The Government has announced that it will extend the National Digital Research Centre (NDRC) accelerator programme with its current service provider Dogpatch Labs so that NDRC services can continue to provide supports for early-stage digital enterprise ecosystem until the end of 2026.
There had been questions over the future of the NDRC following a decision by the last government to cease funding for the programme.
The Programme for Government contained a commitment to support the NDRC and transfer responsibility to the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.
The Government said today that Enterprise Ireland will launch a new National Accelerator Platform in 2026, building on the success of the NDRC.
It is part of the ‘Delivering for Ireland, Leading Globally’ strategy which has a target to support 1,000 new startups by 2029.
“I am happy to extend the NDRC contract until the end of 2026 in support of the rollout of the Enterprise Ireland’s successor programme, which is being developed in the context of the Programme for Government’s NDRC commitment,” said Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O’Donovan.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke said the decision ensures continuity of service, supports the continuation of regional innovation, and provides a stable foundation for the rollout of a new long-term successor National Accelerator programme being developed by Enterprise Ireland based.
“We must continue to back the global ambition of Irish-founded innovation-led startups, particularly in a challenging global economic climate,” Mr Burke said.
