Our Research and Development (R&D) Grant can provide assistance to support:
- Industrial research
Critical investigation of obtaining knowledge and skills to develop new products, processes or services, or introduce a significant improvement to existing ones.
- Experimental development
Acquiring, combining, shaping and using existing scientific, technological, business and other relevant knowledge and skills to produce plans and arrangements or designs for new, altered or significantly improved products, processes or services.
Projects typically last 6 to 36 months. The activities may comprise producing drafts, drawings, plans and other documentation, provided that they are not intended for commercial use. It does not include the routine or periodic changes made to products, production lines, manufacturing processes, existing services and other operations in progress, even if such changes may represent improvements.
The amount offered will be at our discretion, following an appraisal of the level of support needed. Grants are available at:
- A maximum of 45 percent of the eligible project costs for grants to SMEs up to £100,000, or
- A maximum of 35 percent of the eligible project costs for grants to SMEs above £100,000
- A maximum of 25 percent of the eligible project costs for all grants to large companies.
Grants above £40,000 must demonstrate a positive impact on R&D jobs in Scotland.
Grants are typically paid quarterly in arrears based upon evidence of actual expenditure incurred. Grants to SMEs may involve European funding and we will tell you in any offer letter whether this is the case.
Can you apply for an R&D Grant?
R&D Grants awarded
We will publish reports annually, listing details of the R&D Grants we've awarded.
R&D Grants April 2012 - Sept 2012 (Excel, 67.5kB)