Inverness Campus Collaboration Fund

The Inverness Campus Collaborative Fund from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) aims to encourage to encourage more and better collaboration on the Inverness Campus between academic institutions, the NHS, businesses and third sector organisations.

You can apply for support for collaborative projects starting in 2024 that involve 2 or more partners.

The activity should (at least one of the following): 

• create more innovative activity on the campus
• increase academic engagement with businesses to produce commercial products or services 
• use the academic sector’s knowledge and networks to engage internationally

The grants can cover up to 50% of your eligible project costs, to a maximum of £15,000. The amount awarded will depend on the size of your organisation, where you are based, and the project being proposed.

The application process has 2 stages. The first stage is to complete the online expression of interest form (EOI) on the HIE website. 

If your application meets the basic criteria, you'll then be allocated a development manager who will advise what information you'll need to provide in stage 2.

Yes, if you are applying for a collaborative project starting in 2024 that involves 2 or more partners.

Partners should be (at least one of the following):

• a small or medium-sized business (including social enterprises)
• a charity or third sector organisation
• an academic partner

Businesses can be either:

• incorporated - including limited companies, companies limited by guarantee, community interest companies and limited liability partnerships
• unincorporated - including sole traders, partnerships and limited partnerships

To be eligible, your project must:

• demonstrate it will have lasting impacts on the Inverness Campus
• run for no more than 12 months
• not have started before you submit an expression of interest

Projects with commercial outcomes are preferred.

Applicants can be based in any location.

The fund is open to all sectors, although applications from the life sciences sector are preferred.

Core-funded public sector organisations such as the NHS cannot apply for this fund. However, partners who are working in collaboration with the NHS can apply.

This fund can cover up to 50% of your eligible project costs, to a maximum of £15,000. The lead applicant will need to show how the rest of the project will be funded.

Your project must comply with HIE's fair work conditions for grant support. Full details are available on the HIE website.

This grant can cover up to 50% of your eligible project costs, up to a maximum of £15,000. You will need to be prepared to cover the rest of the costs from other sources.

You'll also need to be able to cover all the costs upfront, then submit a claim based on your spending to receive the grant.

Businesses, third sector and academic partners working in collaboration on a project based on the Inverness Campus.

Your project must comply with HIE's fair work conditions for grant support. Full details are available on the HIE website.

All projects must be completed within 12 months of their start date. 

All claims be submitted and grants paid out by the end of March 2025. 

Visit the HIE website for more information and to complete an expression of interest form.