Digital Transformation Programme for NI Small Businesses to Open Third Funding Call

Funding is available for small and micro businesses in Northern Ireland to help accelerate their digital transformation ambitions.

The Digital Transformation Flexible Fund (DTFF) is a demand led grant scheme that will provide up to £7.5 million of funding for businesses to invest in advanced digital technologies and capital equipment. It is underpinned by funding from the City and Growth Deal Complementary Fund, DAERA and the Derry and Strabane Growth Deal.

The programme seeks to fund projects in the following technology areas:

• Smart technologies/smart environments, the Internet of Things (IoT) and simulation.
• Process automation via robotics/cobotics, additive manufacturing.
• Big-data and analytics.
• Immersive Technologies (AR/VR/MR/Haptics).
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning.
• Horizontal and vertical system integration, distributed ledger systems/blockchain technologies.

Grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 are available, to fund up to 70% of total project costs. To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be VAT registered.
• Have been trading for at least twelve months.
• Have less than 50 FTEs.
• Have a Digital Transformation Plan or equivalent.

Applications can be for either one technology solution or a bundle of solutions, providing the project is within the grant cap.