Funding
Up to £20,000 toward AI and automation.
The Digital Transformation Flexible Fund covers up to 70% of an eligible AI or automation project for Northern Ireland SMEs. We find the opportunity, write the plan the fund requires, and deliver the technology. You fund as little as 30% of the cost.
The grant
What is the Digital Transformation Flexible Fund?
The DTFF is a Northern Ireland grant from Invest NI and the region's 11 councils. It funds up to 70% of an eligible digital-transformation project, from £5,000 to £20,000. You provide the remaining 30% as match funding.
What qualifies
It funds transformation, not IT as usual
The fund backs genuinely new capability, not everyday IT. It pays for AI, automation and connected technology. It will not pay for websites, hardware or routine software. That line is exactly where most applications go wrong.
What it funds
- Artificial intelligence & machine learning
- Process automation & robotics
- Big data & analytics
- Internet of Things & smart sensors
- Immersive technology (AR / VR)
- Blockchain & distributed ledger
What it will not fund
- Websites, e-commerce & SEO
- Laptops, desktops & printers
- Routine software leasing & maintenance
- Standard CRM systems
- Advertising, social media & content
Where we fit
We turn a good idea into a fundable plan
The fund will not release money without a formal Digital Transformation Plan. That plan is where we earn our place. We scope the project, write the plan, and deliver the technology once you are approved.
Readiness assessment
We confirm your eligibility and find the highest-value opportunity in your business.
Digital Transformation Plan
We scope the project and write the plan the fund requires before it will release money.
Application-ready
We prepare your costings and independent quotes so you can move the moment a call opens.
Delivery
Once you are approved, we build and embed the funded technology into your operations.
We are not the fund. We are the partner who gets you ready for it. Your core managed IT and security are not themselves grant-eligible, but the intelligence you build on top of them often is.
Can you apply
Are you eligible?
Most established SMEs in Northern Ireland can apply, whatever their industry. You need to be trading for over a year, VAT-registered, and under 50 staff. We confirm exactly where you stand before you invest any time.
- Based in Northern Ireland, in one of the 11 council areas
- Between 1 and 49 employees
- VAT-registered, or trading above the VAT threshold
- Trading for at least 12 months
- Under €300,000 of public funding in the last three years
- A genuine AI, automation or analytics project in mind
Primary agriculture, forestry and fisheries apply through separate DAERA schemes rather than the DTFF. If you are unsure where your business sits, we will tell you honestly.
No call is open right now, so now is the time to prepare
The DTFF runs in competitive rounds, and there is no open call for new applications at the moment. The current round is in assessment, with letters of offer due in August 2026.
The programme is in its final phase. A further call is possible but not guaranteed, so if you want to use the fund the smart move is to get application-ready now and be first in line if a window opens.
We keep track of where the fund stands. Ask us for the latest position in your council area and we will tell you honestly whether it is worth pursuing.
Common questions
Can the fund pay for my new website or laptops?
No. The DTFF deliberately excludes websites, hardware and routine software. It funds genuinely new capability: AI, automation and analytics. We help you shape a project that qualifies.
Will you guarantee I get the grant?
No. The fund is competitive and the decision rests with the programme, not with us. Our job is to give you the strongest possible plan and project, so your chances are as high as they can be.
Do I have to pay anything myself?
Yes. The grant covers up to 70% of eligible costs; you fund the remaining 30%, plus VAT. We are upfront about the full cost before you commit to anything.
Is there a call open right now?
Funding opens and closes in rounds through the year. Whether or not one is open today, we get you application-ready so you can act fast. See the current status above.
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 →
Find out if you're fundable
Start with a readiness assessment. We confirm your eligibility and pinpoint the project most likely to win funding, with no obligation.