The Public Service Innovation Fund 2024 has been launched by Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe TD. This competitive fund aims to support innovative, technology-based projects from across the Public Service which provide better public services.
Since 2019, the Public Service Innovation Fund has provided around €3.5 million in funding support to over 105 projects across Ireland. Funding of between €75,000 and €100,000 is available in 2024 for innovative projects that have a strong focus on outcomes, impacts and collaboration across sectors and that contribute to the Government’s target of building globally recognised digital services using technology and data.
The Public Service Innovation Fund 2024 is the sixth iteration of the fund with total funding of €500,000. The new fund places a strong focus on cross-organisational digital transformation, to meet the vision for a digital Public Service as set out in the Better Public Services Transformation Strategy. Projects sought should be an emphasis on scalability, transferability and learning with the Public Service.
The fund will support projects which deliver across the themes of the Better Public Services strategy – especially the ambition of delivering Digital and Innovation at Scale. Projects should contribute toward delivering on Government’s vision of inclusive, high quality and integrated Public Service provision that meets the needs and improves the lives of people in Ireland.
Speaking about the launch of the fund, Minister Donohoe said, “the Public Service Innovation Fund will build on the innovative projects supported and progress made in previous years and is positive step towards the transforming our Public Services. Collaboration on scalable, technology-based solutions and innovations is central to this year’s fund, as is a focus on tangible, positive outcomes for the people of Ireland. The scale of innovation in our Public Service is truly impressive and this fund will support Public Servants across organisations to realise the potential of their ideas and contribute towards our shared vision of better public services for all.”
Minister of State for Public Procurement, eGovernment and Circular Economy, Ossian Smyth TD said, “I welcome the launch of this year’s Innovation Fund which provides a clear focus on delivering digital and innovative projects that can be scaled up to meet the needs of our public. The fund will support fresh ideas, news ways of thinking or design and encourages Public Servants to think imaginatively about how they approach challenges and explore the opportunities of working with new and different partners towards our shared goals.”
