Technology Ireland Budget 2027 Submission

Technology Ireland, the Ibec group representing the technology industry, has launched its pre-Budget 2027 submission. Ireland stands at the heart of Europe's vibrant technology ecosystem. As a strategic bridge between global partners, our industry fosters world-class innovation, collaboration, and opportunity.
As we look ahead and to ensure long-term resilience, Budget 2027 must balance immediate cost pressures with strategic investments in talent, R&I and our indigenous sector. Our goal is to ensure Ireland remains the leading location for global technology companies while building a domestic sector that starts here and grows here

Our Talent Pipeline: Increase the core funding for Skillnet Business Networks by €50 million over three years to meet verified industry demand. Establish an Al skills fund along with a national rollout of Al literacy and application integrated across the tertiary system to ensure foundational competencies for all graduates.
Supporting SMEs and Founders: Reform Capital Gains Tax (CGT) for technology entrepreneurs to boost innovation and the establishment of new founder-led businesses. Enhance the Key Employee Engagement Programme (KEEP). Simplify the KEEP share-option scheme to allow indigenous SMEs to compete for talent.
Boosting Research & Innovation (R&I): Amend the R&D Tax Credit to allow credit for Irish-based management of offshore R&D activity. Implement a new "Innovation Credit" to support process innovation and the adoption of "new-to-firm" technologies, ensuring SMEs can digitise effectively. Increase public investment in research and innovation to 1% of GNI* by 2035.
Ireland's Digital & Regulatory Ambition: Ensure full implementation of "Digital Ireland - Connecting our People, Securing our Future" through rigorous funding and industry partnership. Ireland must prioritise the full execution of the "Silicon Island" and "Quantum 2030" strategies to secure its position in the global deep-tech supply chain. Resource sectoral regulators tasked with supervising compliance with EU digital regulation.