Grant for R&D
Are you a large or small business with a technical challenge or innovative idea? The Grant for R&D programme can help bring it to market.
Benefits include:
- Expert Advice: Receive support to plan your R&D project and prepare an application.
- Collaboration (if applicable): Access expertise from businesses, universities, and research institutions, which Invest NI can assist with introductions.
- Grant funding of eligible costs: Includes Internal labour, materials, IP, equipment, trials, consultancy, subcontracting, plus a 15% overhead on labour costs.
- HMRC R&D tax credits may also be available for your supported project. Speak to your accountant or tax advisor or visit HMRC’s online information. Combining Invest Northern Ireland Support with Tax Credits can result in every £1 invested in R&D costing a business just 38p.
This support is available to Invest Northern Ireland clients, which are manufacturing and/or tradeable services businesses with the potential to both:
- achieve at least 25% of sales external to Northern Ireland (or at least £250,000 external sales, whichever is lower)
- employ at least ten staff, within five years
If you can demonstrate that your business meets these criteria, you may be eligible to apply to become an Invest NI client.
If you are unsure of how an R&D project could work or wondering if the payback is worth the effort, then Invest NI offers support for feasibility studies or project planning. We also have a team of Innovation Advisors to assist you through the process, formulate a viable plan and answer any questions.
Invest NI’s Project Definition support offers up to £100,000 towards the cost of planning and defining a project. It helps to reduce a project’s risks and identify its costs and potential benefits.
We can help you to:
- investigate or plan your idea
- develop, build and test a prototype
- experiment and refine your design
- improve / digitally transform processes
- handle intellectual property
- apply for R&D grant funding from other organisations
Our funding can help with:
- scoping, defining and planning an R&D project
- research or critical investigation aimed at producing new scientific or technical knowledge
- product or process development or improvements
- development of leading edge technology
- increasing business productivity
- linking to a college or university to collaborate on strategically important projects
We also run workshops on issues related to research and development and can signpost you to other sources of advice and assistance.
- Invest Northern Ireland