Innovate+
Innovate+ is here to help small and medium-sized businesses develop new products, services or capabilities while exploring the right technologies for their needs. Our support is practical, tailored, and designed to tackle the real challenges businesses face, whatever sector you’re in.
What is Innovate+
Innovate+ is a new cross-border initiative funded through the PEACEPLUS Programme and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). It is supported by the European Union, the UK Government, the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government. The project’s focus is to help small and medium-sized businesses across Northern Ireland and the border counties strengthen their competitiveness, improve sustainability and plan for the future.
Who can take part?
Innovate+ is open to small and medium-sized businesses in any sector, based in Northern Ireland or the border counties of Ireland (Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth).
It doesn’t matter whether you’re just starting to explore digital tools or already developing new products, services or processes, the programme offers practical support to help you take the next step.
It’s free to join and open to SMEs at any stage of their innovation journey.
Why get involved?
All support through Innovate+ is fully funded and shaped around the day-to-day needs of small and medium-sized businesses. Whether you’re looking to improve how things run, explore new ideas, or bring in outside expertise, the programme offers practical tools and advice to help you move forward.
The programme starts in January 2026, and we’re now welcoming expressions of interest from SMEs who’d like early access to events, workshops, and other upcoming opportunities.
What your business gets with Innovate+
Whatever stage you’re at, Innovate+ offers support that fits your business.
-
Innovation Audit
A practical look at how your business is currently doing when it comes to innovation – what’s working well, what could be improved, and where new opportunities might lie.
-
Bespoke Innovation Management Plan
A tailored plan that sets out clear steps to help your business develop new ideas, make improvements, and move forward with confidence.
-
Tailored Training
Get access to expert-led training from Atlantic Technological University, William Clinton Leadership School at Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University, designed to suit your business challenges and ambitions.
-
Student Interns & Placements
Work with skilled students who can bring fresh thinking, up-to-date knowledge, and extra support to your business.
-
Innovation Network
Be part of a cross-border network of like-minded SMEs, sharing ideas, challenges, and opportunities to grow through innovation.
-
Digital Transformation Support
Tailored support to help your business adopt the right digital tools – from improving day-to-day operations to exploring AI, data, and new ways of working.
Upcoming Courses
The QUB Leading Change and Transition Series
This series offers organisations the chance to build capability through practical, high-quality learning in leadership, innovation, digital transformation and sustainability. With flexibility at its core, businesses can choose to take part in the full three-programme series or select the individual course that best meets the needs of their business and people at any point during the four-year Innovate+ initiative.
Leading People and Productivity
This programme is for business leaders, owners and senior managers who wish to build high-performance cultures and drive operational excellence in their organisation. This practical course is designed for leaders who strive to turn operational friction and team challenges into opportunities for real growth. Through expert-led, interactive sessions, you’ll get the frameworks and clear strategy needed to deliver measurable change.
Commencing 17th February 2026.
Digital Innovation and AI for Leaders
This programme is for business managers who wish to lead digital transformation with confidence. It is designed for managers who want to turn digital disruption and AI into real opportunities for innovation and growth. Across a series of six expert-led, interactive sessions, you’ll gain practical tools, frameworks and a clear roadmap to drive meaningful change in your organisation.
Commencing 25th March & 16th April 2026.
Business Sustainability Essentials
This programme is suited to personnel at all level and focuses on the the core aspects of sustainability, including environmental, social, and economic dimensions. It promotes innovation and responsiveness to emerging sustainability trends, making it invaluable for forward-thinking business leaders. The programme unpacks the critical aspects of business sustainability and equips you with the practical skills and insights to implement these concepts effectively.
Commencing 12th May & 3rd June 2026.
Delivery Partners
Meet the Innovate+ Team
Declan Loy
Innovation Officer
Emma Carson
Innovation Officer
Emma Carson is an Innovation Officer at Catalyst, where she works on the Innovate+ programme within Open Innovation. Her role focuses on supporting small and medium-sized businesses across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland to develop new products, services, and ways of working through innovation, collaboration, and the use of technology.
Working closely with the Innovate+ team, Emma helps businesses explore new technologies, test ideas in practical ways, and improve productivity through hands-on, tailored support. She has experience across innovation support, stakeholder engagement, and programme delivery, and enjoys helping businesses turn early ideas into something real and useful.
Emma is particularly interested in building inclusive innovation ecosystems and supporting sustainable growth. She is motivated by collaboration across sectors and borders, and by working with organisations to help them realise their potential through innovation and creative problem-solving.
Gosia Karbowiak
Innovation Officer
Along with partners at ATU, UU and QUB I’m delivering a cross-border innovation programme aimed at building capacity for SMEs in Northern Ireland and the border counties, coordinating across sectors, regions, and delivery partners. Enabling Technology Cluster for SMEs, ETC4SME, is a new PEACEPLUS supported initiative and I’m a key contact for participating SMEs supporting them through their time on the ETC4SME programme.
Mark Miskimmin
Project Administrator
Mark is the Project Admin to support the Innovation+ team. He supports the team in all administrative tasks, data collection and reporting for the programme.
He is also a member of Catalyst’s Inclusive Innovation team. Where he supports people with disadvantaged backgrounds to innovate.
Mark has over 12 years of experience working with young people. He has a degree in Youth Work and Practical Theology. Mark loves working alongside people and seeing them being released into their true potential.
Natasha O’Hea
Innovation Lead
Natasha O’Hea is Innovation Lead for the North West Region in the Open Innovation Team. Her role is pivotal in driving innovation and fostering collaboration in the region.
In her role, Natasha leads the Corporate Innovation Services offered by the Open Innovation Team. She works closely with organisations to define their innovation goals and then collaborates with them to develop and implement the most effective strategies to achieving these goals. Her focus spans across 3 key areas: Innovation Culture, Innovation Practice, Innovation Strategy. Addressing these critical aspects, Natasha helps organisations foster a thriving innovation ecosystem.
Passionate about supporting the growth and economic development of the North West Region, Natasha is an advocate for collaboration and knowledge sharing. She actively promotes partnerships among businesses, public sector and academia to foster cross-pollination of ideas and drive collective progress in the North West Region.
