Business Grants in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland offers unique business funding opportunities through Invest NI, local councils, and cross-border programmes with the Republic of Ireland. Belfast and other NI businesses can access support for innovation, exports, and growth.
Invest NI Funding
Invest Northern Ireland is the main business development agency for NI. They provide grants, loans, and support for businesses looking to grow, innovate, or export. Their programmes cover R&D, capital investment, skills development, and market entry.
Local Council Support
Northern Ireland's 11 councils offer their own business support programmes. Belfast City Council, Derry City and Strabane, and other councils run grant schemes for local businesses, particularly SMEs and startups.
Cross-Border Programmes
NI businesses can also access cross-border funding programmes with the Republic of Ireland and EU-funded initiatives. InterTradeIreland supports cross-border trade and innovation projects.
Northern Ireland Business Grants
225 grants found
Engineering Biology Investor Partnerships round 1
UK registered SMEs can apply for a share of up to £8 million to develop engineering biology products and services with selected investor partners.
Battery innovation: concept development round three
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £25 million to support innovation in battery grade material technologies for electrification.
BridgeAI Deployment Catalyst: AI for operational systems
UK registered small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) can apply for a share of up to £5 million to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning solutions that perform, control or coordinate operational activity.
BridgeAI Deployment Catalyst: AI for decision critical systems
UK registered small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) can apply for a share of up to £5 million to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning solutions that support consequential judgements, recommendations or decisions.
BridgeAI Deployment Catalyst: AI for assurance and compliance
UK registered small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) can apply for a share of up to £5 million to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning solutions that monitor, test, verify or evidence compliance with requirements, standards or controls.
Gambling harms research grants
Apply for funding that deepens understanding or supports solutions for the prevention and treatment of gambling-related harms.
Manufacturing Scale-up Network Plus
A funding opportunity to build a Network Plus to accelerate the scale-up of manufacturing innovation, driving growth across aerospace, automotive and wider UK advanced manufacturing frontier industries. Projects can run for up to 60 months, including a 12-month scoping phase followed by a 48-month network phase.
Funding opportunity: Manufacturing Scale-up Research and Innovation: Automotive and Aerospace
Apply for funding to address manufacturing scale-up challenges for new technologies and processes, accelerating innovation and driving UK business growth in the automotive and aerospace sectors.
Public Engagement Spark Awards 2026B
Apply for funding to engage the public with Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) supported science. Proposals must evidence clear links to the STFC-funded remit and include a subject matter expert in an STFC-funded remit area.
The Good Business Fund
A grant offered to charities and social enterprises that are passionate about making a positive impact.
Community Climate Action
A programme offering awards and support for early-stage social entrepreneurs taking practical action on climate change within their communities.
Advancing solutions for critical mineral production and recycling
Pump-priming funding to explore, test and validate disruptive solutions for critical mineral extraction, processing, recovery, reprocessing, recycling or re-mining, with the potential to transform UK critical mineral value chains.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about business grants in Northern Ireland