Every consultant on the Public Only Consultant Contract (POCC23) can access €8,000 annually to fund innovation projects that improve patient care, streamline services, or advance clinical practice.
Through the Consultant Innovation Fund, innovation is happening across Ireland. In 2025, 769 consultants from diverse regions and specialties secured a total of €6.18M in funding for 264 projects.
From AI-assisted diagnostics reducing missed fractures to new care pathways cutting waiting times by 75%, to community rehabilitation models built with lived experience - if you can imagine better care, Consultant Innovation Fund can support you to make it happen.
How much funding is available?
CIF is not a research grant or competition, but a resource already included in your POCC23 contract.
Eligible innovation projects can receive up to:
- €8,000 for individual consultant
- €20,000 when combined with unused CME
- €50,000 for larger initiatives pooled between multiple consultants
What qualifies as innovation?
CIF supports a broad range of innovation activity directed at improving patient care. Examples include but are not limited to:
Service Innovation and Pathway Redesign One-stop clinics, streamlined referrals, new models of care delivery.
Digital and Technology-Enabled Care AI tools, telemedicine, point-of-care devices, data-driven decision support.
Workforce Optimisation Simulation-based training, new team configurations, capability building.
Translational Clinical Research Moving evidence into practice, pilot studies with clear service impact.
Not sure if your idea fits?
Book a session with the Spark team at cif@hse.ie for eligibility check and advise on how to best formulate your innovation plan.
How to access the fund
Step 1: prepare your idea
Talk to your Clinical Director to ensure institutional support. Use our self-assessment checklist to confirm your project aligns with CIF guidance.
Step 2: submit your application
Option A (recommended): Pre-submission review by 16 January 2026
Submit your proposal early to receive feedback from the Spark team before final submission. Early applicants also receive priority fund transfers in February and April, giving you maximum time for implementation.
Option B: Final submission by 3 April 2026
Submit your completed application for assessment against CIF guidelines. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Step 3: approval and fund transfer
Approved projects receive a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for electronic signature via DocuSign. Once signed, funds transfer to your hospital in the next available window (February, April, or May 2026).
Implement your innovation
You have until 31 December 2026 to use your funding, and 12 months to implement your project. The Spark team will be with you to provide ongoing support through mentoring, design input, and implementation guidance.
Important updates
To address consultant feedback from 2024 and 2025, the following improvements have been introduced for CIF 2026:
✓ Clear assessment criteria All applications assessed using the published Application Assessment Checklist, ensuring transparency and consistency.
✓ Electronic signatures MOAs now issued via DocuSign, eliminating delays in obtaining physical signatures.
✓ Earlier fund transfers Three transfer windows (February, April, May) instead of year-end concentration, reducing the implementation time crunch.
✓ New pre-submission phase Submit by 16 January 2026 to receive feedback before final submission. This gives you time to strengthen your application and secure necessary approvals.
Why apply early?
Consultants who submit by 16 January get feedback to strengthen their applications, receive faster fund transfers, and have 8-10 months to use the fund before the calendar year ends.
Helpful resources
About CIF
CIF 2026 Leaflet (PDF, 1 MB, 4 pages)
Overview of the CIF, goals, and processes involved
CIF 2026 Roadmap (PDF, 520 KB, 1 page)
Visual timeline showing key dates, deadlines, and fund transfer windows
Guidance and support
CIF Guidance Document (PDF, 445 KB, 35 pages)
Complete guidelines on eligibility, assessment criteria and funding rules
Application Assessment Checklist (PDF, 244 KB, 5 pages)
Use this to self-review your application before submission - the same checklist Spark uses to assess your project
Application forms
Pre-Submission Application Form for pre-submission by 16 January 2026
Formal Application Form for final submission by 3 April 2026
Additional forms (as needed)
CME to Innovation Fund Transfer Form
Innovation to CME Fund Transfer Form
Pooling document (Word, 15 KB, 1 page) for consultants collaborating on shared projects
Need more support?
Email: CIF@hse.ie