" rather than just business scaling'})]}),e.jsxs("li",{className:"flex items-start gap-2",children:[e.jsx(d,{className:"w-4 h-4 text-amber-600 flex-shrink-0 mt-0.5"}),e.jsx("span",{children:"Highlight how the AI product will be sold in the cross-border market"})]})]})]})]}),e.jsx("h2",{id:"success-tips",className:"text-3xl font-bold text-foreground mt-12 mb-6",children:"Insider Tips for Application Success"}),e.jsx("p",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text leading-relaxed mb-6",children:"Here are the factors that separate successful applications from rejections:"}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"space-y-8 mb-8",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"space-y-3",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex items-baseline gap-4",children:[e.jsx("div",{className:"bg-gradient-to-br from-deep-purple to-electric-purple text-white rounded-lg h-9 w-9 md:h-10 md:w-10 flex items-center justify-center text-sm md:text-lg font-bold flex-shrink-0",children:"1"}),e.jsx("h3",{className:"strategic-heading flex-1 font-bold",children:"Frame It as Innovation, Not IT"})]}),e.jsxs("div",{style:{marginLeft:"calc(2.25rem + 1rem)"},className:"md:ml-14",children:[e.jsx("p",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text mb-4",children:"InterTradeIreland funds innovation â novel applications of technology to solve business problems. Simply buying off-the-shelf software doesn't qualify."}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"grid md:grid-cols-2 gap-4",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"bg-green-50 border border-green-200 p-4 rounded-lg",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex items-center gap-2 mb-2",children:[e.jsx(r,{className:"w-4 h-4 text-green-600"}),e.jsx("p",{className:"text-green-700 font-medium",children:"Do say:"})]}),e.jsx("p",{className:"text-gray-700 text-sm",children:'"We want to develop a custom AI model trained on our specific production data to predict equipment failures before they occur."'})]}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"bg-red-50 border border-red-200 p-4 rounded-lg",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex items-center gap-2 mb-2",children:[e.jsx(P,{className:"w-4 h-4 text-red-600"}),e.jsx("p",{className:"text-red-700 font-medium",children:"Don't say:"})]}),e.jsx("p",{className:"text-gray-700 text-sm",children:'"We want to buy some AI software."'})]})]})]})]}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"space-y-3",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex items-baseline gap-4",children:[e.jsx("div",{className:"bg-gradient-to-br from-deep-purple to-electric-purple text-white rounded-lg h-9 w-9 md:h-10 md:w-10 flex items-center justify-center text-sm md:text-lg font-bold flex-shrink-0",children:"2"}),e.jsx("h3",{className:"strategic-heading flex-1 font-bold",children:"Demonstrate Senior Management Commitment"})]}),e.jsx("div",{style:{marginLeft:"calc(2.25rem + 1rem)"},className:"md:ml-14",children:e.jsx("p",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text mb-2",children:"Both programmes require evidence that leadership is behind the project: a named executive sponsor, clear allocation of management time, commitment to provide data and resources, and willingness to act on re
1commendations."})})]}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"space-y-3",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex items-baseline gap-4",children:[e.jsx("div",{className:"bg-gradient-to-br from-deep-purple to-electric-purple text-white rounded-lg h-9 w-9 md:h-10 md:w-10 flex items-center justify-center text-sm md:text-lg font-bold flex-shrink-0",children:"3"}),e.jsx("h3",{className:"strategic-heading flex-1 font-bold",children:"Be Specific About the Business Challenge"})]}),e.jsx("div",{style:{marginLeft:"calc(2.25rem + 1rem)"},className:"md:ml-14",children:e.jsx("p",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text mb-2",children:"Vague applications fail. Be concrete about what problem you're solving, what it currently costs you (time, money, quality), what success looks like, and how you'll measure improvement."})})]}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"space-y-3",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex items-baseline gap-4",children:[e.jsx("div",{className:"bg-gradient-to-br from-deep-purple to-electric-purple text-white rounded-lg h-9 w-9 md:h-10 md:w-10 flex items-center justify-center text-sm md:text-lg font-bold flex-shrink-0",children:"4"}),e.jsx("h3",{className:"strategic-heading flex-1 font-bold",children:"Use Business Explorer to Strengthen Innovation Boost Applications"})]}),e.jsx("div",{style:{marginLeft:"calc(2.25rem + 1rem)"},className:"md:ml-14",children:e.jsx("p",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text mb-2",children:"Completing Explore and Plan stages creates documented evidence of your commitment, technical feasibility validated by experts, a clear implementation roadmap, and realistic expectations."})})]}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"space-y-3",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex items-baseline gap-4",children:[e.jsx("div",{className:"bg-gradient-to-br from-deep-purple to-electric-purple text-white rounded-lg h-9 w-9 md:h-10 md:w-10 flex items-center justify-center text-sm md:text-lg font-bold flex-shrink-0",children:"5"}),e.jsx("h3",{className:"strategic-heading flex-1 font-bold",children:"Engage Early"})]}),e.jsx("div",{style:{marginLeft:"calc(2.25rem + 1rem)"},className:"md:ml-14",children:e.jsx("p",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text mb-2",children:"Don't wait until you have everything figured out. InterTradeIreland's team can help you determine which programme is right, shape your application, and connect you with relevant specialists."})})]}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"space-y-3",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex items-baseline gap-4",children:[e.jsx("div",{className:"bg-gradient-to-br from-deep-purple to-electric-purple text-white rounded-lg h-9 w-9 md:h-10 md:w-10 flex items-center justify-center text-sm md:text-lg font-bold flex-shrink-0",children:"6"}),e.jsx("h3",{className:"strategic-heading flex-1 font-bold",children:"Consider the Project Manager Strategically"})]}),e.jsx("div",{style:{marginLeft:"calc(2.25rem + 1rem)"},className:"md:ml-14",children:e.jsx("p",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text mb-2",children:"For Innovation Boost, think about what skills you need (data science, engineering, project management), whether you'll retain them after the project (many businesses do), and how they'll work with the academic partner."})})]})]}),e.jsx("h2",{id:"strategic-pathway",className:"text-3xl font-bold text-foreground mt-12 mb-6",children:"InterTradeIreland's AI Grant Pathway"}),e.jsxs("figure",{className:"my-8 rounded-lg overflow-hidden bg-gradient-to-r from-deep-purple/5 to-electric-purple/5 border border-deep-purple/10",children:[e.jsx("img",{src:"/lovable-uploads/InterTradeIrelandAIGrantPathway.webp",alt:"InterTradeIreland 2026 AI funding pathway diagram showing Explore, Plan, and Innovation Boost grant tiers",className:"w-full h-auto object-contain",width:"1344",height:"768",loading:"lazy",decoding:"async"}),e.jsx("figcaption",{className:"text-sm text-muted-foreground text-left py-3 px-4 bg-white/50 backdrop-blur-sm",children:"Figure 3: The sequential funding journey for SMEs, providing 100% support for specialist AI consultancy and academic partnership costs."})]}),e.jsx("p",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text leading-relaxed mb-6",children:"The most effective approach to InterTradeIreland funding is to use the programmes as a progressive pathway. Here's how a typical AI implementation journey unfolds:"}),e.jsx(j,{phases:[{title:"Explore (â¬5,800)",duration:"5 days over 4-6 weeks",steps:[{title:"Identify your business challenge",description:"Perhaps inventory forecasting is unreliable, or quality control is inconsistent. You're not sure if AI is the answer."},{title:"Work with a cross-border specialist",description:"An academic or industry expert investigates your challenge and assesses potential solutions."},{title:"Outcome",description:"<strong>Confidence that you're pursuing the right solution</strong>, backed by expert analysis."}]},{title:"Plan (â¬23,200)",duration:"18 days over 3-6 months",steps:[{title:"Develop detailed implementation plan",description:"The Explore stage confirmed AI is the right approach. Now you need technical specifications, training requirements, and ROI projections."},{title:"Create your Innovation Boost foundation",description:"The plan you develop forms the basis of your Innovation Boost application."},{title:"Outcome",description:"<strong>A ready-to-execute project plan</strong> that forms the foundation of your Innovation Boost application."}]},{title:"Implement via Innovation Boost (â¬67,900)",duration:"12-18 months",steps:[{title:"Recruit your Project Manager",description:"Employ a graduate to drive delivery (50% salary funded by InterTradeIreland)."},{title:"Partner with academic expertise",description:"Work with an academic partner from the opposite jurisdiction (100% funded)."},{title:"Deliver your AI solution",description:"The three-way partnership delivers your working AI systems."},{title:"Outcome",description:"<strong>Working AI systems, embedded capability, and measurable business results.</strong>"}
vendor: 5,487 bytes, line 1
1]}]}),e.jsxs(b,{title:"Why This Pathway Works",children:[e.jsxs("ul",{className:"mt-3 space-y-2 !m-0 !pl-1.5 !list-none",children:[e.jsxs("li",{className:"flex items-start gap-2 !mb-0",children:[e.jsx(r,{className:"w-5 h-5 text-green-600 flex-shrink-0 mt-0.5"}),e.jsxs("span",{children:[e.jsx("strong",{children:"De-risks your investment"})," â Each stage validates before you commit further"]})]}),e.jsxs("li",{className:"flex items-start gap-2 !mb-0",children:[e.jsx(r,{className:"w-5 h-5 text-green-600 flex-shrink-0 mt-0.5"}),e.jsxs("span",{children:[e.jsx("strong",{children:"Builds your application strength"})," â Completing earlier stages demonstrates commitment"]})]}),e.jsxs("li",{className:"flex items-start gap-2 !mb-0",children:[e.jsx(r,{className:"w-5 h-5 text-green-600 flex-shrink-0 mt-0.5"}),e.jsxs("span",{children:[e.jsx("strong",{children:"Creates continuity"})," â Learning from Explore/Plan feeds directly into implementation"]})]}),e.jsxs("li",{className:"flex items-start gap-2 !mb-0",children:[e.jsx(r,{className:"w-5 h-5 text-green-600 flex-shrink-0 mt-0.5"}),e.jsxs("span",{children:[e.jsx("strong",{children:"Maximises funding"})," â Access the full â¬130,000+ across all programmes"]})]})]}),e.jsxs("p",{className:"mt-4 text-gray-700",children:[e.jsx("strong",{children:"Pro tip:"})," You don't have to start at Explore. If you already know what you need, you can apply directly to Plan or Innovation Boost. But having completed earlier stages significantly strengthens your application."]})]}),e.jsx("h2",{id:"eligibility",className:"text-3xl font-bold text-foreground mt-12 mb-6",children:"Who Can Apply? Eligibility Criteria"}),e.jsxs("figure",{className:"my-8 rounded-lg overflow-hidden bg-gradient-to-r from-deep-purple/5 to-electric-purple/5 border border-deep-purple/10",children:[e.jsx("img",{src:"/lovable-uploads/theEligibilityChecklist.webp",alt:"Checklist of InterTradeIreland 2026 eligibility requirements for SMEs including turnover and employee count",className:"w-full h-64 md:h-80 object-cover",width:"1344",height:"768",loading:"lazy",decoding:"async"}),e.jsx("figcaption",{className:"text-sm text-muted-foreground text-left py-3 px-4 bg-white/50 backdrop-blur-sm",children:"Figure 4: Quick reference guide for SME eligibility. To qualify, businesses must demonstrate cross-border potential and a focus on new product or process innovation."})]}),e.jsx("div",{className:"overflow-x-auto not-prose my-8",children:e.jsxs("table",{className:"w-full border-collapse border border-border",children:[e.jsx("thead",{children:e.jsxs("tr",{className:"bg-deep-purple/15",children:[e.jsx("th",{className:"!bg-deep-purple/10 border border-border p-3 text-left",children:"Requirement"}),e.jsx("th",{className:"!bg-deep-purple/10 border border-border p-3 text-left",children:"Business Explorer"}),e.jsx("th",{className:"!bg-deep-purple/10 border border-border p-3 text-left",children:"Innovation Boost"})]})}),e.jsxs("tbody",{children:[e.jsxs("tr",{children:[e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3 font-semibold",children:"Employee count"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3",children:"3-249"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3",children:"5-249 (full-time)"})]}),e.jsxs("tr",{className:"bg-deep-purple/5",children:[e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3 font-semibold",children:"Business type"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3",children:"Manufacturing or tradable services"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3",children:"Manufacturing or tradable services"})]}),e.jsxs("tr",{children:[e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3 font-semibold",children:"Location"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3",children:"Island of Ireland"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3",children:"Island of Ireland"})]}),e.jsxs("tr",{className:"bg-deep-purple/5",children:[e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3 font-semibold",children:"Turnover"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3",children:"£100k - £40m"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3",children:"Must be financially viable"})]}),e.jsxs("tr",{children:[e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3 font-semibold",children:"Trading history"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3",children:"1.5 years minimum"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3",children:"2 years minimum"})]}),e.jsxs("tr",{className:"bg-deep-purple/5",children:[e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3 font-semibold",children:"Indigenous"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3",children:"Must be indigenous to island"}),e.jsx("td",{className:"border border-border p-3",children:"Not explicitly required"})]})]})]})}),e.jsx(c,{title:"Insider Tip",icon:e.jsx(i,{className:"w-5 h-5 text-white"}),children:e.jsx("p",{children:"InterTradeIreland's definition of 'innovation' is broader than most people expect. If your business is service-based, frame your AI project around how it transforms your service delivery into something scalable or exportable. We've seen consulting firms, logistics companies, and professional services businesses all successfully access Innovation Boost funding by positioning their AI project as a capability transformation rather than just an internal efficiency gain."})}),e.jsx("h2",{id:"how-to-apply",className:"text-3xl font-bold text-foreground mt-12 mb-6",children:"Application Process: From First Contact to Fu
1nding"}),e.jsx("h3",{className:"text-2xl font-bold text-foreground mt-0 mb-6",children:"Your Complete Application Roadmap"}),e.jsx(j,{phases:[{title:"Phase 1: Business Explorer Application",duration:"4-6 weeks to approval",steps:[{title:"Check Eligibility",description:'Review the criteria at the <a href="https://www.intertradeireland.com/innovation/business-explorer" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-deep-purple hover:underline">Business Explorer page</a>'},{title:"Register for an Information Session",description:"Not sure where to start? Register for a one-to-one session with the Business Explorer team"},{title:"Submit Application",description:"Complete the online application form describing your technical challenge and what you hope to achieve"},{title:"Matching",description:"InterTradeIreland identifies suitable academic or industry specialists from the opposite jurisdiction"},{title:"Project Delivery",description:"Work with your matched specialist to explore your AI solution (4-6 weeks for Explore, 3-6 months for Plan)"}]},{title:"Phase 2: Innovation Boost Application",duration:"6-10 weeks to approval",steps:[{title:"Initial Assessment",description:"Complete an initial assessment to discuss your business needs and confirm eligibility"},{title:"Consultant Meeting",description:'If eligible, an <a href="https://intertradeireland.com/innovation/innovation-boost" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-deep-purple hover:underline">Innovation Boost</a> consultant meets you to understand your needs in detail'},{title:"Academic Matching",description:"InterTradeIreland identifies academic partners with relevant expertise from the opposite jurisdiction"},{title:"Joint Application",description:"You and your matched academic partner submit a joint application for funding"},{title:"Project Manager Recruitment",description:"Once approved, you recruit a Project Manager (graduate) for the project"},{title:"Project Delivery",description:"The three-way partnership delivers your AI solution over 12-18 months"}]}]}),e.jsxs("p",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text leading-relaxed mb-6",children:["If you're considering using InterTradeIreland funding for a data or analytics project, see our guide: ",e.jsx("a",{href:"/blog/data-analytics-guide-ireland",className:"text-deep-purple hover:underline font-semibold",children:"Data Analytics for Irish SMEs â A Practical Guide â"})]}),e.jsx("h2",{id:"use-cases",className:"text-3xl font-bold text-foreground mt-12 mb-6",children:"Real AI projects that fit InterTradeIreland's criteria"}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text leading-relaxed space-y-6",children:[e.jsx("p",{children:"We've delivered AI projects under other grant programmes and worked with clients on their InterTradeIreland applications. Here's what a fundable AI project actually looks like. These examples are informed by our delivery experience, not by ITI case studies we've run."}),e.jsxs("div",{children:[e.jsx("h3",{className:"text-xl font-bold text-foreground mb-3",children:"Business Explorer â Explore: AI readiness assessment for a manufacturer"}),e.jsx("p",{className:"mb-3",children:"A manufacturer wants to know whether computer vision could help with quality inspection on their production line. They have no experience with AI. They have paper-based quality records going back ten years."}),e.jsx("p",{className:"mb-3",children:"The Explore stage gives them 5 days of specialist time to assess the opportunity. The output is a clear go/no-go recommendation. Is the data usable? Is the inspection problem well-suited to AI? What's the likely accuracy and what's the ROI?"}),e.jsx("p",{children:"Cash cost to the business: zero. Management time: roughly 2-3 hours a week across 4-6 weeks."})]}),e.jsxs("div",{children:[e.jsx("h3",{className:"text-xl font-bold text-foreground mb-3",children:"Business Explorer â Plan: Implementation roadmap for a predictive demand project"}),e.jsx("p",{className:"mb-3",children:"A food producer has historical sales data and wants to move from spreadsheet forecasting to a predictive model. Explore confirmed the approach was viable. Plan develops the technical specification, integration points, training data requirements, and the 12-18 month implementation plan."}),e.jsx("p",{children:"The output is an implementation-ready project document. It also becomes the basis for the Innovation Boost application."})]}),e.jsxs("div",{children:[e.jsx("h3",{className:"text-xl font-bold text-foreground mb-3",children:"Innovation Boost: Full implementation of a predictive quality system"}),e.jsx("p",{className:"mb-3",children:"An engineering SME builds a predictive quality system trained on their sensor and inspection data. The project runs for 18 months. The business employs a graduate as Project Manager (50% salary funded). An academic specialist from the opposite jurisdiction provides technical expertise (100% funded)."}),e.jsx("p",{children:"At the end, the business has a working AI system, an embedded person who understands it, and documented methodology the team can extend."})]})]}),e.jsx("h2",{id:"next-steps",className:"text-3xl font-bold text-foreground mt-12 mb-6",children:"Your Next Steps"}),e.jsx("p",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text leading-relaxed mb-6",children:"You now have the complete roadmap to accessing over â¬130,000 in InterTradeIreland funding for AI transformation. Here's exactly what to do next:"}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"bg-gradient-to-r from-deep-purple/5 to-electric-purple/5 border border-deep-purple/20 rounded-lg py-6 px-6 my-8",children:[e.jsx("h3",{className:"text-xl font-bold text-foreground mb-4",children:"If You're New to InterTradeIreland:"}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"space-y-4",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex gap-3",children:[e.jsx("div",{className:"w-6 h-6 bg-white border-2 border-deep-purple roun
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Innovation Boost applications take 6-10 weeks due to the academic matching process."})]}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"border-l-4 border-deep-purple pl-6",children:[e.jsx("h3",{className:"text-lg font-semibold text-gray-900 mb-2",children:"Q: Can I apply directly to Innovation Boost without doing Business Explorer first?"}),e.jsx("p",{className:"text-gray-700 leading-relaxed",children:"A: Yes, you can enter at any stage. However, completing Business Explorer stages strengthens your Innovation Boost application by demonstrating commitment and providing validated project plans."})]}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"border-l-4 border-deep-purple pl-6",children:[e.jsx("h3",{className:"text-lg font-semibold text-gray-900 mb-2",children:"Q: Can I combine InterTradeIreland funding with other grants?"}),e.jsx("p",{className:"text-gray-700 leading-relaxed",children:"A: You cannot double-fund the same costs. However, InterTradeIreland funding can complement other programmes. For example, you might use Business Explorer for AI planning, then Enterprise Ireland grants for broader digital transformation. Discuss your specific situation with both agencies."})]}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"border-l-4 border-deep-purple pl-6",children:[e.jsx("h3",{className:"text-lg font-semibold text-gray-900 mb-2",children:"Q: What happens to the Project Manager after Innovation Boost ends?"}),e.jsx("p",{className:"text-gray-700 leading-relaxed",children:"A: The Project Manager becomes your employee from day one. Many businesses retain them permanently, giving you embedded AI capability. The 50% salary funding ends when the programme concludes."})]})]}),e.jsx("h2",{id:"conclusion",className:"text-3xl font-bold text-foreground mt-12 mb-6",children:"In summary"}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"text-gray-700 font-brand-text leading-relaxed space-y-6",children:[e.jsx("p",{children:"InterTradeIreland is the most accessible AI funding on the island of Ireland. Business Explorer costs you nothing in cash. Innovation Boost scales that up with 12-18 months of funded delivery. Combined, the pathway can exceed â¬130,000 of support."}),e.jsx("p",{children:"If your business is SME-scale, on the island of Ireland, and in an eligible sector, there's no good reason not to start with a one-to-one information session. It costs nothing and the feedback is useful even if you don't apply."})]}),e.jsxs("div",{className:"border border-deep-purple/30 bg-gray-50 rounded-lg py-6 px-6 my-8 not-prose",children:[e.jsxs("div",{className:"flex items-center gap-3 mb-4",children:[e.jsx("div",{className:"w-10 h-10 bg-gradient-to-br from-deep-purple to-electric-purple roun
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