Want to apply for a 5K Innovation Voucher?

Check your eligibility

About the Innovation Vouchers programme

Do you have an innovation project that could lead to the development of a new or improved product, service, business model, or process? Will it create value in your business, produce new profits or help grow the business? If so, then an Innovation Voucher could help support this.

Applications are now open for a £5K Innovation Voucher and will close at 15:00 on Friday 2 May 2025.

This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

How can a £5K Innovation Voucher benefit my business?

£5K Innovation Vouchers allow businesses or potential entrepreneurs to get expertise from a public sector knowledge provider, such as a University or College (NI and ROI) for your innovation project.  

** Please note that this programme does not involve the payment of any funds directly to participating businesses.**

Typical projects we support include:

  • Expertise to help create or improve products, services, business models or processes
  • Access to specialist expertise in new materials
  • Tapping into research and scientific expertise

Activities that are not eligible include:

  • Business plans, market research and financial planning
  • Website and app related activity
  • Marketing and sales activity
  • Training courses
  • Working with a private sector provider
  • Businesses owned by Invest NI staff members

This list is not exhaustive.

Who is eligible for an innovation voucher?

Innovation vouchers are open to any business in Northern Ireland that meets the following criteria:

  • Are a small enterprise, social enterprise or third sector organisation with less than 50 employees and either an annual turnover and/or annual balance sheet not exceeding €10 million
  • Are a medium enterprise, social enterprise or third sector organisation with more than 50 employees but less than 250 employees, and either an annual turnover not exceeding €50 million or an annual balance sheet not exceeding €43 million
  • Must not have received assistance through Invest NI’s Grant for R&D programme in the past five years
  • Businesses must not be owned by Invest NI staff members

Apply now

Applications are now open for a £5K Innovation Voucher and will close at 15:00 on Friday 2 May 2025.

Complete this questionnaire to find out if you can apply

Innovation Vouchers are available to early stage and pre-trading entities as well as to established companies

1/5) Are you a Northern Ireland based small enterprise or medium enterprise?

Innovation Vouchers are open to Northern Ireland based small and medium sized enterprises, social enterprises and third sector organisations. This includes sole traders, partnerships, limited companies, new start-ups and those businesses at pre-trading stage.

Small - a business, or if part of a group, a group of companies in which the total number of full-time employees in the company, or the entire group, is less than 50 and has either an annual turnover and/or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding €10m. 

Medium - a business, or if part of a group, a group of companies in which the total number of full-time employees in the company, or the entire group, is between 50 and 250 and has either an annual turnover not exceeding €50m or balance sheet total not exceeding €43m.

Discover more

Hear how the support from a £5K Innovation Voucher has helped Northern Ireland businesses.

Further Information

If your Innovation Voucher application is successful, you will be required to complete an Innovate NI Innovation Assessment before the Innovation Voucher is issued.

Contact us

For more information contact our Business Support Team on 0800 181 4422 or complete the enquiry form.

For information on how we use your personal data including your rights, see our privacy notice.

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