Digital Transformation Flexible Fund
Support and funding for digital transformation
The Digital Transformation Flexible Fund (DTFF) supports small and micro businesses in Northern Ireland to invest in advanced digital technologies. The fund offers grants of £5,000 to £20,000, covering up to 70% of eligible project costs, to help businesses adopt transformative technologies.
Eligible technologies include:
- smart environments and the Internet of Things
- simulation, process automation and additive manufacturing
- big data and analytics
- immersive technologies
- artificial intelligence and machine learning
- blockchain technologies and more
To qualify, your project must demonstrate how the investment will transform your business operations - not just digitise existing processes.
DTFF applicant criteria
To apply for the Digital Transformation Flexible Fund, your business must:
- be based in Northern Ireland and operate within one of the 11 local council areas
- be a small or micro business
- be VAT registered - or, if VAT exempt, trade above the VAT threshold
- have been trading for at least 12 months
- have a Digital Transformation Plan or similar
- focus on one or more of the six advanced digital technologies
- not have received more than €300,000 in public funding (State Aid/Subsidy) over the past three financial years
The programme is open to eligible businesses across all sectors except primary agriculture, forestry and fisheries. Read the full applicant and project eligibility criteria.
Call 7 - estimated grant timeline
The expression of interest stage for DTFF Call 7 closed on 27 February 2026.
DTFF will assess expressions of interest in early March and invite eligible businesses to submit the full application. The full application window is expected to close on 1 May 2026. Letters of offer will be issued to successful businesses in August 2026.
Please note dates are indicative and may change depending on the volume of applications received.
DTFF webinars and sessions
If you wish to learn more about the DTFF and have missed Call 7 pre-briefing sessions, you can now view a recording.
For additional support, you can also access the recordings of the DTFF webinar series hosted by the William J. Clinton Leadership Institute. This eight-part series helps small and micro businesses understand how to leverage DTFF support for innovation and growth.
The DTFF is delivered by all local authorities in Northern Ireland under the Full Fibre Northern Ireland Consortium and supported by Invest Northern Ireland. The project is part-funded by the NI Executive, UK Government, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and all local authorities in Northern Ireland.
First published 20 October 2023