Join IRDG
For companies doing R&D and innovation in Ireland who'd rather not do it alone.
Get practical support for research and innovation, learn from other companies and help shape the conditions your business works in. Membership is for your whole organisation, so colleagues across your team can take part.
Fees and eligibility
How the fee is determined
Membership is corporate and annual, and the fee is tiered by company size — small, medium and large members pay different rates. One fee covers your whole organisation: any member of your team can attend any event. For multi-site or group structures we confirm which entities and sites the membership covers, and the fee, before you join.
Ask for your organisation's annual fee and we will confirm the tier, what it covers and any separate charges in writing before you join.
Eligibility. IRDG membership is for industry companies and third-level research organisations actively engaged in R&D or innovation. We confirm eligibility, the organisation covered and the appropriate fee before you join.
What the fee covers
Included, subsidised and charged separately.
Included in membership
Dozens of free online and in-person events every year — Breakfast Briefings, Innovation Site Visits, two major Innovation Funding events, the National R&D Tax Credits Forum, Innovators Edge, R&D Tax Clinics, IP and other sessions. Members Question Time, a free member service whose reports are available only to members. Direct support from the IRDG team, an industry voice in policy and the findings of Ireland's Innovation Index.
Subsidised for members
Training through IRDG Innovation Skillnet, at Skillnet-supported rates for eligible companies — open courses and in-company training in areas such as AI, sustainability, design, lean product development and innovation management. The rate and eligibility are confirmed before booking.
Charged separately
The structured programmes — Foundations for Strategic Innovation, Strategic Innovation & Entrepreneurship for SMEs and the AI programmes — carry a participant fee, Skillnet-supported for eligible companies and published with each cohort. Any event-specific charge is shown at booking.
Member voices
Why members value the network.
For us, collaboration is a strategic building block, rather than just being a source of funds … collaboration is instrumental to our future-proofing the business.
The value we get from IRDG, across training, funding, networking, and policy, far outweighs any other membership. It just makes sense.
What's included
What your organisation can use.
Corporate membership lets colleagues across the organisation covered by your membership take part; some programmes, events and training carry separate fees or eligibility, confirmed before you join.
Policy and influenceInfluence
Have relevant industry evidence carried into submissions, consultations and IRDG's participation in working groups. Use findings from the annual Ireland's Innovation Index, produced with KPMG.
Networking and peer learningConnections
Practice groups, Members Question Time (free to members, with reports available only to members), site visits, member introductions, Innovators Edge sessions and the Amplify Innovation Summit.
Innovation capabilityCapability
Foundations for Strategic Innovation, Accelerating Strategic Innovation and Strategic Innovation & Entrepreneurship for SMEs, subject to programme eligibility and availability.
Training and upskillingCapability
Workshops and eligible Skillnet-supported open or in-company training in areas such as AI, sustainability, design, lean product development and innovation management. The level of support, eligibility and participant requirements vary by course; the course listing or IRDG team will confirm the details before booking.
R&D Corporation Tax CreditFunding
Clinics, briefings and opportunities to hear from specialist advisers and public bodies. IRDG provides information and navigation, not tax or legal advice.
Funding and grantsFunding
Guidance on Irish and EU funding routes, agency briefings, member case studies and introductions to external specialists where appropriate. IRDG does not determine eligibility or funding decisions.
How membership starts
How to join
We begin with what your organisation is trying to achieve, then shape a useful start around the people, topics and opportunities that matter most.
Talk
Tell us what you are working on, where support would help and who should be involved. We follow up within a working day and arrange a time that suits you for an initial conversation.
Confirm
We confirm eligibility, the organisation covered by the membership, the annual fee and the priorities for your first year.
Put it to work
We connect you with the relevant IRDG team member and agree a plan for your first month.
Your first month may include
An orientation with the IRDG team
Relevant introductions, subject to fit and availability
A recommended events and programmes plan
A date to review what is proving useful
The order depends on your priorities and the live calendar.
Get to know IRDG first
Hear about membership before you decide
A short online introduction with the IRDG team to what membership offers and how colleagues across your organisation can take part. Or follow IRDG's work through the monthly briefing.
No introduction session is scheduled right now.
Ask the team for the next date using the form below, or follow IRDG's work through the monthly briefing.
Ask about membership
Tell us what your organisation is working on and where you would value support. After you enquire we will follow up within a working day and arrange a time that works for you for an initial conversation — to assess fit, explain the fee for your tier and suggest a practical starting point.
[email protected] · (01) 234 2401
IRDG, Regus Pembroke House, 28–32 Upper Pembroke Street, Dublin 2
Before you join