Global funding and support for innovation

Innovate UK Business Growth, formerly known as Innovate UK EDGE, is a free service for innovative small and medium-sized businesses that have the ambition to grow and scale.

In Northern Ireland, the service is run by Invest Northern Ireland in partnership with Innovate UK. The programme complements other innovation support and funding with intensive, specialist-led support for ambitious businesses.

Innovate UK Business Growth advisory support

Through Innovate UK Business Growth, you can get help to:

• exploit innovation, intellectual property, and connections in the UK and abroad
• enter new markets at home and abroad
• access funding and finance and getting investment ready

Once you engage with Innovate UK Business Growth, a dedicated innovation and growth specialist will work closely with your leadership team to gain an intimate understanding of your needs.

They will help you to identify the most effective strategy to accelerate your business' growth, and facilitate access to various global partnering opportunities and focused brokerage events to help you find potential partners and the information you need on markets and sectors.

Programmes delivered by Innovate UK Business Growth

As well as advisory support, Innovate UK Business Growth also delivers a number of programmes on behalf of the UK's innovation agency including:

Global Business Innovation Programme

This programme helps businesses to familiarise themselves with and build partnerships and connections in their target country to maximise their chances of success.

Each Global Business Innovation Programme lasts 9-12 months and supports cohorts of up to 15 businesses through:

• preparing for the market - helping businesses get ready for the market
• visiting the market - usually a week-long visit to a country to gain first-hand experience and to build, strengthen and exploit connections with peers, investors, government and the research community
• exploiting the opportunity - including ongoing support from Innovate UK advisers

The programmes are run on a competitive basis and have previously targeted countries such as the USA, Canada, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, China and countries across Europe. Find out more about the Global Business Innovation Programme.

Global Incubator Programme

This is an acceleration programme for cohorts of 6-8 innovative high-growth and scaling businesses to spend time in world-leading incubators abroad.

The programme uses an intensive four-stage method to tackle the challenges that most companies face when entering global markets. Businesses can explore the potential of specific overseas markets and access world-class mentors and tailored workspaces.

The programme operates in four countries: the USA, Canada, Singapore and India. Find out more about the - Global Incubator Programme.

Further information on Innovate UK Business Growth

Find out more about Innovate UK Business Growth and Innovate UK Business Growth in Northern Ireland or call the Invest NI Business Support Team on Tel 0800 181 4422 to discuss your support options.