Grant for R&D

This support is available to Invest Northern Ireland customers.

SMEs can apply for up to £100,000 in grant support, covering up to 70% of their project costs. To qualify for the 70% support rate, SMEs must not have received the Grant for R&D or exceeded De Minimis aid limits in the last three years. The project must not have commenced before the confirmation of Invest NI support. 

Invest NI also welcomes new project applications from large companies and companies previously supported with the Grant for R&D in the last three years.

If your business can show that it intends to sell outside Northern Ireland, is actively pursuing growth plans and will contribute to increasing productivity and innovation in Northern Ireland, you could become a customer with Invest NI.

The criteria for Invest NI customers is:

• actual turnover >= £250,000
• actual external sales >= 25 per cent or £250,000 per annum
• growth potential

Growth potential is defined by Invest NI as:

• potential employment growth >= 20 per cent or >= 20 jobs within three years; or
• potential external sales growth >=20 per cent or >= £500,000 within three years; or
• potential increase in GVA / employee >= 20 per cent within three years