PhDStart
Supports Ireland researchers with structured pathways in co-funding for applied PhD hires in companies, from planning to deployment.
Enterprise Ireland's PhDStart programme is a co-funded salary scheme that enables Irish companies to recruit PhD graduates into dedicated research, development, and innovation roles linked directly to the company's strategic R&D growth plan. The programme sits within EI's broader GradStart capability-development suite and specifically addresses the market gap for companies seeking to embed doctora…
Co-funded placement of PhD graduates into R&D roles at Irish companies, with Enterprise Ireland providing fifty percent of a two-year salary up to a maximum of sixty-two thousand euros, linked to the company's RD&I growth strategy.
Sign up free to see the funding breakdown
Sign up free to see the industries in scope
Sign up free to see the full eligibility
Sign up free to see how to apply
Sign up free to see what you submit
Sign up free to see the timeline
Guides for this application
All guides →Grant Financials and Co-Funding Evidence: Examples for Startup Applications
See examples of grant financials, match funding evidence, co-funding tables, accountant letters, investor commitments, and budget-to-work-plan checks.
DocumentsGrant Work Plan Template: Work Packages, Gantt, Milestones, and Risks
Use this grant work plan template to structure work packages, tasks, owners, deliverables, Gantt timing, dependencies, and risk registers.
BudgetGrant Budget Template for R&D Applications
Use this grant budget template to structure R&D costs, personnel, subcontractors, equipment, indirect costs, and budget justification for startup grant applications.
Find grantsGovernment Grants for Startups: What Deeptech Founders Should Know
A practical guide to government grants for startups, including Grants.gov, SBIR/STTR, state programs, eligibility, fit, timelines, and when to apply.
More from Enterprise Ireland
All grants from this funder →New Frontiers
🇮🇪Enterprise Ireland · Ireland
Offers founders over €40,000 in equity-free support, plus a €15,000 stipend in phase two.
Cyber Security Review Grant
🇮🇪Enterprise Ireland · Ireland
Covers 80% of a €3,000 cyber security review for Irish businesses.
European Digital Innovation Hubs Ireland — discounted services
🇮🇪Enterprise Ireland · Ireland
Funds Irish small businesses and public sector bodies with digital innovation services spanning AI cybersecurity and data systems.
Innovation Partnership Programme
🇮🇪Enterprise Ireland · Ireland
Supports Irish manufacturing and innovation projects through the Innovation Partnership Programme's rolling application process.
Innovative HPSU Fund (Equity)
🇮🇪Enterprise Ireland · Ireland
Funds Ireland innovation teams building equity and growth support for startups from proof to commercialization.
Pre-Seed Start Fund
🇮🇪Enterprise Ireland · Ireland
Provides early-stage technology teams with support for product, capability, and milestone growth planning.
Similar grants
Browse the directory →
5th Innowwide Call for Market Feasibility Projects — Autumn 2026
🇪🇺EUREKA · Global / Multinational
Pays SMEs a fixed EUR60,000 grant to run a six-month market feasibility project testing whether their innovation can be commercialised in a target country in Africa, the Americas, Asia or Oceania.
Innowwide
🇪🇺EU · European Union
Pays SMEs and startups a 60,000-euro grant to test whether their solution is viable in a target overseas market.
BASS Kick-start
🇧🇪ESA · Global / Multinational
Funds feasibility studies for space-enabled applications in agriculture, climate monitoring, and transport innovation.
ERC Starting Grant
🇪🇺European Commission · European Union
Funds early-career researchers building an independent research team and pursuing frontier research through an ERC Starting Grant hosted at a public or private research organisation.
FAST-IP/27 Cohort
🇮🇪NovaUCD · Ireland
Funds agrifood professionals developing market-ready sustainable agriculture and food technology solutions.
ERC Proof of Concept Grant
🇪🇺European Commission · European Union
Funds existing ERC grant holders in testing the commercial or societal potential of already-funded research through a fixed EUR 150,000 top-up grant.