InterTradeIreland

What InterTradeIreland does

InterTradeIreland is a cross-border trade and business development body established in 1999 under the Belfast Good Friday Agreement, jointly funded by the Government of Ireland (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment) and the Northern Ireland Executive (Department for the Economy). Headquartered in Newry, Northern Ireland, with 51-100 employees, it operates as a non-departmental public body providing fully funded support programmes to SMEs across both jurisdictions on the island of Ireland — services are delivered at no cost to beneficiaries under dual state aid frameworks (Ireland SA.117117/SA.110548/SA.117118 and UK SA.117116/SA.110435).

The organization delivers a portfolio of programmes across four pillars: Sales Growth (Acumen, Trade Export Pathway, Go-2-Tender, SupplyChain+, SELECT, Trade Hub, Trade Missions @ Home), Innovation (Business Explorer, Innovation Boost, Horizon Europe support, Synergy/Fintech Corridor, U.S.-Ireland R&D Partnership, Career Boost, Collaborative Innovation), Investor Readiness (Business Angel Funding via HBAN, Equity Advisory, Funding Advisory, Seedcorn competition with €800k prize fund, SEIS/EIS guidance, Venture Capital Conference), and Entrepreneurship (WeBuild, WeGrow, WeScale, WeVenture for women entrepreneurs and researchers). It also administers the €800k Cluster-to-Cluster Project Development Fund, the All-Island Business Monitor research publication, the Trade Hub knowledge base with chatbot-enabled expert advice, and co-funds sustainability capital investments through the Shared Island Sustainability Capital Grant Scheme.

The business model is non-commercial: InterTradeIreland generates no revenue from programme delivery and is sustained entirely through public funding from both governments. Distribution is direct via its website, field advisors, and a referral network including Invest Northern Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, and local enterprise agencies. Its 2026-2028 Corporate Strategy targets further growth of all-island trade, currently at a record £14.6bn, supported by new programmes under the €30m Shared Island Enterprise Scheme targeting women-led businesses and the $20m U.S.-Ireland Research Translation and Commercialisation Initiative expanding into trilateral R&D partnerships.

Name

InterTradeIreland

Legal name

InterTradeIreland

Website

https://intertradeireland.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

InterTradeIreland is a cross-border trade and economic development body established under the Belfast Good Friday Agreement in 1999, jointly funded by the Irish and Northern Irish governments to deliver fully funded programmes supporting SMEs across the island of Ireland in sales growth, innovation, investor readiness, and entrepreneurship.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cross-border business development services

akta.pro primary industry

Cross-Border & International Commerce Platforms (BPAMAGAI)

Keywords

• Cross-border trade support
• SME business development
• Investor readiness programmes
• Innovation funding support
• Women entrepreneurship programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Newry

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Public funding and government grants: InterTradeIreland is a non-departmental public body funded by the Department for the Economy (Northern Ireland) and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ireland). It provides fully funded support programmes to SMEs at no cost to beneficiaries, operating under state aid frameworks in both jurisdictions. The organization does not generate commercial revenue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

InterTradeIreland is a cross-border trade and business development body that delivers fully funded support programmes to small and medium enterprises across the island of Ireland. Its core offering spans sales growth, cross-border trade advice, innovation collaboration, investor readiness, entrepreneurship support, and cluster development, all provided free of charge under a statutory mandate established by the Belfast Good Friday Agreement.

Product overview

InterTradeIreland operates as a cross-border business support organization established under the Belfast Good Friday Agreement in 1999, providing a comprehensive portfolio of programmes and services to help businesses across the island of Ireland grow, innovate, and trade. The organization offers Sales Growth programmes (Acumen, Trade Export Pathway, Go-2-Tender, SupplyChain+, Trade Missions @ Home, SELECT, and Trade Hub) to help businesses expand cross-border sales; Innovation programmes (Business Explorer, Innovation Boost, Horizon Europe, Synergy with Fintech Corridor, U.S.-Ireland R&D Partnership, Career Boost, and Collaborative Innovation) to support R&D and new product development; Investor Readiness services (Business Angel Funding, Equity Advisory Service, Funding Advisory Service, Seedcorn competition, SEIS/EIS guidance, and Venture Capital Conference) to help firms attract investment; and Entrepreneurship support (Women's Entrepreneurship including WeBuild, WeGrow, WeScale, and WeVenture for women researchers). Additionally, the organization facilitates Clusters and Networks through the Shared Island Clusters and Networks programme and Cluster-to-Cluster Project Development Fund, and provides Research and Insights through the All-Island Business Monitor, Trade Statistics, and Trade Hub Knowledge Base. All programmes are delivered at no direct cost to eligible businesses and are jointly funded by the Irish Government and Northern Ireland Executive.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Trade Hub: Cross-border trade information and support portal providing expert advice on customs, VAT, employment and regulation.
• Seedcorn
• Innovation Boost
• WeBuild
• WeGrow
• WeScale
• WeVenture
• All-Island Business Monitor
• Acumen
• Go-2-Tender
• SupplyChain+
• Synergy

Products and services

• Acumen Sales growth programme providing support and funding to drive growth and cross-border sales success for businesses trading between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
• Trade Export Pathway Export readiness programme for businesses getting ready to export or grow their exports across the island of Ireland.
• Go-2-Tender Public sector tendering support programme helping SMEs access a tender market worth over €21bn/£18bn across Ireland and Northern Ireland.
• SupplyChain+ SME supply chain capability strengthening programme designed to enhance supply chain management across the island.
• Trade Missions @ Home International buyer engagement programme bringing overseas buyers to meet local suppliers, particularly in food and beverage sectors.
• SELECT Sales acceleration programme helping SMEs identify and pursue cross-border sales opportunities.
• Trade Hub Expert advice and trade information service covering customs, VAT, employment and regulation topics, accessible through a chatbot and direct trade team support. Funded support for mastering cross-border trade.
• Business Explorer Innovation support programme helping businesses find technical solutions to challenges by collaborating with leading specialists.
• Innovation Boost Innovation acceleration programme linking businesses with high-calibre science, engineering, or technology project managers and third-level institutions with specific expertise.
• Horizon Europe EU research and innovation funding programme support, helping businesses and researchers access European grants and collaborate internationally.
• Synergy All-island clustering programme that explores and develops cross-border collaborations, leveraging all-island cluster knowledge to connect businesses to networks and drive growth. Includes the Fintech Corridor (TFC) initiative.
• U.S.-Ireland R&D Partnership Trilateral research partnership linking researchers across Ireland, Northern Ireland and the United States to accelerate innovation in key sectors including cybersecurity, energy, telecommunications, sensors, and nanoscale science.
• Collaborative Innovation Support programme for businesses, academics, and researchers with innovative project ideas to explore and add to their strategic pipeline.
• Business Angel Funding Investor readiness programme connecting businesses with business angels for early-stage funding.
• Equity Advisory Service One-to-one advisory service for early-stage high growth ventures intending to raise funds in the next 12 months.
• Funding Advisory Service Funding discovery service helping businesses find appropriate funding and develop investor readiness skills.
• Seedcorn Investor Readiness Competition with €800,000 prize fund preparing early-stage businesses across the island for investment. Regional winners receive €50,000.
• Women's Entrepreneurship Support programme empowering women across the island to grow, innovate, and scale their businesses with tailored support and mentorship. Encompasses WeBuild, WeGrow, and WeScale programmes.
• WeVenture Women in Research programme supporting women researchers across Ireland to commercialise their research. Delivered in partnership with Invest Northern Ireland and Enterprise Ireland under the Shared Island Enterprise Scheme, providing skills training, mentoring, and access to industry and investor networks.
• Shared Island Clusters and Networks Cluster development initiative supporting industry-led, cross-border collaborations between businesses in Ireland and Northern Ireland to solve shared challenges and deliver measurable business value.
• Cluster-to-Cluster Project Development Fund Funding programme supporting jointly governed, industry-led collaborations between clusters. Total budget of €800,000 across three bands (Large €150k-€250k, Medium €75k-€149k, Small €30k-€74k). Funding closes December 2027.

Quantifiable outcome

• All-island trade at record high of £14.6bn, targeted for growth under 2026-2028 strategy
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cluster organisations (Ireland & Northern Ireland)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026InterTradeIreland's Cluster-to-Cluster Project Development Fund requires applications from two clusters, at least one from each jurisdiction (Ireland and Northern Ireland). Early-stage clusters must partner with established clusters demonstrating delivery capacity. Cross-sector collaborations are welcome. Funding bands: Large (€150k–€250k, 80–120 firms engaged), Medium (€75k–€149k, 40–79 firms), Small (€30k–€74k, 20–39 firms).
• Manufacturing NI (event co-sponsor)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 May 2026InterTradeIreland was one of several sponsors (alongside AMIC, Barclays, KPMG) of the Anchor High Leadership Summit hosted by Manufacturing NI on 28 May 2026 at the Kingfisher Estate, Templepatrick. The event brought together over 160 senior manufacturing leaders to discuss economic resilience, sustainable growth, workforce development, and productivity.
• U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Technology Innovation Partnerships (TIP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 May 2026The $20m U.S.-Ireland Research Translation and Commercialisation Initiative is funded by NSF TIP, Research Ireland, and the Department for the Economy, with InterTradeIreland providing supplementary support. The initiative focuses on translating cutting-edge research into real-world solutions across cybersecurity, energy and sustainability, telecommunications, sensors, and nanoscale science themes.
• Research IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 May 2026Research Ireland co-funds the $20m U.S.-Ireland Research Translation and Commercialisation Initiative alongside NSF TIP and the Department for the Economy, with InterTradeIreland providing additional support. The initiative extends the 20-year-old U.S.-Ireland R&D Partnership.
• Department for the Economy (Northern Ireland)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 May 2026The Department for the Economy is a funding partner in the $20m U.S.-Ireland Research Translation and Commercialisation Initiative, alongside NSF TIP and Research Ireland, with support from InterTradeIreland. It is also the primary funder of InterTradeIreland's operations in Northern Ireland.
• Invest Northern IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2026Invest Northern Ireland co-delivers the WeVenture programme (supporting women researchers in commercialising research) alongside InterTradeIreland and Enterprise Ireland under the Shared Island Enterprise Scheme. Both organisations also co-deliver the WeBuild, WeGrow, and WeScale programmes for women entrepreneurs.
• Enterprise IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2026Enterprise Ireland co-delivers the WeVenture, WeBuild, WeGrow, and WeScale programmes with InterTradeIreland and Invest Northern Ireland under the €30m Shared Island Enterprise Scheme, targeting women researchers and women entrepreneurs across the island.
• Aurivo Co-operative SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2026Aurivo's €12m wood pellet burner investment at its Ballaghaderreen facility was co-funded through the Shared Island Sustainability Capital Grant scheme, with support from Enterprise Ireland, InterTradeIreland, and Invest Northern Ireland. This demonstrates InterTradeIreland's role as a co-funder and facilitator of all-island sustainability investments.
• O&S DoorsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 January 2026O&S Doors' £9m biomass-fuelled CHP system was supported by a £2.4m grant from the Shared Island Sustainability Capital Grant Scheme. The scheme is administered with support from InterTradeIreland, demonstrating its role in facilitating all-island green energy investments.
• Arden EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2025Arden Energy collaborated with North West Regional College's Business Support Centre and InterTradeIreland's Innovation Boost programme to develop an Intelligent Data Management System (IDMS) including APIs, billing automation, and a customer portal, reducing customer costs by up to 20%.
• North West Regional College (NWRC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2025NWRC's Business Support Centre partnered with Arden Energy and InterTradeIreland's Innovation Boost programme to develop an Intelligent Data Management System for Arden Energy, demonstrating the three-way collaboration model between businesses, academic institutions, and InterTradeIreland.
• Third-level institutions and academic partnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterTradeIreland's Innovation Boost programme links businesses with high-calibre science, engineering, or technology project managers and pairs them with third-level institutions possessing specific expertise. The US-Ireland R&D Partnership also connects researchers across Ireland, Northern Ireland, and the United States. Collaborative Innovation programmes further facilitate business-academic partnerships.
• HBAN (Halo Business Angel Network)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInterTradeIreland's Business Angel Funding initiative directs SMEs to the Halo Business Angel Network (HBAN) for angel investment, functioning as a referral and channel pathway for early-stage equity financing across the island.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Enterprise Ireland: Ireland's state agency for Irish SME export growth and innovation. Directly comparable in mandate (state-funded SME trade, innovation and investor-readiness support) and a formal co-delivery partner with InterTradeIreland on WeBuild, WeGrow, WeScale and WeVenture.
• Invest Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland's regional economic development agency, jointly funding InterTradeIreland and co-delivering women's entrepreneurship and cluster programmes. Same funding-side stakeholder profile and overlapping SME support toolkit.

Broad incumbents

• IDA Ireland: Ireland's foreign direct investment agency. Sister agency under the same governmental ecosystem, providing broader trade/investment attraction capability to multinationals — wider mandate than InterTradeIreland's SME focus.

Regional players

• Scottish Enterprise: Scotland's national economic development agency providing similar trade, innovation, investment and entrepreneurship support to Scottish SMEs. Comparable publicly-funded mandate and programme portfolio, but serving a different region.
• Scottish Development International: Joint Scottish Government / Scottish Enterprise body driving export and trade promotion for Scottish businesses. Functionally analogous as a government-funded trade facilitation entity, though geographically distinct.
• Business Wales (Welsh Government): Welsh Government service supporting Welsh businesses with growth, innovation, skills and trade advice. Comparable publicly-funded SME support body, but operating within Wales rather than across the island of Ireland.

Others

• Chambers Ireland: National chamber of commerce representing 50+ member chambers across Ireland. Related because it acts as a cross-organisation SME advocacy and trade-support network; complementary rather than directly competing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/inter_trade
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/intertradeireland
• Facebookfacebook.com/intertradeireland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/intertradeireland

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about InterTradeIreland