Shared Island Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative

The Irish Government’s Shared Island initiative aims to harness the full potential of the Good Friday Agreement to enhance cooperation, connection and mutual understanding on the Island of Ireland and to engage with all communities and traditions to build consensus around a shared future. The Shared Island Fund was announced in Budget 2021, with €500m in capital funding available between 2021-2025, ring-fenced for investment in collaborative North-South projects.

As part of the Shared Island Fund, the Irish Government has awarded €7 million for a Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative Scheme to invest in sustainable, innovative, and circular bioeconomy development on a shared Island basis, with the aim of transforming the agri-food sector and creating jobs in the rural and coastal economy and sustaining rural and coastal communities.

The Shared Island Fund Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative Scheme will support the move towards a low-carbon and circular economy. The Department for Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) is bringing together the overall funding package which will be progressed through a competitive funding call. DAFM is working in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to develop the opportunity on and all-Island basis to encourage the development of sustainable and circular projects for the agri-bioeconomy and blue bioeconomy across the Island of Ireland.

Information Session

On Thursday 14 September 2023, DAERA and DAFM held an online information session on the Shared Island Fund Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative Scheme. A recording of the session can be viewed below.

The information session was moderated by InterTrade Ireland, the cross-border, trade and business development body. Officials from the Department of the Taoiseach provided an overview of the Government’s Shared Island Initiative. DAFM and DAERA officials gave a brief overview on the background and policy setting of the bioeconomy on the Island, before offering a first look at the Shared Island Fund Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative Scheme and some outline details for prospective applicants. Presentation slides from the information session can also be viewed below.

Shared Island Fund Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative Scheme – Information Session Recording

DAERA and DAFM Information Session Presentations

Stakeholder Survey

We would appreciate 5 minutes of your time to complete the stakeholders survey. The purpose of the survey is to help both DAFM and DAERA understand the background of potential applicants, their ideas and areas of interest.

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