Funding
Additional Funding Streams
The Interface team can discuss a number of different funding opportunities with you so please contact us or, for further information on general funding visit business.scotland.gov.uk/funding.
Discover a range of funding opportunities currently available:
National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC) Innovation Voucher Scheme
The scheme has been developed to foster connections between NBIC academic research partners and regional companies by offering vouchers to subsidise the costs of collaborative projects which make use of the partner universities’ facilities and researchers.
Academic-industry partners can apply for up to £10,000 to support projects aligned with NBIC’s strategic themes to Prevent, Detect, Manage and Engineer biofilms. These projects should be focused on developing new products or services which help the industry partner innovate and grow as a business. Interface have supported in the development of this scheme and have integrated the application process into their Partner Portal.
Up to £50k funding for businesses in Tayside, Aberdeen, Highlands and Islands and South of Scotland.
The purpose of Regional EDGE is to broaden the reach of Scottish EDGE support and ensure that businesses across Scotland, particularly those in regions that may not have previously engaged with EDGE, feel encouraged to participate.
Are you a business or third-sector organisation located in either Orkney, Shetland or the Outer Hebrides?
Are you working on emerging innovation that could lead to a new or improved product, service or process?
Are you interested in collaborating with Heriot-Watt University, the University of the Highlands & Islands or Robert Gordon University to advance your innovation?
If your answers to the above questions are ‘yes’, the TalEntEd – Innovation & Commercialisation project may be able to assist you by providing academic, financial and business development support to allow your innovation to take the next step towards adoption.
The Glasgow City Region Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF)
Glasgow City Region has announced a major £25 million funding call to accelerate the next wave of world-leading innovation, backing high-potential projects that can turn breakthrough research into real-world impact and drive growth across the region’s rapidly expanding health and life sciences sector.
The landmark ‘open call’ invites proposals that can turn breakthrough research into real-world impact – whether through commercialisation, product development, prototyping, tech transfer or patents. The initiative is designed to give high-potential innovators the support they need to scale faster and bring new technologies to market.
Interface also work with a number of other organisations that offer funding to stimulate innovation. These include:
- Knowledge Transfer Partnership – accelerate business innovation by supporting knowledge exchange with academic institutions. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/knowledge-transfer-partnerships-what-they-are-and-how-to-apply
- SMART: SCOTLAND available pan Scotland – provides grants to Small / Medium Enterprises (SMEs) based in Scotland. The grant helps you undertake technical feasibility studies and research and development (R&D) projects that have a commercial endpoint: http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/services/develop-new-products-and-services/smart-scotland/overview
- Innovate UK Innovation grants for business – businesses and research organisations can apply to funding competitions to help them develop their innovations. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/innovation-grants-for-business-apply-for-funding
- Intellectual asset protection – free, impartial advice to help your business identify, manage and exploit intellectual property assets – protecting your brand and ideas in overseas markets. (Any enquiries on IP for the South of Scotland should be directed to South of Scotland Enterprise.) For more information visit https://www.scottish-enterprise.com/support-for-businesses/develop-products-and-services/innovation-support
- Research and development (R&D) tax relief for SME’s – Corporation Tax relief for costs on research and development (R&D) if you’re a small or medium-sized enterprise. Learn More: Research and Development tax relief for small and medium-sized enterprises – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- R&D Grants: Discover further grant opportunities for research and development via Find Business Support: Find business support in Scotland – Find Business Support
- Converge Challenges: Designed to support university staff, students and recent graduates from across Scotland, our programme provides the knowledge, expertise and connections you need to develop and grow a thriving, sustainable business. Applications are currently closed.
Please note Interface do not manage any of the above funding streams. If you have specific enquires about them, please visit the associated websites and contact them directly. If you would like to discuss academic involvement with any of the funding opportunities please contact us.
