NovaUCD and PTSB have announced the launch of a new accelerator programme to support the next wave of Irish start-ups maximise sustainability growth opportunities.

The Energy Futures Accelerator Programme, which will open for applications this autumn, will provide mentoring and financial advisory support to early-stage Irish companies operating in climate technology and renewable energy, helping them to grow and scale.

L-R: Liam Cronin, director of Innovation, UCD; Leontia Fannin, chief sustainability and corporate affairs officer, PTSB and Patrick Farrell, chief retail banking officer, PTSB. Image: Andres Poveda Photography.

Business scaling for the global stage

The programme will draw on NovaUCD’s expertise in innovation and startup development and growth, alongside PTSB’s financial and business advisory capabilities to help accelerate commercialisation and business scaling for the global stage.

Liam Cronin, director of Innovation at University College Dublin, said: “We are very pleased to be partnering with PTSB, as part of our corporate engagement strategy, and to announce the launch of the exciting new Energy Futures Accelerator Programme.

The focus of this dedicated programme, delivered by NovaUCD in collaboration with PTSB, will be to support emerging and young Irish start-ups, focused on addressing key climate and sustainability challenges, to fast-track their commercial viability to meet their global ambitions, drawing on UCD's expertise in this area including the UCD Energy Institute.

Applications for the programme will open this autumn and the programme is planned to commence in early 2027.”

PTSB also announced the launch of a €250m Impact Lending Fund providing finance for business customers investing in projects that deliver positive environmental or social benefits to society.

The Impact Lending Fund is being made available to support businesses across a range of environmental and social sectors including Sustainable Energy, Sustainable Agriculture, Healthcare and Female Entrepreneurship. SMEs who meet the criteria for the fund can make an application, subject to normal credit terms and conditions.

The fund will lend to a wide range of environmental or social projects including investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency measures, sustainable agriculture and sustainable transport. It will also support businesses with a focus on healthcare and education services, female led and inclusive businesses, as well as projects that create jobs and support economic development in local communities.

Patrick Farrell, chief retail banking officer, PTSB, said: “The launch of our €250m Impact Lending Fund is a significant milestone for PTSB and reflects our ambition to deepen our support for Irish SMEs. We know that businesses increasingly see sustainability not just as a responsibility, but as a commercial opportunity.

Thrugh this Fund, we want to help businesses invest in projects that deliver positive environmental and social impact while supporting their future growth and competitiveness. PTSB is already seeing strong and growing demand from businesses in this area, and we expect this trend to continue in the years ahead.

We are also delighted to partner with NovaUCD to launch the Energy Futures Accelerator Programme helping emerging businesses maximise new opportunities for growth as demand for sustainable solutions continues to increase.’’

The launch of the Impact Lending Fund is underpinned by new research findings today from PTSB’s latest Reflecting Business Report 2026 which highlights a renewed confidence for growth amongst Irish SMEs with sustainability emerging as a standout commercial growth opportunity.

Key research findings

• Irish SMEs have a significantly more positive outlook than they held a year ago. More than half of businesses (57%) believe the Irish economy will improve over the next 12 months, up from 24% in 2025, while 68% expect conditions for their own business to improve, compared with 31% last year;
• More than eight in 10 businesses (82%) expect their business to grow over the coming year, compared with 45% in 2025, while just 1% anticipate a decline;
• 72% of businesses now identify sustainability as a top commercial growth opportunity for their business, up from 28% in 2025;
• Findings show a surge in businesses planning energy efficiency upgrades and other sustainability initiatives as SMEs respond to recent global energy price shocks (62% v 33% in 2025);
• While businesses are increasingly optimistic, they continue to face significant barriers to growth. The biggest challenges identified by SMEs are increased costs of goods (76%), inflation (71%) and turbulence in the global economy (49%).