.svg){kind=small}
.webp)
There's money on the table for Northern Ireland businesses that want to adopt AI. Real money — grants, subsidised partnerships, tax relief. The problem? Most people don't know it exists, and the ones who do often get lost in the application process.
This is a practical guide to the grants, funding programmes, and financial support available for AI adoption in Northern Ireland in 2026. No fluff, no jargon — just what's available, who qualifies, and how to actually get it.
Amount: Up to £5,000
Who qualifies: NI-based SMEs with fewer than 250 employees
What it covers: Working with a university or approved knowledge provider on an innovation project — including AI implementation, automation feasibility studies, and proof-of-concept builds.
This is probably the easiest grant to access for AI work in Northern Ireland. The application is straightforward, and the turnaround is relatively quick compared to other programmes. You can use it to partner with Queen's University Belfast, Ulster University, or other approved providers to scope out an AI project for your business.
How to apply: Through the Invest NI website. You'll need to describe the business challenge and how working with a knowledge provider will help solve it. Tip: be specific about the workflow you want to improve. "We want to explore AI" won't get funded. "We want to reduce proposal turnaround time by 50% using AI automation" will.
Amount: Varies — typically covers a percentage of eligible project costs
Who qualifies: NI businesses developing new products, processes, or services
What it covers: Prototyping, proof-of-concept development, and R&D — including building AI tools or integrating AI into existing products.
This is a step up from Innovation Vouchers. If you've already validated that AI can help your business and now want to build something more substantial — a custom automation system, an AI-powered customer service tool, a data pipeline — this programme can help cover development costs. The application requires more detail than a voucher, but the funding is more substantial too.
Amount: The majority of costs covered by Innovate UK (typically 60–75%)
Who qualifies: Any UK business partnering with a university
What it covers: Hiring a graduate associate for 12–36 months to work on an AI or innovation project in your business, supervised by an academic team.
KTPs are one of the best-kept secrets in UK business support. You get a dedicated person focused on your AI project, with academic backing and most of the cost covered by government. For a Northern Ireland SME, this can mean getting a skilled AI practitioner working in your business for a fraction of the usual salary cost.
Both Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University actively run KTPs and have teams dedicated to matching businesses with the right graduates and supervisors. Contact their business engagement offices to start the conversation — they'll walk you through the process.
Amount: £25,000–£500,000
Who qualifies: UK-registered businesses with innovative projects
What it covers: Ambitious, innovative R&D projects — including AI-driven products and services.
Smart Grants are competitive and the application process is more involved, but the funding is substantial. If you're building an AI product (not just adopting existing tools), this is worth pursuing. Applications open quarterly, and the success rate varies — but a well-structured application with clear commercial potential has a solid chance. Having an AI consultancy help you define the technical approach can strengthen your application significantly.
Amount: Varies by competition
Who qualifies: UK businesses solving specific public sector challenges
What it covers: Developing innovative solutions for government departments — many recent briefs specifically mention AI, automation, and data-driven decision making.
SBRI competitions are published regularly on the Innovate UK website. If your AI solution could serve the public sector — healthcare, education, justice, local government — keep an eye on these. They provide development funding and, crucially, a potential first customer in the form of a government department.
Several Northern Ireland councils now offer business support that covers digital and AI adoption. This is often overlooked, but it's worth a phone call.
Business support programmes including digital transformation vouchers and startup support. Blue Canvas is based in Derry, and we've seen local businesses successfully access council support for AI-related projects. The amounts are smaller — typically hundreds to low thousands — but the barrier to entry is low and the turnaround is fast. Contact their business development team directly.
Innovation Factory and various enterprise programmes support digital adoption for Belfast-based businesses. They also run events and workshops on emerging technology that are worth attending for the connections alone.
A network of enterprise agencies across Northern Ireland that provides mentoring, workspace, and access to small-scale funding. They're increasingly aware of AI as a business priority and can often point you to the right programmes even if they don't fund directly.
If you're in manufacturing, the Made Smarter programme provides grants and support for adopting digital technologies including AI, IoT, and robotics. Originally launched in England, it's expanding and worth checking if your sector qualifies.
This is the one most businesses miss. If you're developing AI solutions or significantly customising AI tools for your business, you may qualify for R&D tax relief. This can be worth 20–33% of qualifying expenditure. Talk to your accountant — many businesses leave thousands on the table simply because they don't realise their AI work qualifies.
Having helped businesses across Northern Ireland apply for and win these grants, here's what we've learned at Blue Canvas:
"We want to use AI" is not a grant application. "We want to reduce our proposal writing time by 60% using AI automation, saving 15 hours per week and allowing us to serve 30% more clients" is. Funders want to see a clear business problem, a clear plan to solve it, and measurable outcomes.
Quantify everything you can. Hours saved, revenue potential, jobs created or protected, customers served. Real numbers from real workflows beat vague projections every time.
Applications that show you've already done some groundwork — even basic experimentation with AI tools — are significantly stronger than pure concept-stage pitches. Try the tools, document your initial results, then apply for funding to scale what's already working.
Invest NI has advisors who can help you shape your application. Use them — it's free. Council enterprise officers can also review drafts. And if you're working with an AI consultancy like Blue Canvas, we can help you articulate the technical approach and expected outcomes in language that resonates with funders.
There's more support available than most NI businesses realise. The key is being specific about what you want to achieve, persistent about finding the right programme, and willing to put in the work on a solid application. The money's there — you just need to go and get it.
Blue Canvas is an AI consultancy based in Derry, Northern Ireland. We help businesses identify the right AI opportunities and build the case for funding — from Innovation Vouchers to KTPs and beyond.
Book your free 15-minute consultation →
We'll help you figure out which grants fit your business and how to put together a strong application.
It’s time to paint your business’s future with Blue Canvas. Don’t get left behind in the AI revolution. Unlock efficiency, elevate your sales, and drive new revenue with our help.
Book your free 15-minute consultation and discover how a top AI consultancy UK businesses trust can deliver game-changing results for you.
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg)
