Digital Transformation Flexible Fund
Expressions of interest for DTFF Call 7 are now open
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.
Submit your expression of interest
Expressions of interest for DTFF Call 7 are now open. You must complete an expression of interest to ensure you are eligible before working on a full DTFF application. If eligible, you will be given access to the Applicant Portal section and invited to submit a full application.
The deadline for Call 7 expressions of interest is midday on 27 February 2026.
Register for pre-briefing sessions
You should attend a pre-briefing session before submitting your expression of interest. These sessions will describe the aims of the fund and the steps required to apply for funding. Pre-briefing sessions will take place online and in person (across the different council areas) between 2 and 20 February 2026.
See the full schedule of pre-briefing sessions and register to attend.
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