- Minister Buttimer launches €4m Grants Scheme to pilot social innovations
- The New Solutions Pilot Grants Scheme is a two-year €4 million fund co-financed by the European Union and the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
- The call will be managed by the New Solutions Social Innovation Hub
Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Jerry Buttimer TD, launched the New Solutions Social Innovation Pilot Grant Scheme, a €4 million fund to support early-stage social innovations in Ireland.
The overall objective of New Solutions Fund is to enhance the social innovation ecosystem in Ireland and is co-funded through the European Social Fund + 2021-2027 (ESF+), a European initiative aimed at reducing the risk of poverty and social exclusion, with an emphasis on disadvantaged groups.
The New Solutions Pilot Grants Scheme will fund social innovation initiatives that will trial or test new products, services, practices or models to deliver better outcomes. The scheme will support a minimum of 40 projects with grants ranging from between €70,000 and €100,000 over a 24-month period. In addition, successful applicants will receive access to the New Solutions Social Innovation Hub’s networks and supports, which will include mentoring, access to training, peer networking and any other supports identified as critical to the delivery of the project.
Announcing the launch of the scheme, Minister Buttimer said:
“I am delighted to launch the New Solutions Pilot Grants Scheme. Last year, I announced €2.5 million in funding for social innovation initiatives that were ready to scale up and achieve greater impact.
“Through the pilot grant scheme, we have an exciting opportunity to test innovative solutions to our most challenging social issues where traditional methods have simply not worked.
“The announcement is the next step in how we support social innovation in Ireland, with up to €4 million being made available to support a minimum of 40 social innovation initiatives at an earlier stage of development that need funding to trial or test a new idea or service.”
The scheme will be managed by the New Solutions Social Innovation Hub, which the Minister officially opened last year, who play a key role in developing the social innovation ecosystem in Ireland. The New Solutions Innovation Hub will work closely with the successful projects to provide capacity building and supports.
Mario Vottero from Rethink Ireland said:
“The Pilot Grants are aimed at initiatives that have progressed beyond the idea stage and are ready to test their solutions in real-world settings. Successful projects take part in monthly check-ins, provide quarterly progress updates, and share their learning to support the development of Ireland’s wider social innovation sector.”
Applications will close on 13 March 2026, at 6pm. Online application clinics will take place on the 18 and 25 February. Applicants are encouraged to attend these online application clinics for guidance on eligibility and the application process. The application will be available on the New Solutions Social Innovation Hub website.
The Department is supported by Pobal in the implementation of the New Solutions Social Innovation Fund.
Pobal CEO, Anna Shakespeare said:
“Pobal is pleased to play its role in overseeing the New Solutions Pilot Grants, which are co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ESF+ EIST 2021–2027 Programme. This investment demonstrates a shared commitment to supporting organisations that are developing new approaches to social inclusion. By enabling communities to test, refine, and grow innovative ideas, the programme will help drive meaningful, lasting change for people experiencing disadvantage.’’