Home : Innovation Vouchers Initiative - Invest NI

The April call for Innovation Voucher applications is now closed.

Invest NI launch Innovation Vouchers Initiative

"The greatest opportunity for generating additional wealth for Northern Ireland lies in encouraging our companies to realise that reaching their full potential requires innovation at all levels... By investing in innovation, perhaps for the first time, small businesses can make significant commercial gains and position themselves to exploit opportunities which may not have otherwise been available to them."

Tracy Meharg
Invest NI
Managing Director of Innovation and Capability Development

The Innovation Voucher Initiative is a fund which is open to all Northern Ireland registered small enterprises (companies with fewer than 50 employees and either an annual turnover and/or annual balance sheet total not exceeding €10 Million) to enable them to access expertise from participating Knowledge Providers (universities, further education colleges or publicly funded research bodies) in Northern Ireland (NI) and the Republic of Ireland (ROI).

Small enterprises can apply for Innovation Vouchers, up to a maximum value of £4,000 (€5,000), which they can redeem against the cost of practical advice and expertise on specific operational projects from a range of specialised Knowledge Providers.  The Innovation Voucher allows you to focus on running your business while Knowledge Providers develop solutions to knowledge problems that could take your business to the next level.

Funding for this initiative, which will lead to a cultural shift in the small business community’s approach to innovation, is being provided through the Innovation Fund, announced in January 2008.  The Innovation Voucher initiative was launched in the Republic of Ireland in 2007 and in the Netherlands in 2004, and has already proved successful in both countries.

You can read more about the Innovation Voucher initiative »

Contact

Claire Herron
Innovation Vouchers Programme Manager
Invest NI
Tel: 028 9069 8158

or

Andrew Jebb - Innovation Vouchers Programme Officer

Tel: 028 9069 8402

Email: innovationvouchers@investni.com