Digital & tech grants in Northern Ireland
Grants for software, AI, websites and automation open to businesses in Northern Ireland, including proof-of-concept funds for new tech companies.
- 2 open or opening soon
- Every scheme links to its funder
- Free supplier quotes in 72 hours
Find your grant
Northern Ireland has some of the UK’s best-known early-stage tech grants. Techstart NI runs proof-of-concept competitions for founders with an idea or a first prototype, and Invest NI supports established businesses that want to grow or export.
Proof-of-concept grants are paid in competitive rounds with fixed closing dates, so timing matters. Most ask what the money will be spent on, and a supplier quote is a common way to show that for a software or app build.
The schemes below are open to businesses based in Northern Ireland, with the closing date where the funder has published one.
Updated
How far along are you?
What do you want to build?
2 schemes open or opening soon
Concept Plus Grant (Techstart)
Techstart Ventures (funded by Invest Northern Ireland)WhereNorthern IrelandFundingUp to £30,000OpenCloses 13 Oct 20261 day left
Proof-of-concept grant for Northern Ireland founders with a novel idea, covering prototype development, market validation and independent third-party supplier costs. The current round closes at 5pm on 13 October 2026.
Who can apply
- Principal applicant resident in NI; limited companies registered in NI
- Sole traders, partnerships or limited companies; CICs and social enterprises not considered
- Applicant must be the founder (for limited companies, a director and majority or equal shareholder)
- Must have a novel concept (tech or non-tech)
- University-owned companies or IP not eligible
- No more than two unsuccessful applications in the 2025-2030 fund period
- Paid in arrears against invoices; Innovate NI Assessment required before drawdown
What it pays for
- Concept or prototype development
- Market research, e.g. domain expert consultancy and relevant events
- Market validation and market testing with potential customers
- Software subscriptions, cloud infrastructure, AI and productivity tools, development platforms
- Assessment of uniqueness of IP
- Independent third-party suppliers (completely independent of the applicant; no geographic restriction)
- Own costs for limited companies (max 30% of the grant, £200/day) with a clear output
What it won’t pay for
- Company registration and IP protection costs
- Product development beyond the core product; marketing and costs of selling
- Costs before the award or outside the agreed project timeframe
- VAT if you are VAT registered
- Tablets, laptops, trading stock and rent
- Admin or project management time, and subsistence
How to apply
- Complete the online application form on techstartgrants.com by 5pm on 13 Oct 2026.
- Eligible applicants are invited to a remote pitch session with Techstart (weeks commencing 9 and 16 Nov 2026).
- Applications and pitches are reviewed and decisions made.
- If successful, agree an expenditure plan with Techstart and provide the corresponding quotations.
- A Letter of Offer is issued; complete the Innovate NI Assessment before drawing down any grant.
What the quotes must show
- At application, outline independent third-party costs and provide quotes where possible
- If successful, quotations matching the agreed expenditure plan are required
- Supplier must be completely independent of the applicant (no relationship or directorship)
- Changes to agreed expenditure must be approved by Techstart in writing in advance
- Funding
- Up to £30,000
- Covers
- Can cover the full cost
- Applications
- Closes 13 October 2026
- Supplier quote
- Where possible at application
- Last checked
- 11 October 2026
The Regional Innovation Challenge (Techstart Concept Grant)
Techstart Ventures (funded by Invest Northern Ireland)WhereNorthern IrelandFundingUp to £15,000Opening soonExpected summer 2027
Proof-of-concept grant for Northern Ireland founders with novel business ideas, supported by local innovation hubs. Techstart lists the next opening as summer 2027.
Who can apply
- Principal applicant resident in NI; limited companies registered in NI
- Sole traders, partnerships or limited companies; CICs and social enterprises not considered
- Applicant must be the founder (for limited companies, a director and majority or equal shareholder)
- Must have a novel concept (tech or non-tech)
- University-owned companies or IP not eligible
- No more than two unsuccessful applications in the 2025-2030 fund period
- Paid in arrears against invoices; Innovate NI Assessment required before drawdown
- Held once per year
What it pays for
- Concept or prototype development
- Market research, e.g. domain expert consultancy and relevant events
- Market validation and market testing with potential customers
- Software subscriptions, cloud infrastructure, AI and productivity tools, development platforms
- Assessment of uniqueness of IP
- Independent third-party suppliers (completely independent of the applicant; no geographic restriction)
- Own costs for limited companies (max 30% of the grant, £200/day) with a clear output
What it won’t pay for
- Company registration and IP protection costs
- Product development beyond the core product; marketing and costs of selling
- Costs before the award or outside the agreed project timeframe
- VAT if you are VAT registered
- Tablets, laptops, trading stock and rent
- Admin or project management time, and subsistence
How to apply
- When the competition opens, complete the online application form on techstartgrants.com by the closing date.
- Eligible applicants are invited to a short pitch and Q&A session with Techstart.
- If successful, agree an expenditure plan with Techstart and provide the corresponding quotations.
- A Letter of Offer is issued; complete the Innovate NI Assessment before drawing down any grant.
What the quotes must show
- At application, outline independent third-party costs and provide quotes where possible
- If successful, quotations matching the agreed expenditure plan are required
- Supplier must be completely independent of the applicant (no relationship or directorship)
- Changes to agreed expenditure must be approved by Techstart in writing in advance
- Funding
- Up to £15,000
- Covers
- Can cover the full cost
- Applications
- Expected summer 2027
- Supplier quote
- Where possible at application
- Last checked
- 11 October 2026
ZeroPixel isn’t connected to any funder. Amounts, deadlines and rules change, so check the official page before you apply. The funder decides who gets funding.
Compare the schemes
Every open and upcoming scheme on one table. The share of costs is the most a grant will pay towards your project, and you fund the rest. Select a scheme to see its details.
| Scheme | Where | Funding | Share of costs | Stage | Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concept Plus Grant (Techstart)Techstart Ventures (funded by Invest Northern Ireland) | Northern Ireland | Up to £30,000 | Up to 100% | Just an idea, Working prototype | OpenCloses 13 Oct 2026 |
| The Regional Innovation Challenge (Techstart Concept Grant)Techstart Ventures (funded by Invest Northern Ireland) | Northern Ireland | Up to £15,000 | Up to 100% | Just an idea, Working prototype | Opening soonExpected summer 2027 |
Dates to know
The openings and deadlines funders have published for the next twelve months, month by month.
October 2026
- Concept Plus Grant (Techstart)Northern IrelandCloses
How many quotes each grant asks for
Some funders want more than one quote so they can compare prices. We write one. If your grant asks for more, the others have to come from other suppliers.
| Scheme | Where | Quotes needed |
|---|---|---|
| Concept Plus Grant (Techstart)Techstart Ventures (funded by Invest Northern Ireland) | Northern Ireland | Where possible at application |
| The Regional Innovation Challenge (Techstart Concept Grant)Techstart Ventures (funded by Invest Northern Ireland) | Northern Ireland | Where possible at application |
Grants by nation and project
The same list, narrowed to where your business is or what you want to build, each with its own introduction.
Need a supplier quote?
Tell us about the project and the grant you’re applying for. You’ll have a fixed-price, grant-ready quote within 72 hours, free.