Invest NI Business Support Update

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Funding & Innovation Support from Invest NI

If you’re a Northern Ireland business looking to grow, innovate, or export, there are several Invest NI and Innovate NI programmes opening over the coming months. Here’s a round-up of what’s available and when to apply.Open Now

Business Innovation Grant (BIG)

Grants of up to £20,000 to help micro and SME businesses in Northern Ireland develop and bring new products, services, or processes to market. Delivered by Invest NI in partnership with Innovate NI.

  • Opens: 10 August 2026
  • Closes: 12:00 noon, Friday 4 September 2026
  • Apply here (link to Business Innovation Grant | Innovate NI)

Opening Soon

Ambition to Grow

For ambitious micro, small, and medium enterprises with the drive to sell outside Northern Ireland. Businesses can access up to £45,000 in funding to accelerate growth, including:

  • Up to £30,000 towards new employment within the business
  • Up to £10,000 for business development activity (market, product, or skills development)
  • £5,000 on completion of an Export Health Check, an Innovate NI Self-Assessment, and two Ambition to Grow workshops
  • Opens: 7 September 2026
  • Closes: 1 October 2026
  • Apply here (link to Ambition to Grow | Invest Northern Ireland)

Groundwork for Growth

Details to be confirmed — check back closer to the opening date.

  • Opens: 12 October 2026
  • Closes: 2 November 2026

Innovation Vouchers

Vouchers worth up to £10,000 connecting businesses with expertise from a public sector knowledge provider (a university or college, NI or ROI) to support an innovation project.

Typical eligible projects include:

  • Developing or improving products, services, business models, or processes
  • Accessing specialist expertise in new materials
  • Tapping into research and scientific expertise

Not eligible: business plans, market research, financial planning, website/app work, marketing and sales activity, training courses, or working with a private sector provider.

Who can apply:

  • Small enterprises/social enterprises/third sector organisations with fewer than 50 employees and turnover or balance sheet under €10 million, or
  • Medium enterprises with 50–249 employees, turnover under €50 million or balance sheet under €43 million, provided they haven’t received Invest NI Grant for R&D support in the past five years
  • Opens: 12 October 2026
  • Closes: 26 October 2026
  • More information (link to Innovation Vouchers | Invest Northern Ireland)

Ambition to Grow – Supporting Women

Details to be confirmed — check back closer to the opening date.

  • Opens: 16 November 2026
  • Closes: 16 December 2026

Later in the Year

Ambition to Grow (next round)

Same programme as above — up to £45,000 for ambitious NI businesses looking to export.

  • Opens: 4 January 2027
  • Closes: 29 January 2027
  • Apply here (link to Ambition to Grow | Invest Northern Ireland)

Innovation Vouchers (next round)

Same criteria and support as above — up to £10,000 to access expertise from a university or college.

  • Opens: 25 January 2027
  • Closes: 12 February 2027
  • More information (link to Innovation Vouchers | Invest Northern Ireland)

Business Innovation Grant (next round)

Same programme as above — up to £20,000 for innovation projects. (Note: confirm the exact closing date/time for this round before publishing.)

  • Opens: 15 February 2027
  • Closes: 12 March 2027