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Other sources of funding

An Initital Technology Audit (ITA) or Technology Feasibility Study (TFS) from our Small Grants Scheme can be useful for determining the aims, requirements and scope of a larger project.

The Innovation Portal can also assist companies in finding out about or applying for other innovation funding.

Schemes we can assist with include:

For further information on any of these schemes please contact Jamie Henderson.

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs)

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships involve the forming of a partnership between your company (the company partner) and the academic institute (knowledge base partner), enabling you to access skills and expertise to help your company develop.

The partnership also involves one or more recently qualified persons (Associates) to facilitate this transfer of skills and expertise. The Associate works full-time within your company on a project central to your needs and is jointly supervised by company personnel and a senior academic.

Further details are available at KTP Online.

Scottish Enterprise Research & Development Grants (R&D Grants)

The R&D Grant supports businesses developing new products, processes and services to improve company competitiveness and to benefit the Scottish economy. 

The R&D grant can provide assistance to support:

  • 'Industrial Research' - the planned research or critical investigation aimed at the acquisition of new knowledge and skills for developing new products, processes or services or for bringing about a significant improvement in existing products, processes or services.
  • 'Experimental Development' - the acquiring, combining, shaping and using existing scientific, technological, business and other relevant knowledge and skills for the purpose of producing plans and arrangements or designs for new, altered or significantly improved products, processes or services

Support for R&D projects is available on a discretionary basis:

  • at 35% of the eligible project costs for grants to SMEs up to £40,000
  • at 25% of the eligible project costs for grants to SMEs above £40,000 and for all grants to large companies
  • Grants above £40,000 must demonstrate a positive impact on R&D jobs in Scotland
  • All grants, as part of the appraisal process, must demonstrate the need for support
  • Projects will typically be between 6 and 36 months duration.

Assistance is available to companies of all sizes located in Scotland or planning to establish a base in Scotland,for research and development.

Download the R&D Grants Information Leaflet. [Adobe Acrobat PDF - 139.59 KB]

Further details are available at Scottish Business Grants.

SMART:Scotland

SMART:Scotland is funded by the Scottish Government and provides a source of funds for companies who wish to improve their competitiveness by developing new, highly innovative and commercially viable products or processes, to increase their markets or become more competitive.

  • Grant is provided on a discretionary basis for technical and commercial feasibility studies or research and Development projects
  • To carry out a technical and commercial feasibility study, successful applicants receive up to 75% of the cost lasting between 6 and 18 months. The maximum award is £70,000 (1/3 up-front)
  • To carry out the development of a pre-production prototype successful applicants receive up to 35% of eligible costs lasting between 6 and 36 months with the maximum award up to £600,000

Further information is available at SMART:Scotland.