Economic policy

The focus of Enterprise Policy is on promoting enterprise and entrepreneurship and creating the necessary conditions that will enable businesses across all sectors of the economy to start and grow.

Entrepreneurship is a focus for the Department for the Economy and is a long standing challenge for the North. The Minister’s economic vision, as set out in the Assembly on 19th 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.

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.