Innovation support

Low Carbon Challenge Fund

Low Carbon Challenge Fund (LCCF) - now closed

LCCF Stage 2 is now closed. LCCF provides competitive grant funding for academic institutions, public bodies, and third-sector organisations in the Lowlands and Uplands (LUPS) area of Scotland to support initiatives helping Scottish SMEs to unlock global opportunities of the climate emergency.

About the fund

LCCF provides competitive grant funding for academic institutions, public bodies, and third-sector organisations to support initiatives helping SMEs to unlock global opportunities of the climate emergency. In doing so, it contributes toward Scotland’s target of reaching net zero emissions

So far, up to £1.4 million of European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) grant funding has been awarded on a competitive basis. This will support the creation of a national network of regional projects that will stimulate and improve innovation in SMEs.

Successful applicants will secure matched funding of up to £1.4 million.  The total investment over the next two years (2021-2023) is £2.8 million.

Services provided by the projects to SMEs are free of charge.

LCCF projects

Cluster Builder Services

Project themes

Preparing the workforce

Developing and encouraging SME leaders, and/or senior management to:

  • Take proactive steps to develop a culture that future-proofs their business by focusing on the other themes listed
  • Increase the capacity and diversity of the workforce, creating a culture of continuous learning to foster innovation and support transition to new low carbon products and services

Innovation

Supporting SMEs to be more innovative:

  • Supporting SMEs to invest in the development of new products, services and/or processes to the market or to the firm - for example, access to test laboratories or test sites
  • Helping SMEs build collaborations - for example, building consortia to apply for other funding opportunities and/or project sponsors
  • Accessing expert advice and support in developing low carbon solutions
  • Increasing business expenditure on research and development (BERD)

Supply Chains

Supporting SMEs to:

  • Identify opportunities for the creation of new supply chains for cross-sectoral opportunities within low carbon
  • Strengthen existing low carbon supply chains - for example, enhancing availability of data in terms of supply and demand and linkages with Tier 1 suppliers

Responding to new, growing or shifting markets

Supporting SMEs to access expert advice on:

  • Direction of low carbon/climate change and impact on existing markets
  • Preparing future strategies and business modelling support
  • Regulation and legislation landscape of low carbon technologies

Preparing pipeline for trade opportunities

Supporting SMEs to:

  • Take innovative services and products overseas
  • Engage with potential international investors/partnerships

The changing nature of the customer

Supporting SMEs to engage with the relevant communities to:

  • Ensure understanding and working with customers to shift behaviours when considering design and adoption of low carbon products and services

Horizontal themes

You'll also need to demonstrate and measure:

  • How you'll include positive approaches to equal opportunities and non-discrimination in the work of the project
  • Equality between men and women
  • How you'll promote sustainable development through the work of the project

Guidance for projects

Timeline

  • Projects start – 4 January 2021
  • Projects end – by 30 June 2023

Got a question?

Get in touch to find out more about this fund