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Circular Economy Innovation
Grant Scheme (CEIGS)
About CEIGS
The Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme (CEIGS) is a Government of Ireland initiative led by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE), which provides support to projects advancing the circular economy in Ireland and raising awareness of the need to transition to a circular economy.
The programme supports organisations in developing, demonstrating and scaling practical circular economy solutions that reduce waste, improve resource efficiency and contribute to key national strategic circularity objectives, such as those outlined in the
Geraldine Brennan, Director of Circular Economy Innovation at IMR, and Alan Dillon TD, Minister of State with responsibility for the Circular Economy.
CEIGS 2026
CIRCULÉIRE and its secretariat, Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR), administer the 2026 programme in partnership with DCEE.
The 2026 programme emphasises accessibility, simplification and strategic outcomes and will prioritise projects with a clear pathway to adoption and scale, advancing higher-value circular economy R strategies.
Eligible organisations are invited to submit projects to:
Develop, pilot, demonstrate and/or scale innovative circular economy solutions.
Deliver measurable environmental, economic or societal benefits through improved circularity.
Address recognised circular economy challenges within priority sectors or demonstrate exceptional wider replication potential.
Demonstrate a clear implementation pathway within the funded project period.
Present a credible strategy for scaling, replication or long-term adoption beyond the lifetime of the grant.
Funding Strands
The programme provides funding through two competitive strands:
Strand 1
€50,000
6 months
Grants of up to €50,000 for projects of up to six months’ duration.
€50,001 to €150,000
12 months
Strand 2
Grants from €50,001 up to €150,000 for projects of up to twelve months' duration.
Funding will be awarded through an open competitive process based on eligibility, strategic alignment, innovation, implementation readiness, expected impact, value for money and the potential for wider adoption.
Why Apply
Increased available funding, from €650,000 to €1.5 million.
Broadened eligibility criteria remove previous restrictions on organisation size.
A streamlined, user-friendly application process.
How to Apply
Before completing the Online Application Form, applicants should read the following documents. These documents are best viewed on a desktop.
Application
All applications must be submitted through the CEIGS 2026 online application portal hosted on AwardForce by the 12th of October.
Applicants are encouraged to review the Applicant Reference Guide before commencing their application, as it previews the questions, response requirements and supporting documents.
Applicants must ensure that the information submitted on AwardForce is consistent with the Budget Workbook and all supporting documents.
Until applications close
Days
Hours
Min
Applications submitted after the deadline or through an alternative submission method will not be accepted. Any technical issue must be reported to the official support contact before the deadline and supported by evidence. Reporting an issue does not guarantee acceptance of a late application.
The following information must be consistent across all submitted documents:
1
Applicant Organisation
2
Project Title
3
Funding Strand
4
Project Duration
5
Grant Requested
6
Total Project Cost
OTHER RESOURCES
Watch Info Session Video Recording
Read Info Session Presentation Slide Deck
Media & News
Media
News
Minister Dillon launches €1.5 million Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme READ MORE
GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND, 14 SEP 2026
Minister Dillon launches €1.5 million Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme READ MORE
LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS, 15 SEP 2026
€1.5m circular economy fund launched as Mayo projects set to benefit READ MORE
MAYO LIVE, 14 SEP 2026
Strategic Partners
