€16.1 million of PEACEPLUS funding awarded to support SMEs
A combined total of €16.1 million of PEACEPLUS funding has been awarded to projects supporting SMEs to operate at scale through cross-border collaboration in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. The €16,185,082 funding announcement on the SME Development and Transition Investment Area of PEACEPLUS, will see projects engage in commercially led innovation, effectively transition to engage in the low carbon, circular economy and support SMEs to deliver productivity improvements and transition to the latest digital tools.
The funding will support SMEs to operate at scale through the development and management of collaborative networks operating on a local, national and international basis, including industry clusters.
PEACEPLUS is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and represents a funding partnership between the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Executive. The programme has been designed to promote peace and prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland, and has a total value of €1.14 billion.
Two projects will be delivered as a result of the latest PEACEPLUS funding awards:
- The E-DATA (Enterprise Digitalisation Transformation Alliance) project (€6,760,687.73). Led by Ulster University, E-DATA will support SMEs on their digital transformation journey, embracing digital technology, data analytics, artificial intelligence and automation, enabling them to become more innovative, competitive and productive. The main project activities will centre around SME specific digital transformation advice; Fully supported implementation of digital technologies within SMEs; Embedding decarbonisation and sustainability within SMEs; Innovation led SME commercialisation activities; and SME access to cross-border collaborative networks and clusters. Partners on the project are Atlantic Technological University, Manufacturing NI, Sustainable NI and InnovateNI.
- The Enabling Technology Cluster for Small and Medium Enterprises (ETC4SME) project (€9,424,395). Led by Atlantic Technological University, ETC4SME is designed to transform the SME landscape across the PEACEPLUS Programme area. It will meet the need to enhance digital innovation capacity, productivity, and competitiveness among SMEs. It will foster cross‑border clustering and networking, facilitate participation in industry events and ensure ongoing communication and evaluation to maximise SME engagement and impact. Partners on the project are Catalyst, Ulster University and Queen’s University Belfast.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke TD said: “PEACEPLUS funding provides a mechanism to promote sustained economic growth, strengthening the landscape for peace. The projects to be funded will ensure that many SMEs in Northern Ireland and the Irish border counties and beyond will benefit from the projects. I wish the projects and participants every success and I look forward to hearing about their progress in the months and years ahead.”
Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald said: “This significant investment will empower our businesses to embrace innovation and digitalisation, key drivers of a modern, competitive economy. The E-DATA and ETC4SME projects are excellent examples of how targeted support can unlock the potential of our local enterprises, enabling them to thrive in an increasingly digital and interconnected world. I commend the leadership of Ulster University and Atlantic Technological University, along with their partners, for their commitment to improve productivity and support business growth.”
SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre said: “This funding announcement will lead to welcome support for SMEs to engage in commercially led innovation and research, which will result in the development of new products and more efficient processes. SMEs are vital for our economy and future prosperity and this in turn is critical to a thriving, peaceful and inclusive society. This funding is an example of the PEACEPLUS ecosystem in action – targeting key areas of need to bring about improvements to the daily lives of our citizens. It will boost SMEs as they transition to a low-carbon and circular economy through the development of sustainable manufacturing practices. We look forward to seeing how these two projects progress.”
