Business Explorer - Plan

Business Explorer - Plan funds SMEs that have already begun addressing a business challenge to work with an academic or industry specialist in the opposite jurisdiction (Ireland/Northern Ireland) to develop a technical plan of implementation, potentially involving new technologies, processes, or products. Each application provides 18 days of academic/specialist support funded up to £20,000/€23,200 + VAT, and a business may apply up to twice to develop two implementation plans, with projects completed over 3-6 months.

Grant range: Up to €23,200 / £20,000
Funding level: 100%
Support type: Voucher
Last checked: 4 Sept 2026

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About this scheme

Business Explorer - Plan is an InterTradeIreland innovation support for SMEs that have already started work on a potential solution or begun developing a new product or process, and need further support to turn it into a plan of implementation. Eligible businesses are matched with an academic or industry specialist based in the opposite jurisdiction to their own, who provides 18 days of support over a 3-6 month project. Funding of up to £20,000/€23,200 + VAT is available per application, and a business may apply up to twice to develop two implementation plans. The plan considers the use of new technologies, processes, or products to drive productivity, competitiveness, and an innovation culture within the business. 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. 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 demonstrate the need for technical support through an InterTradeIreland Innovation programme, and capacity/commitment to support the project at senior management level
Must have a business challenge already begun to be addressed, but needing further support to develop an innovative solution into a plan of adoption
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

Review the eligibility criteria for Business Explorer - Plan
If 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
If approved, the business is matched to work with an academic or industry specialist based in the opposite jurisdiction to the business
The specialist provides 18 days of support over 3-6 months to develop a technical plan of implementation for the identified challenge or solution
On completion, businesses can apply for further support through InterTradeIreland's Innovation Boost programme