Impact
What members achieve with IRDG's support.
Members turn to IRDG to build innovation skills, find collaborators and make better-informed decisions. Their experience also shapes our policy work. Here are examples of what that support has meant for companies across Ireland.
See how members have used IRDG's support, and how member experience informs our policy work.
Member outcomes
What changed for members.
Two accounts of how members have used IRDG to develop their approach to innovation and find expertise. Each describes the member's experience and the support it used; more are in the member stories.
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Building a stronger approach to innovation
Dell Technologies, Cork
Dell's Cork Manufacturing operation achieved ISO 56001 certification in May 2026. IRDG's support began with Foundations for Strategic Innovation and continued as the team developed its innovation management system.
The certification was awarded independently through NSAI and APCER. IRDG supported the team’s capability development.
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Finding the expertise a project needs
Henkel
IRDG helped Henkel connect with research expertise for a priority innovation project. Henkel describes the match as instrumental to that project, alongside the wider value of learning and collaboration through the network.
The network
Connections across Irish industry.
IRDG brings together companies of different sizes and sectors, alongside third-level research organisations. Members learn through company visits, practice groups, programmes and introductions arranged around a particular need.
- 300+
current member organisations
IRDG membership records
Progress on member priorities
Progress on member priorities.
Members' experience informs IRDG's submissions, consultations and discussions with government departments and agencies. Our current policy work covers the R&D Tax Credit, support for innovation beyond R&D, and public investment in research. IRDG contributes alongside other organisations; policy decisions are made by the relevant public bodies.
R&D Corporation Tax Credit rate
IRDG was one of several organisations making the case and does not claim sole causation.
Proposed Innovation Tax Credit
IRDG continues to make the case for an Innovation Tax Credit. The proposal remains under consideration.
Public R&D investment
Next step: continue making the case for a funded, multi-year increase in public R&D investment.
Status reviewed 5 September 2026. The full record — what members raised, what IRDG proposed and the response so far — is on the Influence page.
Research
Research that informs the discussion.
Ireland's Innovation Index, produced with KPMG, is the evidence base IRDG uses alongside member feedback in its policy work.
- 587
responses received for the 2026 Innovation Index
A response count for the research edition; it is not a member-company count.
About these figures
About these figures and examples.
Figures should be read with their reporting periods and definitions. Company examples describe the member's experience and IRDG's contribution; they do not attribute every subsequent business outcome to membership. Membership figures are counts of member organisations at the date shown; activity figures are counts of events held.
For questions about the evidence, or to suggest a correction, contact [email protected].
Next step
What could your team do with the network?
Tell us what your organisation is working on and where support would help. We'll help you identify a useful starting point.