Buying equipment or expanding your business? Check what Irish funding applies before you spend.
Irish SMEs often miss capital grants, low-cost loans, energy supports, and tax reliefs that could fund a meaningful share of a planned investment. A free 2-minute scan tells you which categories are worth checking.
What Irish supports apply when you're buying equipment or expanding?
Capital investment, machinery purchases, premises expansion, and capacity upgrades typically pull from several distinct Irish funding programmes. Most are eligible only if you apply BEFORE you spend.
LEO Business Expansion Grant
Up to 50% of eligible costs, max €150,000, for established micro-enterprises buying equipment, expanding premises, or hiring as part of growth. Apply before purchase.
EI Agile Innovation Fund
Up to €150,000 (45% for SMEs) for fast-track capital projects with an innovation component. Best for manufacturing, food, tech-enabled services.
SBCI Growth & Sustainability Loan
€25,000 to €3,000,000 at discounted rates, terms up to 10 years, no security required up to €500,000. Funded via your normal bank.
Microfinance Ireland
€2,000 to €50,000 unsecured business loans at 6.5% APR direct, or 5.5% via LEO referral. Useful for smaller equipment purchases.
SEAI BEUS & Solar Grants
If your equipment investment involves energy use or premises upgrades, SEAI BEUS (up to €120k) and Non-Domestic Microgen (up to €162k for solar) can cover a slice of the spend.
SBCI Energy Efficiency Loan
€10,000 to €150,000 at 1pp below standard SME variable rate, 10-year terms. For energy-efficient equipment that doesn't trigger a SEAI grant.
Capital Investment Scheme for Agri-Food
Up to €5,000,000 grant per project (30% of eligible costs) for food, drink and horticulture processors investing in capital infrastructure.
R&D Tax Credit
35% refundable tax credit on qualifying R&D spend, first €87,500 paid as cash. Equipment used in R&D activity often qualifies.
Run a free funding scan in 2 minutes
Tell us about your business and what you're planning to invest in. We'll show which funding categories are worth checking before you commit any spend.
Start Free Funding Scan →