Invest Northern Ireland's Business Innovation Grant has supported 160 micro and SME firms across Northern Ireland, prompting combined investment commitments of £3.6 million in innovation and productivity improvements.

The programme, developed with Innovate NI, opened for applications in November 2024. It targets sole traders, micro-businesses and small-to-medium enterprises, aiming to help them create and bring new products, services or processes to market.

Invest NI allocated £2.3 million in funding to the 160 participating companies. Alison Currie, Chief Development Officer at the economic development agency, said the grant removes financial obstacles and enables more businesses to begin their innovation journeys.

Ballynahinch-based software platform Equipple used the grant to commercialise a parent-teacher meeting scheduling and pupil data management system. Co-founder Stuart Henry said the support allowed the firm to gather customer feedback, attend education technology events and secure early sales in England and the United Arab Emirates.

Other recipients include Derry's Pebble, which gained its first customer after applying in 2024; North Down's MENTupLEADup, which expanded its digital content offering and later received the Department for the Economy Platinum Award for Innovation; and Mid-Ulster's MemoryTell, a health technology company that integrated artificial intelligence and speech-capturing capabilities into its platform.

The programme covers sectors such as digital and creative technologies, advanced manufacturing and life and health sciences.

Applications for the next cohort of the grant remain open until 12 noon on Friday, 4 September.