Grants to support research and development activities are available for Scottish businesses that currently work with the Scottish Enterprise account management or specialist support services.

The funding can help your company try out new ideas, build test versions of products, or improve how you make or offer things.

You can apply for grants of between £10,000 and £150,000 to support a single project. Note that these grants are for companies working on their own, not in partnership with others.

For projects that cost up to £100,000: 

• small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) can get funding to cover up to 45% of the costs
• larger businesses can get funding to cover up to 25% of the costs

For projects that cost over £100,000 and up to £150,000: 

• SMEs can get funding to cover up to 35% of the costs
• larger businesses can get funding to cover up to 25% of the costs

Your Scottish Enterprise adviser can help you figure out exactly how much support your project could receive. You’ll need to pay for the rest of the costs yourself or find other funding sources.

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

Your company will need to show that it:

• has the management and technical expertise and resources to make the project a success
• meets the Scottish Government's approach to Fair Work and Net Zero

Your project must:

• represent a significant innovation for your company
• have commercial prospects
• be financially viable
• improve innovation in future high-growth industries in Scotland, which is one of Scottish Enterprise's priority focus areas

You'll also need to prove that the project cannot go ahead or would proceed at a slower speed without the R&D grant.

Your project may not be eligible if:

• most of the R&D activity is being undertaken by third parties
• work has already started or commercial contracts are in place
• it focuses on routine changes or updates to products, processes or services and other operations
• the end product will have a known adverse effect on the environment or society

There is no cost to apply.

Grant amounts range from £10,000 to £150,000 and can cover between 25% and 45% of your eligible project costs, depending on the size of your company and project.

For projects that cost up to £100,000: 

• SMEs can get funding to cover up to 45% of the costs
• larger businesses can get funding to cover up to 25% of the costs

For projects that cost over £100,000 and up to £150,000: 

• SMEs can get funding to cover up to 35% of the costs
• larger businesses can get funding to cover up to 25% of the costs

You'll need to cover the remaining costs through other sources.

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

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

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

Your project should run for no longer than 12 months.

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.

To receive R&D funding, you'll need to show that your company meets the Scottish Government’s criteria for Fair Work and Net Zero. It must also help achieve Scottish Enterprise’s mission to improve innovation in future high-growth industries in Scotland.

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