Business Explorer - Explore

About this scheme

Business Explorer - Explore is an InterTradeIreland innovation support that helps SMEs on the island of Ireland investigate solutions to a technical challenge when they are unsure where to start. Eligible businesses are matched with an academic or industry specialist based in the opposite jurisdiction to their own, who provides 5 days of support to begin addressing the identified issue. Funding of up to £5,000/€5,800 + VAT is available per application, and a business may apply up to three times to explore three different technical challenges. Support covers areas such as product development, process improvement, and incorporating new technology (e.g. AI, advanced manufacturing, food technology, digitalisation). Wholesale/retail, distribution, tourism, hospitality, primary agriculture, and personal services are ineligible; professional business services only qualify if the project develops an internationally traded product or service. The programme does not support sales/marketing, training, equipment purchases, business consultancy, business plans, website development, or e-commerce platforms, and is being run as a pilot so the exclusion list is not exhaustive. Applications are submitted through the InterTradeIreland online account portal.

Who can apply

• Must be an SME with 3-249 employees (part-time/full-time)
• Must be a manufacturing or tradable services company located on the island of Ireland (North or South)
• Must demonstrate financial viability with a guided annual turnover of £100k to £40m; priority given to businesses with fewer than 100 staff and turnover under £10m
• Must have a minimum of 1.5 years' trading history and be indigenous to the island of Ireland
• Must be in the early stages of exploring a business challenge or new idea and need support to find an innovative solution
• Must demonstrate capacity and commitment to support the project at senior management level
• Ineligible sectors: wholesale/retail, distribution, tourism, hospitality, primary agriculture, and personal services; professional business services are only eligible where the project will develop an internationally traded product or service
• Not supported: sales and marketing, training, equipment purchase, business consultancy, business plans, website development, and e-commerce platforms

How to apply

1. 1Review the eligibility criteria for Business Explorer - Explore
2. 2If eligible, complete the online application form via the InterTradeIreland account portal (register for or log in to an account); alternatively, submit an enquiry form for queries before applying
3. 3If approved, the business is matched to work with an academic or industry specialist based in the opposite jurisdiction to the business
4. 4The specialist provides 5 days of support to explore a solution to the identified technical challenge
5. 5On completing Explore, businesses can progress to develop an implementation plan through the next funding stage, Business Explorer Plan