Guidance

The application form includes guidance notes and you may also find the following documents helpful when preparing your application:

PDF document Exemplar Application from Pixic Ltd (PDF, 228kB)

Word document Exemplar application from OneCodec Ltd (Word, 111kB)

Word document Guidance from the UK Intellectual Property Office (PDF, 111kB)

Our Top Ten Tips will help you avoid the most common pitfalls when applying for SMART: SCOTLAND funding.

  1. Remember to submit a signed hard copy of the application form itself. You can submit supporting material electronically, but you must include a signed and dated hard copy of the form with your application.
  2. When describing the innovation, detail the innovative steps rather than the benefits they will lead to. The Technical Descriptions Guidance document from the Intellectual Property Office may help.
  3. Use the guidance, within the application form, when writing your application and project proposal.
  4. Provide evidence of your matched funding.
  5. Rank your technical risks or challenges as high, medium or low.
  6. Provide details of any documents such as license agreements if you need access to IP owned by another organisation.
  7. Provide full CVs rather than biographies of those who will work on your project.
  8. Detail the assumptions you have made in your business plan/revenue projections.
  9. Remember to include recent accounts - refer to the checklist, within the application form, if you need more information.
  10. Check the checklist before submitting your application.

Guidance for university spin-out companies 

If you're unsure about anything, please contact us for advice.