Celebrate National Innovation Day 2026

Embrace creativity and innovation in your work

Businesses across Northern Ireland are invited to mark National Innovation Day on Monday 16 February 2026 by exploring new ideas, processes and technologies that can help them grow.

Innovation doesn’t always mean big change – it can be small improvements that make things quicker, easier or more efficient. Even simple ideas can help businesses grow, save money, or reach new customers.

Why innovation matters

Innovation can help your business

• work smarter and cut costs
• stay competitive
• meet customer needs
• grow and create new opportunities

Support for innovation in Northern Ireland

Innovate NI, delivered in partnership with Invest Northern Ireland, works to increase the number of Northern Ireland businesses successfully engaging in innovation.

The programme has four distinct elements

• Innovation Assessment
• The Innovation Framework
• Innovation Recognition
• Innovation Management Standards

Innovate NI can provide best practice guidance to help businesses innovate successfully at every part of their innovation journey. They can also signpost businesses to the most appropriate advisory and financial support for their needs from the entire innovation eco-system, including local councils, Invest Northern Ireland and other business support organisations.

Get involved

Why not mark the National Innovation Day by taking part in the Innovate NI programme?

Just complete a short Innovation Assessment to see where your business sits on the Innovation Framework. This will show your current strengths and suggest your next steps to help you successfully commercialise or implement your innovative ideas.

If you prefer to meet the Innovate NI team in person, you can join their upcoming commercialisation workshops in Ballymena (Thursday 26 February 2026) and Enniskillen (Thursday 12 March 2026).

Find out more about the workshops and register.

First published 10 February 2026