Innovation can be anything from developing new products and services, to improving your productivity, to the benefits of new business processes and models.
The support varies depending on the size and status of your business and your innovation experience. Regardless of whether your business is large or small, long term established or just starting up, science and technology based, more traditional or a service based business, innovation advice and support is available from Scottish Enterprise and our partner organisations.
The Innovation Support Service is a free, impartial innovation advisory service available to all businesses in Scotland needing advice and guidance on innovation projects / activities.
Am I eligible?
The Innovation Support Service is available to all Scottish based businesses with an innovation project.
Is there a cost?
No, the service is free.
How do I apply?
If you are currently planning or undertaking an innovation project to develop a new product or service for the market, we can help by organising a review of the business case and implementation plans of your project with experienced innovation advisors.
The service provides advice and guidance on how best to develop an innovation project to deliver the maximum revenue for your business and how to make the most of available resources and any other additional support.
Request a project review
To request a project review:
We'll review your project and get back to you.
This is a project planning and advisory service, not a grant assessment exercise.
Frequently asked questions
What is on offer?
The service provides advice and guidance specific to your innovation project and advises on other available information and possible support from the wide range of Scotland’s network of support agencies.
What is the aim of the support?
There is an emphasis on the commercial aspects of the innovation projects helping you ensure the likelihood of the returns from the project are commensurate with the investment required. The aim is to increase the probability of commercial success for you and your innovation project.
Why is there a commercial emphasis?
We have reviewed and supported hundreds of innovation projects over the years. Our collective experience is that new products and services are invariably developed but only a few of them actually deliver the expected commercial returns. While innovation has inherit risks, there are good working practices that can be applied by all businesses during the planning phase of an innovation project which help clarify and mitigate the specific risks associated with the project.
What potential benefits can the service bring to my innovation project?
We can apply our experience and knowledge to your project and help identify and reduce the risks involved. In addition, we have support services and funding for appropriate projects, and we know the extent of the network of support agencies and how they can assist your project.
Who provides the advice?
The advice is provided by experienced and totally impartial innovation specialists. These are primarily our own innovation specialists but there are also a number of external consultants with a wide range of industry experience available to appropriate projects.
Am I eligible?
The Innovation Support Service is available to all Scottish based businesses with an innovation project.
What types of innovation projects are eligible?
An innovation project is one which involves you investing in developing new products or services and launching them in the market. Both service and product based businesses are eligible. Innovation means "something new to your business": it is not restricted to science or technology based projects.
How do I apply?
First, you'll have to tell us alittle about your business and your project. You can do this by downloading our project description form from, completing it and returning it to innovationsupport@scotent.co.uk