Ireland commits €1B to scale homegrown companies globally

What's the deal? The Irish government has launched a €1 billion initiative to help domestic businesses scale internationally. Announced by Finance Minister Simon Harris in the Budget, the fund will be administered by the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) and run until 2030.

Where's the money going? ISIF will invest through direct equity and debt, partnerships with specialist fund managers, and other solutions aligned with its long-term patient capital philosophy. The focus is on sectors where Ireland has a competitive advantage: tech, life sciences, business services, and food.

What's the endgame? The initiative aims to create the next generation of Irish companies of scale, ensuring ambitious businesses can access capital to grow abroad while keeping a significant presence in Ireland. A dedicated €100 million allocation will go toward venture capital-type investments in AI, deep-tech, and life sciences.

The track record: ISIF has already backed over 500 Irish companies under its Scaling Businesses theme. Recent direct investments include Proverum (medical devices), Equal1 (quantum computing), Progress SystemsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → (financial services software), and Cameramatics (fleet management).

Harris said the programme would "help expand and accelerate that strategy by providing access to capital to grow internationally while maintaining a significant presence in Ireland."

The signal: Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke said many Irish businesses "continue to face challenges securing the finance they need." The state is stepping in as patient capital to close that gap and, in Burke's words, "strengthen investor confidence in the potential of Irish businesses."

Read more: irishmirror.ie

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