Invest NI Grant for R&D
Invest Northern Ireland
What it funds
Supports Northern Ireland businesses at every R&D stage, from feasibility to development — typical intervention 40-50% for SMEs.
Who can apply
Businesses based in Northern Ireland (or planning NI operations) with a defined R&D project carrying technical risk.
Key criteria
- Invest NI clients (Northern Ireland)
- R&D project support
How to apply
Engage an Invest NI adviser; submit project application; rolling assessment.
Evidence you'll need
- R&D project plan
- Cost breakdown
- Accounts
Last checked against the official source: 3 Jul 2026. Scheme parameters are set by the funder and can change — verify before applying, or let us do it for you.
Related schemes
Analysis for Innovators (A4I)
Innovate UK
Periodic programme giving businesses funded access to national measurement laboratories (NPL, LGC, NEL) to solve productivity, quality and measurement problems no commercial lab can crack.
Patent Box
HM Revenue & Customs
Reduces corporation tax to an effective 10% on profits attributable to patented inventions and certain other IP rights.
R&D Tax Relief (Merged Scheme & ERIS)
HM Revenue & Customs
Corporation tax relief on qualifying R&D expenditure. Merged scheme gives a 20% above-the-line credit (~15-16% net); loss-making R&D-intensive SMEs can claim enhanced support (ERIS) worth up to ~27p per £1 of qualifying spend.