Ireland

Mid-East Region

Members: Meath Enterprise

The Mid-East Region is fast emerging as a global destination where innovation thrives, corporates scale, and startups succeed — driven by collaboration, talent, and a world-class entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Gary O’Meara

CEO, Meath Enterprise

Highlights

The Mid-East Region of Ireland, encompassing Kildare, Meath, and Wicklow, boasts a dynamic innovation ecosystem, especially in the sectors of Agtech and New Food, and Cleantech. Several governmental schemes and research centers support the startup community and work to grow the knowledge economy.

In June 2024, Meath Enterprise officially opened the new Boyne Valley Food Hub, which has supported 27 food startups and SMEs to start and scale through incubation, training and program delivery. The North-South Research Programme 2024 supports cross-border research collaborations between Mid-East institutions and partners across Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Kildare’s Naas-based tech hub MERITS hub joined the SIRO-Vodafone Gigabit Initiative in July, boosting digital connectivity for local tech startups and reinforcing the region’s commitment to innovation.

Elkstone launched Ireland’s largest $108 million early-stage VC fund, supporting Seed and pre-Series A startups, including those in the Mid-East Region. In September, Meath-based MTM Engineering secured around $33 million in investment from Waterland. The company also acquired CET Connect, ATSS Ventures, and TA Ronan to strengthen its market presence.

Proposed in February 2025, Ireland's Renewable Heat Obligation (RHO) will create opportunities for startups to develop new technologies that facilitate the integration of renewable gases into existing systems and could lead to advancements in areas such as efficient biomethane production, storage, and distribution technologies.

By July 2025, the 2025 Strategic Projects Awards are expected to fund artistic and innovative projects, potentially including startup-friendly creative spaces or incubators.

Ecosystem by the Numbers

ECOSYSTEM VALUE

(H2 2022 - 2024)

$261 M

GLOBAL AVG. $20.4 bn

NUMBER OF UNICORNS

(ACTIVE UNICORNS)

GLOBAL AVG. 4

SOFT. ENGINEER SALARY

(2024)

$61 K

GLOBAL AVG. $52 K

TIME TO EXIT

(2020 - 2024)

14.5 years

GLOBAL AVG. 11.2 years

TOTAL EARLY–STAGE FUNDING

(H2 2022 - 2024)

$39 M

GLOBAL AVG. $514.8 m

MEDIAN SEED ROUND

(H2 2022 - 2024)

$428 K

GLOBAL AVG. $889 k

EARLY-STAGE FUNDING
GROWTH

(2021 - 22 VS. 2023 - 24)

Scale of 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest)

EXIT AMOUNT

(2020 - 2024)

$146 M

GLOBAL AVG. $8 bn

ECOSYSTEM VALUE GROWTH

(H2 2020 - H2 2022 VS H2 2022 - H2 2024)

-14%

GLOBAL AVG. -14%

MEDIAN SERIES A ROUND

(H2 2022 – 2024)

$10.3 M

GLOBAL AVG. $6.8 m

TOTAL VC FUNDING

(2020 - 2024)

$150 M

GLOBAL AVG. $5.2 bn

EXIT COUNT (#)

(2020 - 2024)

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

GLOBAL AVG. 86

Sub-Sector Strengths

Agtech & New Food

Through the Boyne Valley Food Innovation District, Agrotopia Ireland engages in international partnerships, sharing best practices and strategies to tackle worldwide food challenges, enhancing their global impact, and contributing to a more resilient food system. The Agriculture Minister set new targets for reducing emissions in the Agriculture sector by setting up a biomethane industry, leading to the creation of 3,000-5,000 jobs in rural areas. University College Dublin and Teagasc launched the $7.5 million FAST-IP program to drive Agtech innovation.

Cleantech

In November 2024, Wicklow County Council and the Department of the Environment allocated $752,260 to 20 groups for climate action projects, supporting sustainability and low-carbon development. In July 2024, Bord Na Mona, a renewable energy startup, secured funding of $525.3 million.

Life Sciences

The Irish government plans to develop a national Life Sciences strategy that aligns with Ireland’s plan to strengthen U.S. ties, including increased staffing at Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland to enhance Digital and Life Sciences opportunities. The National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training launched a $23.3 million advanced therapies research and training facility in 2024 that features seven labs and training suites, focusing on cell, gene, and oligonucleotide therapies.

Reasons to Move Your Startup to Mid-East Region

Highly Educated Talent

In January 2025, the Higher Education Authority sought course proposals for the 2025/2026 Springboard+ program, which provides free and subsidized courses at various levels, emphasizing industry collaboration and employment opportunities. Initiatives like techUK’s Skills, Talent and Diversity Programme (ongoing in 2024-25) inspire Irish universities to align with global standards, focusing on AI, digital transformation, and workforce diversity.

Research & Development

Launched in August, Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland merges the Irish Research Council and Science Foundation Ireland to fund research, drive innovation, and strengthen academia-industry collaboration. Enterprise Ireland supports R&D through its Innovation Partnerships and Technology Gateways Program, accelerating research commercialization and enhancing innovation in the Mid-East region.

Government Support

The Competitive Start Fund offers up to $55,675 to accelerate the growth of high-potential startups, while the HPSU Fund supports early-stage firms aiming to create ten jobs and $1.1 million revenue in three years. In early 2025, Community Foundation Ireland, with funding from NEOEN, launched grants for north Wicklow, north Kildare, and central Meath to support community engagement, education, and sustainability.

Selected Startup Organizations

Startup Genome Members

MEMBER

Meath Enterprise

Meath Enterprise is a commercially-focused local government (not-for-profit) enterprise development company with a remit/mission to drive local, regional, and national innovation and enterprise development through the provision of business incubation and support services, collaboration, clustering, and creative thinking. We work with partners across all sectors from Government, Education, Corporate, SME, and Social Enterprise to deliver step-change ecosystem development projects such as the Boyne Valley Food Innovation District, the new Future of Food Innovation and Technology Hub, and many other world-class startup incubation and coworking projects, services, and facilities.

Key Ecosystem Players

Gary O'Meara

CEO of Meath Enterprise and Founder and Managing Director of the Boyne Valley Food Innovation District, Gary has a clear vision for what the Mid-East Region and Ireland can realize in terms of social and economic value and has a keen insight to know how to get there.

John Cunningham

Co-founder and Managing Director of Complex Nutrition, John drives the strategic development of the company. He is also the Business Champion for Meath on the government’s regional enterprise plan committee.

Owen Brennan

Executive Chairman of Devenish Nutrition, a leading global agritech company, and current Chair of the Irish governments Regional Enterprise Strategic Plan for the Mid-East Region in Ireland.

Allan Shine

Chief Executive of Kildare Innovation Campus, Europe’s first Deeptech Valley and a location of choice for new investors, world-leading startups and global multinational companies.

Michael Brougham

Former Regional Director at Enterprise Ireland for the Mid-East Region of Ireland and Director of the Global Entrepreneurship Network in Ireland.

Siobhan Keogh

Manager of the Mid East Regional Skills Forum, a government initiative that works with and supports all ecosystem stakeholders to identify and implement proactive responses to address current and future skills needs.

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Work with us

If you are interested in working with us to drive global attention to your ecosystem, please get in touch with Marina Krizman, Director of Business Development.

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