Type of Support

What type of support is available?

We offer support that covers two stages of project development:

1. Project Definition

Whilst this is not a prerequisite for accessing support under Grant for R&D, small to medium sized enterprises* can undertake a Project Definition exercise to help plan and clearly define an R&D project.  

2. Grant for R&D

If you have already defined an R&D project and can meet the selection criteria, your business can access the appropriate level of financial support under Grant for R&D without undertaking the Project Definition stage. The actual level of funding offered will be at the discretion of Invest NI and will be determined following a comprehensive appraisal and an assessment of need for each individual project. The level of funding will also be dependent on the type of project and size of your business.

Invest NI's Grant for R&D can provide assistance to support:  

Industrial Research: Planned research to acquire new knowledge and skills to develop new (or significantly improve existing) products, processes or services (excluding prototypes).

Experimental Development: Existing knowledge/skills used to plan/design new or improved products, processes or services.

* Small Enterprise: A small enterprise is defined as a business that has fewer than 50 employees and an annual turnover or an annual Balance Sheet not exceeding €10 million.

Medium Sized Enterprise: A medium sized enterprise is defined as an enterprise that has between 50 employees and 249 employees and has either an annual turnover not exceeding €50 million or an annual Balance Sheet not exceeding €43 million.

Large Enterprise: Any company that exceeds the upper limit of the medium sized enterprise is automatically classed as a large enterprise.

Additional Support Available

If you are new to R&D

If your business has never invested in R&D and has fewer than 50 employees you could be eligible for support of up to 75% (max £70,000) of eligible project costs to help your business undertake an R&D project for the first time.  This support is also available for entrepreneurs who want to establish new and innovative businesses with the potential to export to international markets.

If you want to collaborate with other businesses, universities or research bodies

Grant for R&D provides additional assistance for companies wishing to collaborate. Collaborative projects build on effective partnerships between industry, academia and research bodies to promote research that can be commercialised.

Collaboration allows smaller businesses to develop innovative technologies without having to invest in large R&D departments.

If you want your business to collaborate with universities, research bodies or other businesses, you may be eligible for additional support.