The supports available in 2026 to help Irish businesses reach international markets have never been more accessible. Here is what you need to know to get started.
The Get Exporting Programme — Ireland's National Export Support Scheme
Launched at the start of 2026, the Get Exporting programme is a national cross-agency initiative delivered by Enterprise Ireland, InterTradeIreland, Local Enterprise Offices and Údarás na Gaeltachta.
It is specifically designed for Irish businesses that are either considering exporting for the first time or are in the very early stages — with less than €10,000 in annual export sales.
The programme is delivered over a maximum of eight months with no fixed start dates, meaning you can engage when your business is ready. It provides one-to-one advice from an Export Advisor, practical workshops in lead generation, selling and negotiation, market research support to identify your most accessible international markets, and access to a network of other first-time exporters.
Crucially, it is free to participate. You can register your interest directly at enterprise-ireland.com/en/get-exporting.
Is Your Business Ready to Export?
Before engaging with any support programme, it is worth asking a few honest questions about your business's readiness.
Do you have a product or service that is genuinely differentiated — something that addresses a problem or need that is not already well served in your target market? Exporting a commodity into a market with established local competitors is not a viable strategy for most SMEs.
Is your domestic operation stable enough to support international activity? Attempting to enter new markets while your home base is under-resourced is one of the most common reasons export attempts fail.
Do you have the financial runway to sustain a period of investment before international revenue materialises? Export market development typically takes 12 to 24 months before meaningful returns are generated.
If the honest answers to these questions are yes, you are in a position to begin.
Choosing Your First Export Market
The most common mistake Irish businesses make when starting to export is choosing a market based on personal familiarity rather than commercial logic.
The UK remains the most natural first market for Irish businesses — geographic proximity, a shared language and established trade relationships reduce the barriers to entry significantly. However, post-Brexit customs and regulatory requirements have added complexity that was not present before 2021. These are manageable but need to be understood and planned for.
The United States represents the largest potential market for many Irish businesses, and Enterprise Ireland's network of international offices provides significant support for Irish companies targeting the US. However, the scale of the market also means the investment required to compete effectively is substantially higher than in European markets.
For many Irish SMEs, the most accessible international opportunities lie within the EU — where Ireland's single market membership provides freedom of movement of goods and services without customs barriers.
Enterprise Ireland's market intelligence resources can help you assess which markets offer the best combination of opportunity and accessibility for your specific business. These are available free of charge through the Enterprise Ireland portal.
The Funding Available for Irish Exporters
Several financial supports are available specifically for Irish businesses developing export markets.
Enterprise Ireland's HPSU Feasibility Study Grant covers 70 per cent of eligible costs up to €30,000 for businesses assessing the viability of international expansion. The Market Research Centre at Enterprise Ireland provides free access to international market intelligence that would otherwise cost thousands of euro to commission.
For businesses involved in cross-border trade between Ireland and Northern Ireland, InterTradeIreland offers dedicated supports including the Elevate and Acumen programmes, which provide funding for sales development and market entry.
The Innovation Voucher — worth €5,000 or €10,000 — can be used to collaborate with a third-level institution to develop a product or service for international markets.
The Bottom Line
The infrastructure to support Irish SME exporters in 2026 is extensive, well-funded and largely free to access. What it cannot do is create the commercial readiness that needs to come from within the business.
If your product is differentiated, your domestic base is stable and you have the patience to invest in international market development before the returns come, the Get Exporting programme is the logical first step. It costs nothing to register your interest and it will tell you within weeks whether international expansion is the right move — and if so, where to focus first.
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