Skip to main content
Department for the Economy Department for the Economy An Roinn Geilleagair

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Topics
  • Publications
  • Consultations
  • Contact

Translation help

Translate this page

Select a language

  • Arabic — عربي
  • Chinese (Simplified) — 中文简体
  • Chinese (Traditional) — 中文繁體
  • Dutch — Nederlands
  • Filipino — Filipino
  • French — Français
  • German — Deutsch
  • Hungarian — Magyar
  • Irish — Gaeilge
  • Italian — Italiano
  • Latvian — Latviešu
  • Lithuanian — Lietuvių kalba
  • Polish — Polski
  • Portuguese — Português
  • Romanian — Română
  • Russian — Русский
  • Slovak — Slovenčina
  • Spanish — Español
  • Ukrainian — Українська
  • Economic policy

    Economic strategy, regulation, innovation, enterprise policy, social economy, access to finance, agri-food, Economic Advisory Group and MATRIX

    contents

    Economic strategy

    Information on the Northern Ireland Economic Strategy and steps to tackle economic inactivity.

    • City and Growth Deals
    • Northern Ireland Export Forum
    • Inside Out EU Interreg-funded project

    Access to finance and funding

    It is essential that businesses can access appropriate and affordable finance suitable to their stage of development, whether they are startups or more established enterprises.

    Productivity

    • Productivity
    • UK Internal Market Scheme

    Entrepreneurship

    Entrepreneurship is a focus for the Department for the Economy and is a long standing challenge for Northern Ireland. The Minister’s economic vision, as set out in the Assembly on 19 February 2024, placed a renewed emphasis on regional balance, including support for SMEs and start-ups.Our ambition is to become a regionally balanced economy known for our enterprising culture, to drive up the rate of new business start-ups and create an environment that actively fosters and supports entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into reality.

    Foresight and future scanning

    • MATRIX - the Northern Ireland Science Industry Panel

    Innovation and research and development (R&D)

    Details of the Department for the Economy’s (DfE’s) current projects, policies and strategies that are part of its innovation and research and development objectives.

    • Research and development (R&D) and innovation support in Northern Ireland

    Public sector innovation

    • SBRI - the Small Business Research Initiative

    Social economy

    The Department for the Economy (DfE) has a key role in the development of social economy policy for Northern Ireland.

    • Social Enterprise Policy Group (SEPG)
    • DfE and the Social Economy

    Better regulation for business

    Details on the Department for the Economy's (DfE) role in providing better regulation for businesses, including the review of business red tape.

    • Directors disqualification register
    • Monthly Economic Update
    • Review of business red tape

    State Aid and Subsidy Control

    All subsidies provided by Public Authorities in Northern Ireland must comply with either the EU State aid Rules or UK’s Subsidy Control Regime. DfE Subsidy Control Advice Unit provides Advice, Awareness and Assistance, to all NI Public Authorities, on whether they are providing subsidies, which regime(s) applies, and the steps they need to take to be legally compliant.

    • Introduction to Subsidy Control
    • State aid and Subsidy Control after EU Exit
    • UK Subsidy Control / State aid Decision Tree

    Sustainable economic development

    • Circular Economy
    • DfE Women in STEM Steering Group 2021-22 Review

    Regional Balance fund

    On 27 January 2025, the Minister announced the allocation of a £45m fund over three years. The fund will be available to help form Local Economic Partnerships, which will be led by councils.

    Early learning and Childcare Strategy – targeted business support scheme - terms of reference

    In May 2024, the Education Minister brought forward an Executive Paper that outlined proposals for a package of measures to support the early years and childcare sector and parents with the affordability of childcare costs. One of the proposals was to “provide emergency support to childcare providers in significant financial difficulty and in areas where demand for childcare exceeds supply”. The Executive agreed this paper.

    de minimis aid

    As small amounts of aid are unlikely to distort competition, a useful approved EU mechanism for State aid is the industrial de minimis regulation which allows small amounts of aid, that is, less than €300,000 over a 3 year period, to a single undertaking for a wide range of purposes.

    What do I do if it is State aid?

    A flow chart designed to help walk you though the step by step process to understand what to do next, if you think that State aid might be present in your project.

    Related to Economic policy

    Most recent publications

    • Student Fees (Amounts)(Amendments) - Increasing the basic and higher amounts of tuition fees that may be charged to full-time undergraduates in respect of an academic year beginning on or after 1st September 2025

      Published 2 July 2025
    • Addition of a Termination provision for the long residence category for students, applicable from AY 25/26

      Published 2 July 2025
    See all publications in this topic

    Most recent consultations

    • DfE Social Enterprise Loan Scheme Survey

      Published 19 August 2024 Consultation closed
    • Proposal for primary legislation to resolve issues in regard to the department’s financial powers

      Published 6 June 2024 Consultation closed
    See all consultations in this topic

    Most recent news items

    • Minister establishes Tariff Working Group

      Published 11 April 2025
    • Archibald confirms Derry / London Heathrow route funding

      Published 2 April 2025
    See all news in this topic

    Access to information

    How to request information from the Department for the Economy including Freedom of Information (FOI) and the use of our Publication Scheme.

    Share this page Share on Facebook (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share on X (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share by email (external link opens in a new window / tab)

    Department footer links

    • Crown copyright
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy
    • Cookies
    • Accessibility
    • The Northern Ireland Executive
    • The Executive Office
    • Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
    • Department for Communities
    • Department for Education
    • Department for the Economy
    • Department of Finance
    • Department for Infrastructure
    • Department for Health
    • Department of Justice
    • nidirect.gov.uk — the official government website for Northern Ireland citizens