Noribic, the Northern Ireland Business and Innovation Centre, is currently delivering iFactory, a business and innovation support programme — part financed by the European Union's European Regional Development Fund through the INTERREG IVa Cross Border Programme managed by the Special EU programmes body.

iFactory provides a bespoke innovation development plan to eligible small businesses with the potential for growth.

Its tailored support will provide a mix of consulting, technical mentoring, market research and world class best practice seminars for small companies throughout Northern Ireland and the Border Counties. The added value for participants on the iFactory is they are assigned an individual Innovation Agent that will work with the company to ensure the implementation of the mix of support received is embedded within the company.

Clare McGee, Senior Business Consultant with NORIBIC, explained: “An Innovation Agent develops a close working relationship with the business owner, motivating the business to grow and jointly developing an Innovation Action Plan over 18 months with continual adjustment to provide the optimum support.”