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
Farmer Collaboration Fund
Supports farmers, land managers and growers to manage land productively and sustainably while funding the costs of running collaboration groups and accessing expert advice.
Farming Futures R&D fund: Automation and Robotics Round 2
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £20 million to develop innovative solutions for automation and robotics in agriculture, horticulture and forestry.
Connecting Culture Fund
Apply for funding to enhance research culture at your BBSRC strategically supported institutes. This invitation-only funding opportunity requires strategically funded institutes to lead or co-lead the application, while other eligible research organisations can be involved as project partners or collaborators.
Funding opportunity: Ultra long duration energy storage project development studies
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £3 million for project development studies to support the development of ultra long duration battery energy storage demonstrators in the UK.
Advanced manufacturing: measurement and sensing pilot
To support high potential businesses developing a technology, product or service in measurement, instrumentation or sensing for UK manufacturing.
Financial Futures Fund
A grant fund that works in partnership with organisations to improve financial resilience and fund long-term solutions that help people feel more secure, confident, and in control of their financial future.
EPSRC Strategic Infrastructure 2026 (invite only)
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 UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) strategy and EPSRC Strategic Delivery Plan.
Enterprise Nation Next Generation Grant
A grant giving an aspiring young entrepreneur aged between 18 and 24 the opportunity to turn their business dream into reality with grant funding and mentoring sessions.
Hospitality Support Fund - Round 1 (2026–27)
Grant funding for organisations that support UK hospitality, aiming to support employment, business resilience, thriving local places, and sustainable growth across the sector.
Future computing paradigms Network Plus
Opportunity to build a multidisciplinary Network Plus that will initiate UK collaboration in future computing paradigms and provide evidence-based recommendations for UKRI and government, shaping national research priorities. Project can last up to 60 months, comprising 18 months to map, benchmark and horizon scan, incorporating sociotechnical and socioeconomic analysis followed by a 42-month network phase.
Medicines Manufacturing Data Institute: Phase 1
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £500,000 for a phase 1 project to establish the Medicines Manufacturing Data Institute (MMDI).
Farming Innovation Programme: Small R&D Partnership Projects Round 5
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £13 million for small R&D partnership projects. This funding is from the industry led R&D Partnerships Fund, a part of the Defra Farming Innovation Programme.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about business grants in Northern Ireland