Today, 1st June, SFI announced the ARC (Accelerating Research to Commercialisation) Hub Programme which aims to establish a new model for regional innovation and entrepreneurial training, that will catalyse a step-change in the translation of cutting-edge publicly-funded research toward impact at a regional level. The SFI ARC Hub Programme will enhance and accelerate the commercialisation of research to create new products, processes and services. 

The realisation of the ARC Hub Programme will be through the establishment of up to three regional SFI ARC Hubs focused on specific thematic areas that will be aligned with the respective regional strategic priorities and the ‘National Smart Specialisation Strategy for Innovation 2022-2027’ (S3). The SFI ARC Hub, as a distributed consortium of Research Bodies, will create regional ecosystems focused on optimising research translation and training future entrepreneurs through establishing new academic networks and bringing together stakeholders, while leveraging existing supports, as appropriate. It is expected that SFI ARC Hub will foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship supported by processes that will operationalise and scale opportunity realisation to deliver transformative new products, processes and services to market.

The SFI ARC Hub Programme is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union under two European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Regional Programmes - the Southern, Eastern and Midland Regional Programme 2021-2027 and the Northern and Western Regional Programme 2021-2027. The ERDF aims to promote economic, social and territorial cohesion across all European regions.

The total budget for this initiative is €99.33 million, which has been provided by the Government of Ireland (€52.67 million) and the European Union (€46.67 million). This funding is available through the ERDF Northern and Western Regional Programme 2021-2027 (€34.66 million) and the Southern, Eastern and Midland Regional Programme 2021-27 (€64.66 million).

SFI will host an information webinar outlining the SFI ARC Hub Programme and its application process on Wednesday, 14th June 2023, at 11:30 Dublin Local Time. Please register here(opens in a new tab).

Full details including the programme booklet, eligibity criteria, funding breakdown and key dates for application can be found on: SFI ARC Hub Programme