Digital Transformation Flexible Fund

Summary:

Funding for Northern Ireland-based micro and small businesses to invest in advanced digital technologies.

Eligibility criteria:

Applicants must:

be based in Northern Ireland and within one of the 11 council areas
be a small (10-49 employees) or micro business (1-9 employees)
be VAT registered
have been trading for at least twelve months
have a Digital Transformation Plan or equivalent
have a project centred on one or more of the six advanced technologies in scope

The Digital Transformation Flexible Fund (DTFF) is open to all sectors except primary agriculture, forestry, and fisheries.

Additional information:

DTFF grants are worth between £5,000 and £20,000 for an investment project. If eligible, the grant can fund up to 70% of the project's total value.

All DTFF-supported projects will require a matched co-investment from applicant companies at a minimum of 30% of the overall project costs.

The DTFF is delivered by all local authorities in Northern Ireland under the Full Fibre Northern Ireland Consortium and supported by Invest Northern Ireland. The project is part-funded by the NI Executive, the UK Government, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and all local councils in Northern Ireland.

Find out more about the DTFF

Read the full DTFF applicant guidance for a detailed overview of the programme, eligibility and how to apply.

DTFF funding is available through calls. The next call (call 4) is due to open in March 2025.

Expressions of Interest

You can submit an Expression of Interest (EoI) ahead of the official call window, to register your interest in applying.

The deadline for EoI submissions is midday, 14 March 2025.

Submitting an EoI does not guarantee funding but ensures you receive updates and can prepare ahead of the call 4 opening.

Call 4 pre-briefing sessions

Potential applicants can join pre-briefing sessions between 17 and 28 February 2025 to learn more about the DTFF. Two sessions will be hosted online; the rest will take place in person across all Northern Ireland council areas. See the full schedule of the DTFF call 4 pre-briefing sessions. These sessions will help you navigate the funding process and strengthen your application.

You can also catch up on webinars from the William J. Clinton Leadership Institute for more insights on key DTFF topics and funding.

Go Succeed mentoring for businesses interested in DTFF

DTFF has partnered with Go Succeed to offer specialist mentoring support to businesses embracing digital transformation.

Mentors will help with various aspects, including DTFF applications, technology adoption, funding opportunities, staff training, digital strategy, tool integration, vendor selection, industry trends, and scaling new technologies. Up to 15 hours of support is available.

Apply for Go Succeed Digital Transformation mentoring support.