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
EPSRC Strategic Infrastructure outlines: September 2026
Apply for funding to purchase strategic infrastructure (equipment, resources or both). The funding seeks to improve UK scientific capability and enable cutting-edge research that aligns with national priorities, including those within the UKRI strategy and EPSRC Strategic Delivery Plan.
The LoveReading4Kids Funding for Schools Scheme
A grant scheme providing credit for state-funded UK schools to purchase books aimed at promoting reading for pleasure and boosting school libraries.
Connecting Communities Grant Funding
Offers funding to support capital projects that upgrade local spaces, reduce social isolation, bring communities together, and ensure vital local services remain accessible.
UK Games Fund (Content Fund)
Commercial games-for-entertainment content grants designed to support UK-based games development studios, drive growth, build talent, and develop skills across the creative sectors.
Ultra-Long Duration Energy Storage (Ultra-LDES) Challenge
A challenge providing grants to support the development of next-generation energy storage technologies, including advanced batteries and underground hydrogen storage, capable of supplying clean electricity for 100 hours or more.
Pre-announcement: Open-source semiconductor security platform development
Funding to support the development of an open-source hardware security research platform to strengthen the UK’s capability to design, test and assure secure hardware.
Addington Fund Emergency Forage and Bedding Support
Emergency support providing forage and bedding to help farmers whose livestock are suffering the effects of extreme weather events or emergency situations beyond their control.
Capital Grants 2026
Capital Grants are 3-year agreements offering capital items to achieve specific environmental benefits across six groups: boundaries, trees and orchards; improved water quality; improved air quality; improved natural flood management; assessments; and improvements.
EPSRC new investigator award: applicant-led mode
Apply for funding to support your transition to research independence by presenting and developing a strong independent research vision and leading a project team.
BBSRC Brazil pump-priming award (FAPPA)
Pump-priming awards supported by BBSRC and FAPESP for BBSRC-supported researchers and consortia of academics to collaborate with Brazilian counterparts.
Sector Bodies Programme (Music Growth Package)
Supports music industry sector bodies to deliver activities that help the specific subsectors of the music industry they represent to develop their workforce and/or grow their businesses.
Knowledge Transfer Partnership
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) are open to businesses, research organisations, and graduates to work on an innovation project. Partnerships last between 12 and 36 months, with funding provided to support the total cost of the project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about business grants in Northern Ireland