Scottish Enterprise’s (SE’s) below £100,000 R&D Grant and Innovation Support Grant (ISG) are aimed at increasing R&D and innovation activity in the Scottish company base. The evaluation assesses the strategic case for these two products and their impact in terms of company experience. The evaluation covered the period 2007-2010 (though 2010 only included projects funded in the first three quarters of the year and therefore does not represent a full year’s activity). A full economic impact assessment was also included.
Methods
The methodology consisted of desk-based research, stakeholder consultations and company survey.
Findings
The evaluation found that there was a strong strategic case for intervention in both R&D and innovation activity. Scotland lags behind other UK nations and regions on Business Enterprise Research and Development (BERD) as well as on key measures of innovation performance (such as innovation activity and product innovation). The grant schemes are an appropriate way to address these issues. There is also a clear fit with policy for both products and the potential for them to make a contribution to the achievement of policy goals. There has been mixed use by key sectors. The evaluation has shown that each grant is used primarily by companies classed as either key sectors or growth sectors. What is not clear is the extent to which sectors beyond these groups are being targeted. Both schemes are generally seen to be working well, with only minor issues around the processing and evidencing of claims. There is very positive leverage associated with the two schemes. Participating companies have realised or are realising a wide range of benefits, including the development of intellectual property and its use in new products, the development of wider innovation in support of the new products and access to new revenue streams through the sale of products. The grants are also making a contribution to key national government priorities and SE targets. In addition to the innovation related benefits, the process of accessing the grant and delivering the project was also leading to improved company capability. The evidence of wider knowledge or market spillovers was less clear, with some evidence that any effects within Scotland could be lower than effects elsewhere. This suggests the benefits are largely felt within the companies rather than across the economy as a whole. Nevertheless, the economic impact assessment suggested that there is a positive economic impact arising from the support and that the projects both deliver clear value for money.
Recommendations
It is recommended that both grant schemes should continue. More specific recommendations for project improvement are also made, including: SE should clearly articulate the balance between use by key sectors and the wider business base, project monitoring should explicitly consider sectoral take up and guidance should be developed for companies to ensure a minimum standard.
Cookies help Scottish Enterprise (“SE”, “us” or “we”) to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allow us to improve our website. We assume that you are happy to receive all the cookies in the categories that you elect to allow, or which are strictly necessary for the operation of our website. You can change your cookie settings at any time.
Strictly necessary cookies
These are cookies that are required for the operation of our website. They include, for example, cookies that enable you to log into secure areas of our website.
Cookie name
Purpose
Expiry
DS_SEC_Necessary_AllowedCookies
This cookie is used to record your preferences in regard to accepting marketing, performance or functionality cookies across the site.
1 year
se_session
This cookie is used to provide secure access to SE website features such as address lookup and form validation/submissions.
When browser is closed
Performance and analytics cookies
They allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it. This helps us to improve the way our website works, for example, by ensuring that users are finding what they are looking for easily.
Third party service
Purpose
Where to find out more
Google Analytics
Google Analytics helps us analyse the behaviour of users on our site, such as which pages they view, how long they spend on each page, and which elements they interact with.
Hotjar helps us analyse the behaviour of users on our site by collating data into heatmaps, scrollmaps and other visual representations. It also allows us to add short surveys to the site.
These cookies record your visit to our website, the pages you have visited and the links you have followed. We will use this information to make our website and the advertising displayed on it more relevant to your interests. We may also share this information with third parties for this purpose.
Third party service
Purpose
Where to find out more
Google Ads
By consenting to advertising we will share personal data with Google Ads to perform ad measurement services on our behalf, and that we obtain customer consent for such sharing and use where legally required. Google Ads help us to show pay per click ads in Google search results. These cookies help us track who comes to our site through these ads, so we know how successful they are. By granting permission for marketing cookies, you are confirming that you are happy to be tracked from our sites and receive targeted marketing based on your Google account details.
The LinkedIn Insight Tag helps us analyse the behaviour of visitors to our site who have come through LinkedIn adverts, and also helps us target advertising on LinkedIn.
Our website includes embedded videos from YouTube using YouTube’s Privacy-Enhanced Mode. This means YouTube will not store information or set cookies unless you play the video. When you press play, YouTube may set cookies on your device and collect information about your activity, which may be linked to your Google account if you are signed in. These cookies are managed by YouTube and are subject to Google’s Privacy Policy.
SE sometimes embeds photos and video content from websites such as YouTube and Flickr. As a result, when you visit a page with content embedded from, for example, YouTube or Flickr, you may be presented with cookies from these websites. SE does not control the dissemination of these cookies. You should check the relevant third party website for more information about these.
SE will not use cookies to collect personally identifiable information about you. However, if you wish to restrict or block the cookies which are set by SE websites, or any third party websites, you can do this through your browser settings. The Help function within your browser should tell you how.
Alternatively, you may wish to visit the About Cookies website, which contains comprehensive information about cookies and how to restrict or delete cookies on a wide variety of browsers.
Please be aware that restricting cookies may impact on the functionality of the SE website.
SE and our other websites use a number of suppliers who set cookies on our behalf in order to deliver the services that they are providing. We are constantly reviewing our use of cookies and, as such, this cookies policy will be regularly renewed to include up to date information about the cookies used by our suppliers. We would highly recommend that you check this page on a regular basis.
Further information
Our website carries embedded ‘share’ buttons to enable users of the site to easily share articles with their friends through a number of popular social networks. These sites may set a cookie when you are also logged in to their service. Scottish Enterprise does not control the dissemination of these cookies and you should check the relevant third party website for more information about these.
Similarly, Scottish Enterprise sometimes embeds photos and video content from websites such as YouTube and Flickr. As a result, when you visit a page with content embedded from, for example, YouTube or Flickr, you may be presented with cookies from these websites. Scottish Enterprise does not control the dissemination of these cookies. Again, you should check the relevant third party website for more information about these.
Scottish Enterprise will not use cookies to collect personally identifiable information about you. However, if you wish to restrict or block the cookies which are set by Scottish Enterprise websites, or any third party websites, you can do this through your browser settings. The Help function within your browser should tell you how.
Alternatively, you may wish to visit the About cookies opens in a new window website, which contains comprehensive information about cookies and how to restrict or delete cookies on a wide variety of browsers.
Please be aware that restricting cookies may impact on the functionality of the Scottish Enterprise website.
Scottish Enterprise and our other websites use a number of suppliers who set cookies on our behalf in order to deliver the services that they are providing. We are constantly reviewing our use of cookies and, as such, this cookies policy will be regularly renewed to include up to date information about the cookies used by our suppliers. We would highly recommend that you check this page on a regular basis.