As part of the Belfast 5G Innovation Region programme, Belfast City Council has launched a 5G funding competition with grants of up to £100,000 available to support local businesses and industries to harness the power of 5G and digital technologies to deliver enhanced operations and services.
Advanced wireless networks, such as 5G, are key to driving economic growth and innovation across a range of industry sectors including health, manufacturing, transport and logistics, creative industries, and public services. 5G offers faster speeds, lower latency, higher capacity, increased flexibility, and increased reliability – supporting a range of digital technologies such as automation, IoT, AI, robotics, and immersive applications.
Applicant support
We are offering applicants up to three days of expert consultancy support, from Spirit Public Sector, to help develop their 5G/advanced wireless projects; identify potential partners to resolve capability or capacity gaps; and improve their application, aligned to the competition’s guidance.
This free, optional service is independent and confidential. It will work with applicants as a critical friend, offering practical advice and challenge. It is not a bid writing service. Don’t worry if your project idea isn’t fully formed yet – get in touch and the team will help you to explore and develop your use case idea.
To request support, email innovationfunding@belfastcity.gov.uk by 5pm, 11 July 2025. Applicants who register after the deadline will be added to a reserve list.
Competition details
How to apply
Review the competition guidance, complete the application documents and requirements, and email your submission to innovationfunding@belfastcity.gov.uk before the deadline of 11.59pm, 8 September 2025.
Competition guidance:
- Competition guidance (PDF)
- Competition Briefing Webinar (26 June) – Video recording and slide deck (PDF)
- Partner Introduction Webinar (3 July) – Video recording and slide deck (PDF)
Application documents:
- Application form (Word)
- Project Finances spreadsheet (Excel)
- Applicants must also submit a project plan and risk register.
If successful, grant recipients are required to sign a grant funding agreement with Belfast City Council. Applicants must confirm that they have read, understood and will accept the grant terms and conditions if they are successful.
- Draft Grant Funding Agreement (PDF)
Includes Conditional Grant Offer Letter, Annex 1 Project Description, Annex 2 Terms and Conditions, Annex 3 Eligible Expenditure, Annex 4 Grant Claim Schedule and Project Plan, and Annex 5 Grant Claim Procedure.
If you use assistive technology and need a version of the competition documents in a more accessible format, please email innovationfunding@belfastcity.gov.uk
Clarification questions
If you have a question about the competition, email innovationfunding@belfastcity.gov.uk before 5pm, 27 August 2025.
Any commercially sensitive or personal information will be removed from questions before being published.
Timeline
- Competition opens: 23 June 2025
- Competition Briefing Webinar: 10.30am, 26 June 2025
- Partner Introduction Webinar: 11.30am, 3 July 2025 – Register for Partner Introduction Webinar
- Deadline for clarification questions: 5pm, 27 August 2025
- 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
A complete timeline is included in the competition guidance document.
Eligibility
The competition is open to:
- businesses and organisations with a business address and operations 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; and
- all industry sectors.
Projects must be delivered in the Belfast Region City Deal area. Full eligibility criteria is available in the competition guidance document.
Funding
- 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).
More information on the grant funding is available in the competition guidance document.
Project requirements
Proposals should:
- demonstrate one or more use cases for 5G and/or other 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; and
- demonstrate how the project will be commercially sustainable beyond the funding period.
Full project requirements are available in the competition guidance document.
Useful links
NI 5G Adoption Toolkit
Practical information on 5G adoption, example 5G use cases, and information on the local 5G ecosystem.
UK Telecoms Innovation Network
The UKTIN website has further examples of 5G and advanced wireless use cases and the latest telecoms news and events.
More information
For more information, contact Belfast City Council’s City Innovation Office by emailing innovationfunding@belfastcity.gov.uk
The Belfast 5GIR programme is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology as part of their UK 5G Innovation Regions programme which aims to drive economic growth and innovation by unlocking the opportunities presented by advanced wireless connectivity and digital technologies.
* The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has provided £300,000 of funding towards this 5G Funding Competition. The Belfast Region City Deal will provide up to £250,000 of funding, subject to final business case approval. The total amount of funding available may increase if additional budget is identified.