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North/South Collaboration Opportunities
Pilot Programme
InterTradeIreland's cross-border Business Explorer programme aims to connect and help businesses throughout Ireland to innovate, collaborate and attract investment. This unique programme facilitates North/South collaboration that will accelerate economic growth, providing a pathway of funded support to explore, plan and implement innovative business solutions through knowledge transfer.
Academics from Ulster University will have the opportunity to work with companies from the Republic of Ireland.
Details on how to register can be found below.
Business Explorer Pathway
The Business Explorer pathway is provided over two programmes, Explore and Plan.
Investigate a problem or new idea
Funding: £5,000/€5,800 + VAT
Project to be completed over five days, lasting no more than one month.
A business can explore solutions for up to three technical business challenges through the Business Explorer Explore programme, up to £15k of funding.
Take findings and develop a plan to implement
Funding: £20,000/€23,200 + VAT
Project to be completed over 18 days in no less than three months and no more than six months.
A business can develop implementation plans for up to two technical business challenges through Business Explorer Plan programme, up to £40k of funding. (If they do not meet criteria for Innovation Boost, they can develop plans for up to three technical business challenges, up to £60k of funding).
Possible Areas of Support for Companies
With innovation at the core, below is a list of possible areas for consideration
- Product development
- Process development/improvement
- Digitalisation
- Sustainability
- Data and AI
- Emerging Technology
The Business Explorer programme aims to provide critical funding to small businesses as they start their journey of innovation, collaborating with academic specialists on innovation interventions or technical specialisms that cannot be accessed through the private sector.
When a business completes a successful application form, InterTradeIreland will align the business challenge/idea with a registered Business Explorer academic specialist.
On completion, the business can seek further academic specialist support through the Innovation Boost programme. This would allow the company to implement one technical solution through Innovation Boost, up to £56k in funding. A company can receive up to £111k in funding through the Explore, Plan and Innovation Boost programmes from InterTradeIreland.
This work is treated as consultancy, please review the Ulster University consultancy policy and procedures.
Register with Business Explorer
InterTradeIreland are currently seeking registrations from academic specialists. Please review information on their Academic and Specialist Support webpage and register via their Microsoft Form.
Expressions of interest are particularly welcome from Engineering, Manufacturing, IT and Science sectors.
Referral Process
Academics can also refer a business by advising the Business Explorer team via details at the bottom of the About Us webpage on InterTradeIreland.
A business can refer an academic specialist by advising the Business Explorer team by email. The panel will assess before final pairing approval.
Contact Us
For any further information on the Business Explorer programme, please contact the Consultancy team.
Kerry Patterson
Knowledge Exchange Manager - Consultancy
Aine McAleese
Business Development Officer (Knowledge Exchange)
