How our hands-on support may be delivered
Fully funded, expert AI support tailored to the needs, readiness and ambitions of Northern Ireland SMEs.
Fully funded, expert AI support tailored to the needs, readiness and ambitions of Northern Ireland SMEs.
The AICC offers different levels of hands-on support depending on your organisation’s needs, readiness and AI maturity. You do not choose when applying, the AICC team will assess your business and determine the most appropriate level of support. Each programme is detailed below:
An Explorer engagement is a shorter, discovery-focused intervention designed to help businesses better understand how and where AI could support their organisation.
It may be appropriate where a business is at an earlier stage of AI adoption, has several possible opportunities it wants to explore or would benefit from greater clarity before progressing to a deeper technical project.
Through a collaborative engagement and structured discussions with key stakeholders, the AICC team will develop an understanding of your business, processes, challenges and strategic objectives.
Together, we will explore where AI could create value and identify practical opportunities worth investigating further.
Following the engagement, your organisation will receive a tailored AI Roadmap Report, which may include:
The objective is to turn broad interest in AI into a clearer, prioritised and practical path forward.
A Transformer engagement provides deeper technical support for businesses with a specific AI idea ready to be tested at proof of concept, or where a more defined AI opportunity or challenge has been identified and there is sufficient readiness to investigate it further.
Our specialists work alongside your team to explore the challenge, determine an appropriate approach and, where suitable, design, build and validate an AI proof of concept or prototype tailored to your business.
Depending on the organisation and opportunity, an engagement could involve areas such as:
Every organisation undertaking a Transformer engagement is supported by AICC specialists who provide practical guidance, technical expertise and strategic insight throughout the process.
Support may include:
At the end of the engagement, your organisation will have evidence and insight to help inform its next decision, whether that involves further development, implementation, investment or taking a different approach.
Businesses do not apply directly to Explorer or Transformer. The AICC team will determine the most appropriate level of support following the assessment and review process.
For some organisations, a discovery-focused Explorer engagement may provide the greatest immediate value.
For others, where a sufficiently defined opportunity and appropriate level of readiness already exist, a deeper Transformer engagement may be recommended.
Our role is to ensure that the right level of support is provided at the right stage of your AI journey.
Innovation thrives through connection. Whether you're an SME, researcher, or professional exploring AI, we’re here to help.
