Proof of concept
The Invest NI Proof of Concept (PoC) programme provides grant funding for the pre-commercialisation of leading edge technologies emerging from Northern Ireland’s Research Organisations – Queen’s University Belfast, Ulster University, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute and NHS Health and Social Care Trusts.
Applicants must demonstrate that their ideas have originality and strong commercial potential. Businesses are not eligible for support. The financial assistance provided by the programme helps researchers to export their ideas and inventions from the laboratory to the global market.
Projects can be typically defined as occurring after advances made during curiosity-driven or strategic research. The programme finances projects with strong commercialisation potential and is not another source of research funding.
There are two strands to the funding – a technology strand of up to 18 months duration with maximum assistance of up to £86,500, and a commercialisation strand of up to 24 months duration with maximum assistance of up to £26,000, and this runs in parallel with the technology strand. The grant covers up to 100% of eligible project costs.
Case study | Find out how ProAxis benefited from Proof of Concept support from Invest Northern Ireland
Not sure that this support is right for you? Contact us and we can explore options for your business together.
Our support may be subject to some eligibility criteria.
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