This grant is only available to businesses that currently work with Scottish Enterprise through their dedicated account management and specialist teams.

The grant is intended to help your business carry out a feasibility project to look at whether you should adopt artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Specifically, this funding will allow you to employ short-term staff or work with specialist consultants who can help assess if AI is a good option for your company's needs.

The goal of the project should be to compare the costs and benefits of adopting AI technologies for certain business activities in order to assess the overall feasibility. 

The experts you hire will help you identify potential benefits, such as:

• ways that AI could improve your innovation, efficiency and sustainability
• how AI could create opportunities to enter new markets

They'll also help you assess potential costs and challenges of using AI, such as:

• the impact on your workplace practices, processes, products and services
• the expenditure and investment needed
• the skillsets required

To be eligible for this grant, your project must also focus on one or more of Scottish Enterprise's priority areas, or missions. This means that the AI technologies you're considering adopting should help your business to (at least one of the following):

• create an internationally competitive energy transition industry in Scotland
• improve innovation in future high-growth industries in Scotland
• increase capital investment to improve Scotland's productivity

You're eligible if your company:

• is supported through Scottish Enterprise's account management or specialist support services
• ideally has more than 10 employees
• is based in an area of Scotland served by Scottish Enterprise – that is, Aberdeen City and Shire, the east of Scotland, Tayside and the west of Scotland

The grant will cover up to 50% of your eligible costs. Eligible costs include the hiring of:

• consultants (not on your payroll)
• temporary specialists (on your payroll, but cannot include existing staff)
• graduate placements (on your payroll)

Your project must focus on the feasibility of adopting artificial intelligence and data technologies in your business. 

Your project must also focus on one or more of the Scottish Enterprise priority areas, or missions. This means that the AI technologies you're considering adopting should help your business to (at least one of the following):

• create an internationally competitive energy transition industry in Scotland 
• improve innovation in future high-growth industries in Scotland 
• increase capital investment to improve Scotland’s productivity

There is no cost to apply.

The grants are available in amounts ranging from £2,000 to £25,000 and are intended to cover up to 50% of your eligible costs. You'll need to cover the remaining costs through other sources.

You'll also need to cover all costs upfront, then submit a claim for your eligible costs by an agreed date to receive your grant.

This support will count towards your minimal financial assistance (MFA) allowance.

Companies that currently work with the Scottish Enterprise account management or specialist support services. 

This funding is only available during the current financial year.

Your project must be completed in full by 31 March 2026, and all costs paid for by that date. Your final claim should be submitted by 30 April 2026.

Your appointed Scottish Enterprise account manager or specialist adviser will explain the process in more detail once your eligibility has been confirmed.

Please provide a short description of your project to your appointed Scottish Enterprise account manager or specialist adviser so they can assess your eligibility.

If your adviser feels your project meets the eligibility criteria, you'll be encouraged to apply.

Submit an enquiry and an adviser will be in touch to discuss your needs.