The Mill Enterprise Hub has launched BASSE NorthEast, a three-year digital transformation and sustainability programme for SMEs in Ireland's North-East region, backed by €1 million in Enterprise Ireland Smart Regions funding, according to Ireland Live.

The initiative will support 16 companies across Louth, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan with annual turnover exceeding €1 million. The programme focuses on three core pillars: scaling and growth through digital transformation and AI adoption, sustainability and ESG compliance, and peer-to-peer leadership development.

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke launched the programme on 29 January 2026. The funding is co-financed by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Southern, Eastern & Midland Regional Programme 2021-2027.

Donal Leahy, Head of Regional Infrastructure at Enterprise Ireland, said: "The B.A.S.S.E. programme is a prime example of how the European Regional Development Fund is enabling high-impact regional initiatives that drive innovation and enterprise."

BASSE NorthEast builds on a pilot launched in Wexford in 2025. Participating companies will receive support for strategy clarification, export readiness, carbon tracking, and supply-chain alignment with emerging regulatory requirements. The programme includes in-person workshops at The Mill Enterprise Hub in Drogheda, complemented by online sessions designed to minimise disruption to day-to-day business operations.

The scaling and growth pillar addresses digital transformation, AI adoption and export readiness. The sustainability pillar supports sustainability health checks and carbon tracking. The leadership development pillar provides facilitated peer learning and leadership laboratories.

Expressions of interest close on 20 February 2026, with the programme commencing 25 March 2026. Eligible participants must be CEOs, founders or senior management teams actively planning to scale or internationalise operations. The programme will run primarily at The Mill Enterprise Hub in Drogheda over three years.

Learn more about the programme structure in the original article.