SMEs along the border with Northern Ireland and in western Scotland will be able to benefit from €16.6 million of EU funding, aimed at developing their capacity to research and innovate.

The funding is the first to be announced under the European Union’s INTERREG VA programme. The objective is to  increase the proportion of SMEs and micro-businesses involved in cross-border Research & Innovation collaboration in these areas from 22% to 33%.

InterTradeIreland will act as the lead partner for the project, alongside Scottish Enterprise, Highlands & Islands Enterprise, Enterprise Northern Ireland and Local Enterprise Offices based within the border region of the Republic.

With five distinct strands, the project will provide education and capability support tailored to the needs of participating SMEs and micro-businesses.

Funding will be available for hundreds of innovation audits to support new product and process development, as well as subsidising the cost of ‘innovation interns’ to help implement enhanced R&I activity.

In Association with

‘Co-Innovate’, as it’s called, is being financed with matching funds from government departments in the three jurisdictions.

Gina McIntyre, CEO of the Special EU Programmes Body, which manages the programme, said: “The funding will help create a strong export-based economy through increased awareness of and engagement in innovation by SMEs and micro businesses.”

The INTERREG VA programme, which includes western Scotland, aims to address the economic and social problems which result from the existence of borders.