About Innovate+

Innovate+ is a fully funded programme supporting small and medium-sized businesses across Northern Ireland and the border counties to improve how they operate, try new approaches and grow in a more sustainable way.

The programme brings together a cross-border partnership of universities and innovation organisations to provide practical, hands-on support tailored to your business. Whether you want to improve processes, explore new technologies or develop new products, Innovate+ is designed to help you move forward with confidence.

Why Innovate+?

Many SMEs find it difficult to introduce new technologies, improve productivity or keep up with changing regulations and sustainability requirements.

Innovate+ has been developed to make this easier by offering practical support that fits around the day-to-day realities of running a business. The focus is on helping you make changes that deliver real results.

What makes Innovate+ different?

  • Open to businesses across all sectors

  • Focused on practical support, not just theory

  • Support tailored to your business

  • Access to expertise from leading universities

  • Opportunities to work with students on real business challenges

  • Cross-border networking and collaboration advantage

Innovate+ is designed with SMEs in mind:

What you can get from Innovate+

  • Innovation audit

  • A bespoke Innovation Management Plan

  • Workshops and training programmes

  • Access to expert advice and support

  • Student placements to support innovation projects

  • Opportunities to collaborate with other businesses

Through Innovate+, SMEs can access:

For more detail on the supports available, visit the Support section.

Who it’s for

Innovate+ is open to small and medium-sized businesses across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. (Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth).

The programme is open to businesses in all sectors, from manufacturing and tourism to retail, professional services, agri-food and the creative industries.

It doesn’t matter whether you are just starting your digital tools or already developing new products, services or processes, the programme offers a practical support to help you take the next step. It is free to join and open to SMEs at any stage of their innovation journey.

A cross border programme

Innovate+ brings together businesses from across Northern Ireland and the border counties, creating opportunities to connect, share ideas and explore new markets.

This approach helps businesses learn from each other and build stronger links across the region.

Innovate+ is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

PEACEPLUS is co-funded by the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom, the Northern Ireland Executive and the Government of Ireland.

Innovate+ is delivered by a cross-border partnership including