Research & Consulting
Top Innovation Consulting Firms in Ireland (Updated August 2026)
The companies in this list are ordered alphabetically by name. That is the only ordering applied, so a company's position implies no ranking, preference or assessment of quality.
Nothing on this page is one service. Under a single label sit four unrelated ones: securing R&D tax credits and grant funding, advising on data protection and AI compliance, building software, and managing corporate reputation. The funding work is the only one with a return you can calculate in advance, and it is worth doing first, because the relief can cover a share of what the others cost.
Brandfire is on this list. We wrote our own entry with the same directness we applied to everyone else.
Four different services under one label
- Advice or delivery. Several firms here produce recommendations and nothing else. That is a legitimate service, but it is not a product.
- A defined output. Funding secured, risk removed, product shipped. Engagements without one drift.
- Funding expertise, separately. R&D tax credits and Enterprise Ireland grants are a specialism with a measurable return.
- Sector and regulatory fit. Innovation in a regulated industry is a compliance project with a technology component, not the reverse.
- What the recommendation rests on. Ask for the evidence base. If the answer is workshops alone, the market research companies supply the rest.
If you are spending on innovation consulting, check first whether the work qualifies for R&D tax credits or Enterprise Ireland funding. The relief can cover a meaningful share of the cost, and one firm on this list does nothing else.
Name the trigger, then find the firm built around it
The label covers four unrelated jobs, so start by naming which one you need before you look at a single firm.
- Match the specialism to the outcome, not the title. A funding specialist will not write your compliance policy, and a reputation firm will not touch your R&D claim. Cross-shopping wastes time on pitches that were never a fit.
- Check whether advice becomes a deliverable. Strategy decks are easy to produce and hard to act on. Ask what the firm hands over at the end: a filed claim, a signed-off policy, shipped code, or a recommendation someone still has to execute.
- Weigh success fees against fixed fees for funding work. Grant and tax credit specialists sometimes charge against what they secure rather than time spent. That can align incentives well, but get the percentage and the trigger event in writing first.
- Ask who has done this in a regulated sector before. Compliance and product work both change shape once health, finance or public sector rules apply. A generalist without that experience will learn on your engagement.
Firms that mix several of these disciplines are not automatically weaker. They are just harder to compare on a single measure like price.
Funding, compliance, software, reputation
Under one label, this list covers four distinct services: securing R&D tax credits and grant funding, advising on data protection and AI compliance, building software products, and managing corporate reputation. What sits outside all of them is ongoing marketing execution and day-to-day operations, which stay with the client or a separate supplier. Advisory engagements also end at a roadmap, and building it is what the software development companies do. Where the question is specifically about AI, the AI companies work on it directly rather than advising on it. Businesses typically bring this work in at specific trigger points: before a funding application deadline, when a new product or AI feature raises a compliance question, when a build needs to move from idea to working software, or when a reputational issue needs managing before it grows. Because the category is this broad, the safest approach is to name the trigger first and then look for the firm built around it, rather than starting from the category label.
Almost nobody here publishes a price
Rate data across this list is thin. Only RaftLabs publishes an hourly band, at €25 to €45 for delivery work, and no firm here publishes a project minimum. That gap is normal for advisory-heavy categories, where pricing is scoped per engagement rather than published. It also makes the buying decision harder than it looks, and the same problem shows up in adjacent disciplines: hiring a loyalty consultant covers what to ask when nobody publishes a rate. Expect three broad models: hourly or day rates for software and technical delivery, fixed project fees for strategy and compliance work scoped to a defined deliverable, and success-based fees for funding specialists, who may charge a percentage of the grant or tax credit secured rather than time spent. What moves the price most is scope definition. A tightly scoped compliance audit or grant application costs less than an open-ended advisory retainer, because the firm can quote against a known amount of work instead of an ongoing relationship. Ask for a fixed fee wherever the deliverable can be defined in advance.
We have selected and reviewed these companies based on factors such as their services, industry experience, reputation, client portfolio, pricing where publicly available, market presence, and other relevant business metrics. The information and pricing mentioned are based on details available at the time of publication and may change over time. We recommend verifying the latest information directly with each company.
1. Brandfire
Best for customer retention innovation
brandfire.ie - Brandfire website, opens in a new tab- Location
- Dublin, Ireland
- Rating
- 4.9 (70 reviews)
- Team size
- 1-10
- Founded
- 2012
Brandfire is a Dublin loyalty and rewards agency, founded in 2012, with a team of under ten. On this page it represents retention rather than product or funding innovation.
How they work
The output is defined: points-based reward systems, promotional campaigns and customer tiers, designed and then run. That puts it on the delivery side of this list rather than the advisory side, with a result measurable in repeat purchase.
What sets them apart
It carries 70 verified reviews at 4.9, the highest count here, and also publishes this directory, which is why the entry sticks to the same checkable detail as the rest. Sectors are retail, grocery, telecoms, insurance and finance, FMCG, and industrial goods. It is the wrong hire for R&D funding, compliance or software delivery, all of which are on this page.
Services
- Loyalty Programme Design
- Rewards & Promotions
Industries
- Industrial Goods & Services
- Retail
- Supermarkets and Grocery
- Telecoms
- Insurance and Finance
- FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods)
Languages
- English
- Irish
2. International Development Ireland Ltd
Best for institutional development projects
- Location
- Dublin, Ireland
- Team size
- 11-50
International Development Ireland was established in 1989 by Irish state economic agencies and works with governments abroad on economic growth and public institution reform, with a team of 11 to 50 in Dublin.
How they work
Its stated method is exporting what Ireland learned during its own development period to emerging and transitioning markets. Services are institutional development advisory and project management implementation.
What sets them apart
Sectors are government and economic development. No project minimum, rate or verified reviews appear on the listing. This is public sector and multilateral work rather than commercial consulting. If you are a business looking for innovation support, no part of this offer applies to you, and the directory placement is misleading.
Services
- Institutional Development Advisory
- Project Management Implementation
Industries
- Government
- Economic Development
Languages
- English
3. jump! innovation
Best for innovation facilitation
- Location
- Dublin, Ireland
- Team size
- 1-10
jump! innovation is a Dublin firm of under ten running innovation workshops and brand strategy.
How they work
The named clients are the substance: Heineken, Fáilte Ireland and PepsiCo. Workshop facilitation for organisations that size is a specific skill — getting a large group to a decision — and it is different from either strategy consulting or delivery.
What sets them apart
Sectors are food and beverage, and tourism and entertainment. No project minimum, rate or verified reviews appear on the listing. It suits a company with an internal team that needs structured facilitation to unblock a decision. The output is a direction rather than a product, so agree what leaves the room before you book.
Services
- Brand Strategy
- Innovation Workshops
Industries
- Food & Beverage
- Tourism & Entertainment
Languages
- English
4. MKC Communications
Best for communications advisory
- Location
- Dublin, Ireland
- Team size
- 11-50
MKC Communications is an independent PR and communications consultancy founded in Dublin in 1999, with a team of 11 to 50.
How they work
Named clients include Salesforce and Virgin Media Ireland. Services cover media relations, government affairs and crisis planning — the last two being the reason a firm like this appears under innovation, since a new initiative in a regulated sector needs political and media handling as much as engineering.
What sets them apart
Sectors are transportation, financial services and pharmaceutical. No project minimum, rate or verified reviews appear on the listing. It suits an organisation launching something that will attract political or press attention. For product or funding work, other firms here are the brief.
Services
- PR & Media Relations
- Government Affairs
- Crisis Planning
Industries
- Transportation
- Financial Services
- Pharmaceutical
Languages
- English
5. Myriad Associates
Best for R&D tax credits and grant funding
- Location
- Dublin, Ireland
- Team size
- 1-10
Myriad Associates is a Dublin innovation funding consultancy of under ten working only on R&D tax credit claims and grant bid writing.
How they work
This is the most measurable service on the page. The team handles the claim end to end — paperwork, financial calculations and technical reports — against the guidelines set by Revenue and Enterprise Ireland, and the return is a number you can check.
What sets them apart
Sectors are technology and manufacturing. No project minimum, rate or verified reviews appear on the listing. It suits any Irish business already spending on new products or process improvement. Worth approaching before you commission other innovation work, because the relief can cover a meaningful share of that cost.
Services
- R&D Tax Credit Claims
- Grant Bid Writing
Industries
- Technology
- Manufacturing
Languages
- English
6. Onside
Best for research and strategic advisory
- Location
- Dublin, Ireland
- Rating
- 5.0 (1 review)
- Team size
- 11-50
Onside is a Dublin management consultancy founded in 2005 with a team of 11 to 50, working on sponsorship strategy, research and activation management across Europe.
How they work
The claim on the listing is scale of advice rather than of delivery: hundreds of millions of euro in sponsorship investment guided over two decades. The approach is research-led, turning what was a relationship business into an evidence-based one.
What sets them apart
Sectors are sports and entertainment, and media. The listing shows 1 verified review at 5.0, too small a sample to read. No project minimum or rate is published. It suits a large organisation deciding where to put a sponsorship budget, or rethinking one it already has.
Services
- Sponsorship Strategy
- Research & Analysis
- Activation Management
Industries
- Sports & Entertainment
- Media
Languages
- English
7. PrivacySolved
Best for privacy and compliance for new technology
- Location
- Dublin, Ireland
- Team size
- 1-10
PrivacySolved is a consulting firm with a Dublin base and a team of under ten, working on data protection, privacy compliance and cybersecurity.
How they work
The offer includes outsourced Data Protection Officer services, AI governance and data breach response — which is what makes it an innovation firm in practice, since a new digital product or AI feature has to be compliant by design rather than remediated later.
What sets them apart
Sectors are banking and financial services, and healthcare. No project minimum, rate or verified reviews appear on the listing. It suits an organisation handling sensitive data that is about to launch something new. In a regulated sector, this kind of engagement is a prerequisite rather than an optional extra.
Services
- Data Protection Officer (DPO) Services
- AI Governance
- Data Breach Response
Industries
- Banking & Financials
- Healthcare
Languages
- English
8. RaftLabs
Best for turning an innovation brief into shipped software
raftlabs.com - RaftLabs website, opens in a new tab- Location
- Dublin, Ireland
- Rating
- 4.9 (50 reviews)
- Team size
- 10 - 49
- Hourly rate
- €25 - €45
- Founded
- 2015
RaftLabs is a software development company in Dublin, founded in 2015 with a team of 10 to 49, and sits on the delivery end of this page rather than the advisory end.
How they work
The distinction matters here: several firms on this list produce recommendations, while RaftLabs produces working software, including AI and voice features. That makes it the natural second step after a consulting engagement rather than an alternative to one.
What sets them apart
Rates are 25 to 45 euro an hour, the only hourly figure published on this page, and it holds 50 verified reviews at 4.9 — the strongest review evidence here. Sectors are hospitality, loyalty, B2B SaaS and healthcare. It suits a company with a defined idea that needs building.
Services
- Custom Software Development
- AI & Voice Software
Industries
- Hospitality
- Loyalty
- B2B SaaS
- Healthcare
9. Realweb
Best for AI and IoT innovation for regulated sectors
- Location
- Dublin, Ireland
- Rating
- 4.7 (1 review)
- Team size
- 11-50
- Min project
- From €900
Realweb is a Dublin software consultancy operating since 2018 with a team of 11 to 50, building custom tools, websites and applications for mid-sized and large enterprises.
How they work
The work is practical rather than exploratory: a secure client portal for a legal firm, or connecting a manufacturer's inventory system to a new online platform. AI and IoT features for regulated sectors are a named specialism.
What sets them apart
Projects start from 900 euro, and the listing shows 1 verified review at 4.7. Sectors are legal services and enterprise business. It suits an organisation that knows what it needs built and needs the technical architecture handled. Like RaftLabs, it is delivery rather than advice.
Services
- Custom Software Development
- Web & App Design
Industries
- Legal Services
- Enterprise Business
Languages
- English
10. Reputation Inc
Best for reputation strategy
- Location
- Dublin, Ireland
- Team size
- 11-50
- Min project
- From €900
Reputation Inc is an international consultancy operating since 2002 with senior teams in Dublin and London and a team band of 11 to 50, working only on corporate reputation.
How they work
Services are reputation management and crisis communications, aimed at organisations that treat reputation as a commercial asset with a value attached. This is board-level advisory rather than campaign work.
What sets them apart
Projects start from 900 euro, which looks low for the described positioning and is worth clarifying. Sectors are FMCG, financial services, and pharma and healthcare. No verified reviews appear on the listing. It suits a large organisation facing a reputational question. It has no overlap with the funding, compliance or software firms elsewhere on this page.
Services
- Reputation Management
- Crisis Communications
Industries
- FMCG
- Financial Services
- Pharma & Healthcare
Languages
- English
Innovation consulting helps a business build something it couldn't build alone, whether that's a new product, a compliance process or a piece of software. What it doesn't do is give that business's existing customers a reason to stick around while the new thing gets built. Innovation and retention run on different timelines. Brandfire designs and builds loyalty and rewards programmes for brands across Ireland, keeping the current customer base engaged while the next big thing takes shape.
Frequently asked questions
- What does an innovation consultancy actually do?
- It varies more than any other category here. On this list it covers securing R&D funding, managing compliance for new technology, building products, and protecting reputation. Ask for a deliverables list from a past engagement before assuming you know what you are buying.
- Can I claim R&D tax credits in Ireland?
- If your business carries out qualifying research and development, Revenue operates an R&D tax credit and Enterprise Ireland offers grant funding. One firm on this list specialises in these claims. Since the benefit is a cash figure, it is the easiest innovation service to evaluate.
- Do innovation consultants build anything?
- Several here do not. Advisory firms produce strategy, research and recommendations. Only the software firms on this list will deliver working product. Decide which you need, because a strategy you cannot execute is an expensive document.
- How do I measure the return on innovation consulting?
- Define the output before you engage. For funding work, the measure is money secured against fee paid. For compliance, it is risk removed. For product work, it is something shipped. Engagements without a defined output are the ones that get quietly cancelled.
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