Innovation, Research & Development

R&D support can help develop your idea into a successful product, process or service ready for commercialisation. We can provide you with advice and support which includes grant funding to:

• Help plan an R&D project and prepare an application for support
• Fund your R&D project
• Support and advise you while planning or applying for applications to Innovate UK

Find out more about Grant for R&D

Innovation Vouchers offers up to £5K to be used with universities, colleges or other publicly funded research bodies (NI & ROI), to develop innovative solutions to business issues.

Innovation Vouchers are open to Northern Ireland based small and medium sized enterprises, social enterprises and third sector organisations, with the exception of businesses in the transport and agriculture sectors.

Find out more about Innovation Vouchers

Technical Advice

Our technical experts can assist you by offering specialist advice and seminars on areas including engineering, manufacturing, product, process, environmental, intellectual property, and workplace health & safety matters.

Technical Development Incentive (TDI)

TDI provides local SME’s with funding of up to £15,000 towards the cost of technical service providers (test-houses, product development consultants, certification bodies, IP specialists etc) to implement innovative solutions.

Find out more about our support

We can provide advice and support to export-focused businesses considering implementing Management Information Systems such as customer portals, e-commerce, finance systems, CRM, ERP/MRP systems, digital automation and other software that makes smarter use of data across the business.

Find out more about eBusiness advice & support

Our Proof of Concept to Commercialisation (PoC) programme can support the pre-commercialisation of leading-edge technologies emerging from Northern Ireland’s research organisations. It helps researchers to export their ideas and inventions from the laboratory to the global marketplace.

Find out more about Proof of Concept

A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) is a subsidised three-way partnership between a business, a high-calibre graduate and an academic institution.

We can support Northern Ireland businesses wanting to improve their competitiveness, by accessing expertise available via local knowledge providers.

Find out more about Knowledge Transfer Programme

Innovate NI is a Department for the Economy initiative, delivered by Invest Northern Ireland. Businesses complete an online innovation assessment which helps the Innovate NI team to provide you with the right advice, guidance, and support to help bring your idea from concept to successful commercialisation and implementation.

To ensure your employees, investors, and customers understand your company's commitment to innovation, Innovate NI, may also issue you with an innovation recognition certificate for your innovation success. Find out more about Innovate NI support

The Business Innovation Grant (BIG) offers grants of up to £20,000 to support micro and small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) with innovation projects. BIG is open to Northern Ireland businesses from all sectors (except primary agriculture) that are not currently Invest NI clients. Find out more about the Business Innovation Grant (BIG)

Innovate UK Business Growth provides a range of bespoke support to ambitious and innovative businesses wanting to grow and scale. Our Innovation and Growth Specialists work closely with you to understand your needs and identify the most effective strategy to accelerate your business’ growth and maximise its potential.

Our support is available to all high potential small to medium sized innovation-driven companies, including Innovate UK grant winners.

Find out more about Innovate UK Business Growth.

Innovate UK can help you identify other sources of funding that align with your business needs and offer guidance on the application process.

Find out more about Innovate UK

Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation. The programme facilitates collaboration and strengthens the impact of research and innovation in developing, supporting and implementing EU policies, while tackling global challenges.

Find out more about Horizon Europe