Funding
What grant funding can pay for, and what it can't.
In Northern Ireland, grants help with one-off AI, automation and data projects. They do not pay for everyday IT. Here is what exists, where each scheme stands today, and how we help.
Where things stand right now
Digital Transformation Flexible Fund. No call is open, and none has been announced. The published programme period runs to October 2026.
AI Collaboration Centre. The autumn intake closed early because of demand. The centre says the next intake will open later this year.
E-DATA. Taking businesses now, while places last.
We check each scheme at its source before we advise anyone. Ask us for the latest position and we will tell you plainly whether it is worth pursuing.
The rule of thumb
Grants fund new capability, not running costs
Every Northern Ireland scheme we track excludes ongoing licence fees and subscriptions. So your support contract, your Microsoft 365 licences and Copilot are not grant funded. One-off projects that let your business do something new sometimes are.
What funding can help with
- AI and machine learning projects
- Process automation
- Data and analytics
- Connecting your business systems
- Expert time to explore or test an AI idea
What it will not pay for
- IT support and managed services
- Software licences and subscriptions
- Laptops, desktops and printers
- Websites, e-commerce and SEO
- Cyber Essentials certification
The schemes
Three schemes worth knowing about
Only one of these pays cash. The other two give you expert help at no cost to your business.
Digital Transformation Flexible Fund
Grants of £5,000 to £20,000, covering up to 70% of an AI, automation, data or systems project, excluding VAT. It is for micro and small businesses.
It is funded by the NI Executive, the UK Government, DAERA and the 11 councils, with support from Invest NI.
Source: dtff.co.uk
AI Collaboration Centre
Expert time from Ulster University and Queen's University Belfast to explore an AI idea or test a proof of concept. Eligible NI businesses pay nothing.
It does not pay for licences, equipment or the everyday rollout. That is where we come in.
Source: aicc.co
E-DATA
A digital health check, specialist mentoring, some software and help putting it in place, at no cost to the business.
It is run by Ulster University and partners under PEACEPLUS, and covers all of Northern Ireland and the border counties.
Source: e-data.ai
If a DTFF call opens
Would you be eligible?
The fund has strict rules. If you meet all of these, it is worth being ready.
- Based in Northern Ireland, in one of the 11 council areas
- Between 1 and 49 employees
- VAT-registered
- Trading for at least 12 months
- Not owned by a parent company
- Under €300,000 of public funding in the last three years
- Able to pay for the project in full, then claim the grant back
- A genuine AI, automation or data project in mind
Primary agriculture, forestry and fisheries apply through separate DAERA schemes. VAT-exempt businesses trading above the threshold may apply with evidence. If you are unsure where your business sits, we will tell you.
Where we fit
We help you spend the money well
We are not the fund and we do not decide who gets support. We help you find a project worth doing, shape it to the rules, and deliver it.
A straight answer
We tell you which scheme fits your project, if any does.
A project that fits
We scope one-off AI or automation work that sits inside the scheme's rules.
Specification and quote
We provide the technical detail and the quotation an application asks for.
Delivery
We build it, secure it and support it day to day.
Your managed IT and security are not grant funded. The intelligence you build on top of them sometimes is. See AI for business.
Common questions
Can a grant pay for my IT support or Microsoft 365 licences?
No. Ongoing support, licences and subscriptions are excluded from every Northern Ireland scheme we track. Funding helps with one-off projects, such as AI and automation.
Can it pay for a new website or laptops?
Not through the DTFF, which excludes websites, e-commerce and IT equipment. Other schemes open and close through the year, so ask us and we will check.
Is Cyber Essentials grant funded?
No national scheme pays for Cyber Essentials certification. The fee is set by IASME and depends on your size. See what certification involves →
Is a DTFF call open right now?
No. No call is open and none has been announced. We will not tell you one is coming, and we will tell you if that changes.
Do I have to pay anything myself?
Yes. The DTFF covers up to 70% of eligible costs. You fund the rest, plus VAT. You also pay for the project in full first and claim the grant afterwards.
Will you guarantee I get a grant?
No. Funding is competitive and the decision rests with the scheme, not with us. Our job is to make sure the project is worth doing either way.
Do you only help accountancy, recruitment and manufacturing firms?
No. Those are our deepest specialisms, but we support office-based SMEs of every kind across Northern Ireland. Talk to us about your business →
Not sure if your project is fundable?
Book a discovery session. We will tell you whether any current scheme fits, and what the project would cost without one, with no obligation.