Support for life sciences companies

You can apply for funding to help cover the cost of tenant-specific fit-out within suitable life sciences accommodation.

This includes the specialist work needed to make a space operational for your business.

The aim is simple – to help you take on space, scale faster and grow your business in Scotland.

The support can help you with:

• Laboratory fit-out, including wet and dry lab environments
• Specialist building services and utilities
• Cleanrooms and controlled environments
• Fit-out for manufacturing and good manufacturing practice (GMP) activity
• Adaptation of existing space for life sciences use

Funding is focused on providing support for capital investment costs that are essential to making the space usable for your operations.

The amount of funding you can get depends on your company size and project details.

Maximum amount of funding available:

• Up to 40% of eligible costs for small enterprises
• Up to 30% of eligible costs for medium-sized enterprises
• Up to 20% of eligible costs for large enterprises

To be eligible, your project should:

• Have a total cost of at least £1 million
• Be mainly funded through private investment (for example equity, debt or internal funding)

This support is aimed at life sciences companies that need to take on and fit out space to grow.

This includes businesses working in:

• Human health and therapeutics
• Industrial biotechnology
• Animal health

You must:

• Be a UK-registered business
• Be taking space within an eligible life sciences building
• Be able to deliver the project without putting your business at risk
• Show how the fit-out will support your growth and competitiveness

Developer companies and universities looking to speculatively build or fit-out life sciences accommodation in Scotland, should apply for support via our Life sciences accommodation programme. 

The application process usually includes:

1. A stage one application
2. Assessment and invitation to stage two, to submit more detailed information
3. Due diligence, panel review and a funding decision
4. Funding offer, followed by project delivery and monitoring

Timescales will vary depending on the size and complexity of your project.

The programme will have an always-on application process. To ensure we achieve the maximum economic impact from this programme we have set quarterly stage one application deadlines to encourage regular application submissions.

The stage one application deadlines for the 2026/27 submission dates are:

• Thursday 1 October 2026
• Thursday 28 January 2027
• Wednesday 28 April 2027
• Wednesday 28 July 2027
• Thursday 28 October 2027

There's a shortage of suitable life sciences space across Scotland, particularly for companies moving beyond early-stage growth.

Fit-out costs can be high, especially for:

• Specialist laboratory environments
• Regulated manufacturing facilities
• Buildings with advanced utilities and compliance requirements

This can delay expansion or push companies to look elsewhere.

This funding helps remove that barrier by making it easier for you to access and adapt space that allows your business to grow and compete internationally.