WEALTH August 13, 2026 0 Comments

How Publicly Funded Research Is Quietly Creating Million-Dollar Businesses and Jobs You Didn’t See Coming

Ever wondered how close Ireland is to hitting the €1 billion mark in publicly funded research dollars, and what that actually means for jobs and innovation? Well, in 2025, Ireland’s research ecosystem didn’t just inch toward that milestone — it practically sprinted, clocking in nearly €953 million in expenditure, an impressive jump of 8.3% from the previous year. This surge isn’t just numbers on a page; think about 1,450 active industry R&D projects buzzing away and thousands of new collaborations between research institutions and businesses — 63% of which are fueled by Irish SMEs, the heart and soul of the economy. Plus, with invention disclosures soaring by 18% and patent applications nearly shooting up 50%, it’s clear this momentum is transforming ideas into market-ready products and high-value jobs. So, what’s driving this wave of innovation, and how does it impact the everyday entrepreneur or investor? Let’s dive into the story behind the stats, spotlighting how Ireland is cleverly connecting cutting-edge research with real-world enterprise success. LEARN MORE

Ireland’s publicly funded research system generated almost €1bn in research expenditure and helped support thousands of jobs in 2025, according to a new report from Enterprise Ireland.

The Annual Knowledge Transfer Survey (AKTS) 2025 shows total research expenditure reached €953m last year, an 8.3% increase on 2024, while 1,450 industry R&D projects were active at the end of the year.

The survey also recorded 2,393 new R&D and consultancy agreements with industry and non-commercial organisations, with 63% involving Irish SMEs.

There were 528 invention disclosures during the year, an 18% increase, while patent applications rose 49% to 118.

A further 260 Licence, Option and Assignment agreements were recorded, up 18% year-on-year, with 80% granted to Irish companies.

The research system also produced 20 new spin-out companies in 2025.

There are now 178 active spin-outs employing 2,467 people, while 127 spin-out companies have been established from publicly funded research since 2021.

Twenty licences resulted in new products and services entering the market during 2025.

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke said the figures demonstrate the value of connecting Ireland’s research base with Irish businesses.

“These results demonstrate the value of connecting Ireland’s world-class research base with the ambition and innovation of Irish enterprise,” he said.

“The strong level of engagement from Irish SMEs is particularly encouraging, highlighting how research and innovation are helping businesses of all sizes to develop new products, access new opportunities and strengthen international competitiveness.”

Joe Healy, Divisional Manager, Research & Innovation at Enterprise Ireland, said collaboration between higher education institutions and the research sector was helping turn research into commercial opportunities.

“We are ensuring that cutting-edge research is translated into real-world solutions, competitive advantage and high-value jobs for Irish companies,” he said.

Healy also highlighted the role of technology transfer teams in managing intellectual property and commercialising research discoveries.

“Enterprise Ireland will continue to work closely with the technology transfer offices and the wider research community to ensure Ireland remains at the forefront of innovation and enterprise development,” he said.