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Types of Project

Please note that the Northwest Regional Development Agency is not accepting any new grant applications, or processing existing ones, at the present time.

Government has required us to substantially reduce our expenditure and as a result we have embarked on a comprehensive project review, including how we provide financial support for the region's businesses.

We appreciate this may cause some uncertainty, particularly if you have an application underway; if you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact your usual Agency contact. More information is available on the NWDA website.

Five types of R&D support are available depending on the size of your business and the specific project. Grants range from £5,000 to £500,000.

The different types are not mutually exclusive. They offer a 'step ladder' of financial support and risk-sharing to take your technology from drawing board to market.

1. Proof of Market

  • Small scale projects lasting between 3 and 9 months
  • Simplified online application process, which does not require supporting business accounts or a Gantt chart (Milestones must be stated)
  • To carry out desk based research into the commercial potential of an idea that will need to overcome technical or scientific barriers
  • For all small to medium sized enterprises (SME's) with less than 250 employees and a turnover of less than €50m or balance sheet of less than €43m
  • Grant of 60% of the market research costs, (£5,000 to £20,000)
  • Applicants can only apply online for this type of project
  • Does not cover iterative development of existing products or technologies

Please refer to the proof of market summary and the FAQs section for further information.

2. Micro project grants

  • Small scale development projects lasting up to 12 months
  • To develop a simple, low cost prototypes of an innovative product or process
  • For micro companies with less than 10 employees and a turnover of less than €2m or a balance sheet total of €2m
  • Grants of 45% of the R&D costs, (£5,000 to £20,000)

3. Research project grants

  • Lasting between 6 to 18 months
  • To assess the technological and commercial feasibility of turning highly innovative technology into new products or processes
  • For small companies with less than 50 employees and turnover of less than €10m or a balance sheet total of €10m
  • Grants of 60% of the R&D costs, (£20,000 to £100,000)

4. Development project grants

  • Lasting between 6 to 36 months
  • To develop a pre-production prototype of a new product or process involving a significant technological advance including new carbon reduction technologies. For further information on this area, please visit the environmental technologies page.
  • Grants of 35% of the R&D costs, (£20,000 to £250,000) for all SMEs with up to 250 employees and turnover of less than €50m or a balance sheet total of €43m
  • Grants of 40% of the R&D costs, (£20,000 to £250,000) for micro and small companies with less than 50 employees and turnover of less than €10m or a balance sheet total of €10m

5. Exceptional project grants

  • Lasting between 6 to 36 months
  • Exceptional research or development projects are for the development of a new technology that is strategically important to an industrial or technology sector
  • Exceptional research projects - for micro and small companies with less than 50 employees and turnover of less than €10m or a balance sheet total of €10m
  • Exceptional development projects - for all SMEs with less than 250 employees and turnover of less than €50m or a balance sheet total of €43m
  • Grants available of 60% of the R&D costs, (£100,000 to £250,000) for Exceptional research.
  • Grants available of 35% or 40% of the R&D costs, (£250,000 to £500,000) for Exceptional development.

Once you have completed a project you can apply for other types of support as your business develops. For example, starting with a proof of market grant, then a research grant to develop the basis for the innovation and then a development grant, or even an exceptional grant, to aid commercialisation of the technology.

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