Funding
Find grants, finance and funded programmes relevant to your business and location.
65 funding opportunities for manufacturers in Northern Ireland
Includes UK-wide funding available to businesses in your region.
Invest NI
Discretionary R&D grant from Invest NI for Northern Ireland-based businesses undertaking industrial research or experimental development. Intervention rates and award sizes set case-by-case under UK subsidy control rules. Relationship-led: most successful applicants engage with an Invest NI client executive before applying.
Invest NI
Invest NI Selective Financial Assistance (SFA) is a discretionary capital grant for projects in Northern Ireland that create or safeguard quality jobs, typically tied to capex, R&D or productivity investment. Amount and intensity are negotiated case-by-case and depend on additionality, job quality, location and projected GVA. Best suited to NI-based manufacturers and tradeable-services companies committing to significant matched investment. Most SFA-supported projects follow earlier Invest NI R&D, voucher or advisory engagement.
Invest NI
Invest NI co-funding for skills development tied to a NI business growth plan. Co-investment programme supporting NI businesses to grow capability through training and skills development linked to growth plans. It is aimed at NI businesses investing in capability uplift to support growth. Eligibility typically requires Northern Ireland businesses with a credible growth plan and committed training investment. Application: Via an Invest NI client executive.
A searchable database that can help you find publicly-funded sources of business assistance that you may be eligible to apply for.
Innovate UK
Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (aKT) is a UK funding programme. UK businesses partnering with an academic to deliver a 4-month feasibility-style KTP. Funding: Up to £35k. SMEs accessing rapid academic feasibility support. It is published as a standard listing — verify current rounds and full criteria on the official source before applying.
Advanced Propulsion Centre UK
Advanced Propulsion Centre Collaborative R&D is a UK funding programme. UK automotive supply chain consortia developing low-carbon propulsion technologies. Funding: £5m–£25m typical. UK automotive R&D consortia. It is published as a standard listing — verify current rounds and full criteria on the official source before applying.
Advanced Propulsion Centre
Funding for low-carbon automotive R&D. Funding competitions supporting R&D in low-carbon automotive propulsion and zero-emission vehicle technologies in the UK. It is aimed at Automotive R&D collaborations. Eligibility typically requires UK-based automotive supply chain R&D projects. Competition-specific criteria. Application: Competition rounds.
Offers funding for civil aerospace research and technology development in the UK.
Funding for research and technology development to maintain and grow the UK’s competitive positions in civil aerospace.
Aerospace Technology Institute
The Aerospace Technology Institute programme is a long-running UK aerospace R&D fund jointly delivered by DBT, Innovate UK, and the ATI. It funds substantial, multi-year, industry-led collaborative R&D projects aligned with the ATI's published technology strategy — typically zero-carbon flight, advanced systems, structures, and propulsion. Project costs commonly run from low millions to tens of millions; intervention rates follow standard subsidy control rules. Not appropriate for early-stage start-ups working in isolation or projects with no clear path to a UK aerospace supply chain.
Aerospace Technology Institute
The Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme co-invests with industry in UK civil aerospace R&D, with delivery in partnership with DBT and Innovate UK. Funding supports collaborative research projects from technology development through to demonstrator stages. A long-term UK government–industry co-investment in civil aerospace R&D. Eligibility typically requires UK aerospace businesses and academic partners with qualifying collaborative R&D projects. Funding is typically Match-funded aerospace R&D grants.
Advanced Propulsion Centre UK
Automotive Transformation Fund is a UK funding programme. UK strategic investments in electric vehicle supply chains: battery, motor, hydrogen and power electronics gigaprojects. Funding: Multi-million capital. Strategic UK EV supply-chain investors. It is published as a standard listing — verify current rounds and full criteria on the official source before applying.
Free, quick and easy access to a directory of approved finance suppliers for UK businesses.
BGF (Business Growth Fund)
BGF Growth Capital is a UK funding programme. UK and Irish SMEs with turnover £1m+ raising minority growth equity (£1m–£15m initially). Funding: £1m–£15m. Profitable UK SMEs raising £1m–£15m minority equity. It is published as a standard listing — verify current rounds and full criteria on the official source before applying.
British Design Fund
Equity and mentoring for UK product design startups. Private investor-led fund providing equity investment and mentoring for UK product design and manufacturing startups. It is aimed at UK product design/manufacturing startups. Eligibility typically requires UK product/design-led startups seeking equity investment. Selection criteria apply. Application: Cohort intakes.
Centre for Process Innovation
Centre for Process Innovation — Open Calls is a UK funding programme. UK process manufacturers accessing CPI capability via Innovate UK competition and CPI-led projects. Funding: Project-dependent. UK process and biotech manufacturers. It is published as a standard listing — verify current rounds and full criteria on the official source before applying.
Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult
Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult Open Calls is a UK funding programme. UK companies developing applications of compound semiconductor technology. Funding: Varies. CS-application SMEs prototyping next-generation electronics. It is published as a standard listing — verify current rounds and full criteria on the official source before applying.
Capital and R&D funding for the UK automotive industry in the design, development and manufacturing of zero-emission vehicles and their supply chain.
Showing 1–18 of 65 opportunities
