Highlands and Islands Enterprise's Innovation Programme 2026-29 will provide support to registered businesses and social enterprises in the Highlands and Islands region that have a business plan and are ambitious to grow. 

Depending on your needs, support may include:

• one-to-one advice from a HIE innovation adviser
• learning journeys, webinars and workshops
• specialist advice grants
• research, development and innovation funding

HIE may also be able to part-fund eligible innovation projects. Grant support is normally between £25,000 and £100,000, depending on the type and scale of your project and the costs involved.  

There is also a specialist advice grant available, providing up to £10,000 for eligible projects.

You will need to be able to match fund your project before applying.

Innovation does not need to be complicated or expensive. It can mean making changes that help your business work better, reach new customers or reduce waste.

For example, you could use the programme to explore:

• process changes that improve productivity
• new or improved products and services
• changes to your business model so you can reach customers in new ways 
• ways to reduce waste, inefficiency or environmental impact

To qualify for this support, your business must be:

• a registered company with a business plan and ambitions to grow
• based in the Highlands and Islands region
• able to match fund the proposed project

You are not eligible if your business is:

• yet to be formed
• looking for advice on preparing a business plan

The costs will vary depending on the support you receive.

There is no cost for advice from a HIE innovation advisor.

This programme includes events, webinars, workshops and learning journeys. The majority of these are free, but in some cases there may be a small fee to attend.

The HIE research, development and innovation grant provides between £25,000 and £100,000. Intervention levels will range from 25% to 70% of your project costs. The amount of the grant will depend on the size of the project, the business, sector and the type of research and development being carried out.

The HIE specialist advice grant will provide up to £10,000. Intervention levels can go up to 100% of your project costs if required.  

Any grant award must be matched by your own funds. You should make sure you have your own funds in place before you apply for a grant.

Registered businesses and social enterprises based in the Highlands and Islands region with ambitions to grow.

The support does not need to be completed within a set time. The actual time commitment required will vary depending on the complexity of your project.

The HIE Innovation Programme will be welcoming enquiries throughout its 3 year lifespan.  Any enquiry submitted to HIE will be forwarded to a team member, who will reply at the earliest opportunity. 

All projects funded through the research, development and innovation grant must be completed within 6 months of the end of the HIE Innovation Programme. 

Visit the Highlands and Islands Enterprise website for more information and to submit an enquiry.