SummaryRates of assistance

Category of R&DCompany sizeCollaboration

Eligible CostsProject definition & “New to R&D”Boosting BusinessInnovation VouchersTDI

Grant for R&DFunding for Invest NI clients and potential clients

Support for technically risky projects

Ideas must be exploitable

Support for future work - not retrospective

Needs match funding

Discretionary - subject to Invest NI decision

Categories Supported

Project Definition - Awards up to £50k

New to R&D - Awards up to £70k

R&D Projects - Awards up to £250k - Awards greater than £250k

Project DefinitionMaximum Rates of Assistance

Maximum support £50k

SME’s Large Business

Experimental Development 50% 40%

Industrial Research 75% 65%

New to R&DTo stimulate the creation of new, innovative

businesses and to help existing small businesses embark on an R&D project for the first time

Less than 50 employeesNo IRTD contact (last 5 years)Open to non INI clients & individuals (with

potential to export)Up to 75% support limited to £70,000

Grant for R&D – Experimental Development

Typical Rates of SupportCompany Size

Small Medium Large

Experimental Development

40% 35% 20%

Collaborative bonus (+15%)

55% 50% 35%

Grant for R&D – Industrial Research

Typical Rates of Support

Company Size

Small Medium Large

Industrial Research

55% 45% 30%

Collaborative bonus

70% 60% 45%

Grant for R&D – Eligible Costs Salaries Consultancy Sub-contracting Equipment Depreciation Trials & Testing Intellectual Property Other:

- Materials- Travel & Subsistence- Miscellaneous

Invest NI’s Principles of Intervention

AdditionalityMobilityDisplacementViabilityRiskEconomic Efficiency

(Regional & wider economic benefits)

Project Level of InnovationTechnical Risk and R&D ChallengePotential to create IPRExploitation PotentialCompany & Economic Benefits

Aspects of Successful Applications

Company / Applicant Management Ability & Staff Expertise Additionality Viability Track Record

Designed to help yourBusiness defy the downturn

Boosting R&D in SMEs• New to R&D – Small companies only

• Up to 75% grant assistance• Max £50k*

• Existing R&D Clients – Small and Medium companies

• Up to 45%• Max £50k

• Mainstream Grant for R&D will continue to cater for Large companies and for SMEs with projects over £50k.

Boosting R&D in SMEs – What’s New?

• Streamlined Process - simplified application and appraisal routes

• Faster turnaround times

• Mainstream Grant for R&D applications will continue to be processed on an ongoing basis in line with existing application /appraisal/ approval procedures

Innovation Vouchers

• £4000 voucher to encourage SMEs* to engage with a Knowledge Provider to develop an innovative solution to a business issue

• Companies can apply for up to 3 vouchers for different projects but may only have 1 ‘live’ voucher at a time. Incentive in place to encourage use of different Knowledge Providers

• Pooled voucher option for collaborative projects (up to 10 companies)

*Transport and Agriculture excluded

Medium-sized companies in receipt of Invest NI Grant for R&D in past 5 years excluded

Knowledge Providers

• 41 public sector Knowledge Providers throughout Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland

• Universities, Colleges, Institutes of Technology and other research bodies, e.g. Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute

• Full list of Knowledge Providers and initial point of contact for innovation vouchers at www.innovationvouchers.com

• The company chooses which Knowledge Provider to use

• Knowledge Provider draws up terms of reference for the project - to be agreed by company and Invest NI prior to work commencing

How to apply

• Company completes application form – available at www.innovationvouchers.com

• Straightforward application process- Company Profile- Issue/problem to be solved- Skills required to address the issue- Outputs for the company as a result of the project

• Next calls – October 2012 and February 2013

TDI - What is it?

• Investigating new technologies or processes

• Product & process problem resolution

• Product approval & compliance

• Process & quality management scheme

• Intellectual Property

• Improved product design & performance

Support Levels

Projects: £1,000 – £ 15,000Rate: Normally 50%Cap: £5,000Company Size: <250 employees

For product type approval/certification involving a significant export dimension, project costs up to £25,000 will be considered with a maximum grant of £10,000 available.