Belfast 5G Innovation Funding Competition (Up to £100,000)
Belfast City Council has launched a 5G funding competition to support local businesses and industries in harnessing the power of 5G and digital technologies to deliver enhanced operations and services.
🏙️ About the Competition
As part of the Belfast 5G Innovation Region programme, grants of up to £100,000 are available to support local businesses and industries. Advanced wireless networks like 5G are key to driving economic growth and innovation across various industry sectors, including:
- Health
- Manufacturing
- Transport and logistics
- Creative industries
- Public services
Key Features of 5G:
- Faster speeds
- Lower latency
- Higher capacity
- Increased flexibility and reliability
- Support for digital technologies such as automation, IoT, AI, robotics, and immersive applications
📅 Timeline
- Competition opens: 23 June 2025
- Competition Briefing Webinar: 10:30 AM, 26 June 2025
- Deadline for clarification questions: 5:00 PM, 27 August 2025
- Deadline for applications: 11:59 PM, 8 September 2025
- Applicants notified: Week commencing 22 September 2025
- Projects start: October 2025
- Grant-funded activities must be completed by: 31 March 2026
💰 Benefits
- Total available funding: Up to £550,000
- Businesses and organisations can apply for grants ranging from £50,000 to £100,000 of capital funding.
- Applicants must provide 30% match funding, which can include in-kind contributions.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
The competition is open to:
- Businesses and organisations with a business address and operations in the Belfast Region City Deal council areas, including:
- Antrim and Newtownabbey
- Ards and North Down
- Belfast
- Lisburn and Castlereagh
- Mid and East Antrim
- Newry, Mourne and Down
- Private sector, public sector, academia, RTO, non-profit, and charitable sectors
- All industry sectors
📋 Project Requirements
Proposals should:
- Demonstrate one or more use cases for 5G and/or advanced wireless connectivity in a real-world setting.
- Aim to solve real-world issues, such as delivering improvements to existing business activities or operations.
- Deliver economic, social, and/or environmental impacts, such as cost savings, productivity gains, efficiencies, welfare improvements, etc.
- Demonstrate how the project will be commercially sustainable beyond the funding period.
📝 Application Process
Applicants must complete:
- Application form in Word format.
- Finance Workbook in Excel format (available here).
- Submit a project plan and risk register.
Submission Guidelines:
- Individual PDF documents must be a maximum of 5MB.
- No more than three sides of A4, in a font size readable at 100% zoom.
How to Apply:
- Applications should be sent to innovationfunding@belfastcity.gov.uk.
- You will receive an email acknowledgment of your submission.
📧 Contact Information
For more information, contact Belfast City Council’s City Innovation Office:
🗓️ Application Deadline
8 September 2025
🔗 Additional Resources
This funding opportunity is a fantastic chance for businesses and organisations to leverage cutting-edge technologies and drive innovation in the Belfast region. Don't miss out!
- Total available funding is up to £550,000.
- Businesses and organisations can apply for grants of between £50,000 and £100,000 of capital funding.
- Applicants must provide 30% match funding (can include in-kind contributions).
