As part of the Belfast 5G Innovation Region programme, Belfast City Council has launched a 5G funding competition to support local businesses and industries to harness the power of 5G and digital technologies, such as IoT, AI, robotics and immersive applications, to deliver economic, social, and/or environmental impacts.
Projects must demonstrate one or more use cases for 5G and/or advanced wireless connectivity and aim to solve real-world issues such as delivering improvements to existing business activities, operations or processes.
Key dates
- Deadline for applications: 11.59pm, 8 September 2025
- Applicants notified: W/C 22 September 2025
- Projects start: October 2025
- Grant funded activities must be completed by: 31 March 2026
Funding
- Total capital funding of up to £550,000 available.
- Applicants can apply for grants of between £50,000 and £100,000 of capital funding.
- 30% match funding is required (can include in-kind contributions).
Eligibility
The competition is open to:
- businesses and organisations in the Belfast Region City Deal council areas: Antrim and Newtownabbey, Ards and North Down, Belfast, Lisburn and Castlereagh, Mid and East Antrim, and Newry, Mourne and Down
- private sector, public sector, academia, RTO, non-profit and charitable sectors
- all industry sectors.
Support for applicants
- Competition Briefing Webinar (26 June, 10.30am) – Find out more about the competition scope and application process and ask questions.
- Partner Introduction Webinar (3 July, 11.30am) – Supporting potential applicants, partners and suppliers to connect with each other to explore challenges, solutions and opportunities, learn about 5G/advanced wireless use cases from elsewhere, and to form partnerships. Applicants and suppliers can present a 3-minute pitch to describe their challenge or project idea, or the wireless solutions and support they can offer. Email innovationfunding@belfastcity.gov.uk if interested in pitching.
- Applicant support – Applicants can apply for up to three days of consultancy support to help them to develop 5G/advanced wireless projects and identify potential partners. Email innovationfunding@belfastcity.gov.uk to register your interest by 11 July.
- NI 5G Adoption Toolkit – Our toolkit includes practical information on 5G adoption, example 5G use cases, and information on the local 5G ecosystem.
- 5G use cases – The Belfast 5GIR programme has funded seven 5G projects to date which have deployed nine 5G use cases in the Belfast City Region. Read about the business challenge, technical solution and benefits generated for each of the use cases.
- UKTIN – UK Telecoms Innovation Network website has examples of 5G use cases being delivered across the UK and the latest advanced wireless news.
| Email: Belfast5GIR@belfastcity.gov.uk |
| The Belfast 5G Innovation Region (5GIR) programme is led by Belfast City Council’s City Innovation Office on behalf of Belfast Region City Deal partners. Belfast 5GIR is working with businesses, academia, and the public sector to support the adoption of 5G to drive growth in the region’s digital economy.
The Belfast 5GIR programme is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology as part of its UK 5G Innovation Regions programme |