Funding and grants
Business grants
Grants to grow your business
We're changing the way we support businesses with a new funding model that’s simpler and more inclusive. Our new funds are aimed at helping businesses create jobs and contribute to a greener economy. Find our available grants and other sources of support.
Changes to our grants
Our new funding model is simpler and more inclusive. It’s changing the way we support businesses, and will help create jobs and promote a greener economy.
The majority of our new grants will be delivered as funding calls – these are a series of funding rounds that open and close for fixed amounts of time. They’ll be focused on helping businesses with specific projects or to achieve specific outcomes.
This means the following grant schemes are no longer accepting new applications:
- Research and Development
- Regional Selective Assistance
- Environmental Aid
Funding calls programme 2021-22
Search new funding calls operated by Scottish Enterprise and other public sector organisations. This list is updated regularly and subject to change. Last updated 6 August 2021.
Value: £ variable
Funded by: European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator
Operated by: Horizon Europe
This call is open.
Call closes 6 October 2021
The EIC Accelerator supports individual small and medium enterprises (SMEs), in particular startups and spinout companies to develop and scale up game-changing innovations.
UK companies can apply for grants of up to €2.5 million for disruptive, late-stage innovation projects. Low carbon and green tech projects are welcomed.
Value: Kick off round of £500,000 (£26 million total)
Funded by: Scottish Government
Operated by: Scottish Enterprise
Call opens later this year
The Low Carbon Manufacturing Challenge Fund (LCMCF) is to support the manufacturing sector to develop new products and processes. It will allow manufacturers (and their supply chains) to participate in (or create new) low carbon markets or to provide significantly lower carbon products for existing markets.
Typical themes include:
- Product design for circularity
- Digital technologies for net zero
- Electrification of manufacturing processes
Value: £1 million
Funded by: Scottish Government TBC
Operated by: Scottish Enterprise
Expressions of interest close September 2021
Call opens February 2022
European call for proposals:
- Heat and cooling, geothermal, solar thermal and other renewable sources
- Efficient distribution and storage and heat pumps
- Integration of heating in energy systems
Value: £TBC
Funded by: Scottish Enterprise
Operated by: Scottish Enterprise
Call opens October 2021 - to be confirmed
A general call for projects requiring capital expenditure (capex) investment that fits Scottish Enterprise's National Programmes, Net Zero and Place agenda.
Priority given to projects in Ayrshire, Glasgow & Clyde, or the North East.
Value: £TBC
Funded by: Scottish Enterprise
Operated by: Scottish Enterprise
Call opens October 2021 - to be confirmed
A general call for applications undertaking capital expenditure (capex) activities that fits Scottish Enterprise's National Programmes, Net Zero and Place agenda.
Value: £5 million
Funded by: Scottish Government
Operated by: Scottish Enterprise
Call opens October 2021
A call to support demonstrating CO2 utilisation technologies, including technologies that use CO2 as a feedstock, have a conversion step as part of the process, and create a higher value add product.
For example:
- Biological conversion of CO2
- Mineralisation of CO2
- Production of synthetic fuels
Value: £ variable
Funded by: European Space Agency (ESA)
Operated by: ESA
This call is open.
Businesses from any sector can apply throughout the year, and the amount of funding may vary according to the project.
The goal of this activity is for the business to develop a new commercial service that uses one or more space asset, such as:
- Satellite communications
- Earth observation
- Satellite navigation
- Human spaceflight technologies
- Other space assets
Value: £ variable
Funded by: Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP)
Operated by: UKRI
This call is open.
Businesses can apply to work with an academic partner to address a particular innovation challenge.
Project costs vary greatly, but typically a small or medium sized business might expect to contribute £35,000 a year and a large company in excess of £50,000.
Value: £ variable
Funded by: Defence & Security Accelerator (DASA)
Operated by: DASA
This call is open.
Closing dates:
11 August 2021
13 September 2021
20 October 2021
5 January 2022
2 March 2022
DASA open call is looking for innovative ideas to improve the defence and/or security of the UK.
Closed funding calls
The Green Jobs funding call is now closed to new applications. Applications closed 1 July 2021. Read guidance for applicants
SMART:SCOTLAND grants funding call is now closed to new applications. Applications closed 31 August 2021. Read guidance for applicants
Transport: :Zero Emission Heavy Duty Vehicles funding call is now closed to new applications. Applications closed 17 September 2021. Read guidance for applicants
Stay informed about future grant support
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Funding for businesses affected by coronavirus
If your business is affected by the coronavirus outbreak, you can find up-to-date information on grants and sources of finance on the Find Business Support website.
Alternative sources of funding and how we can help
We have a dedicated Funding Information & Support Service (FISS) team to help innovative businesses apply for grant funding from other organisations. They can help identify funding for your R&D projects and review drafts of your applications to increase your chances of success.
Find Business Support
Search for alternative sources of funding for your business on the Find Business Support website.
European funding
We support Scottish companies to find project partners and apply for European funding.
Digital Development Loan
If you want to improve your digital capabilities and processes in areas such as cyber security, data analytics, software engineering and digital skills development, the Scottish Government provides interest free loans to help.
UK Research and Innovation
You can search and apply for funding opportunities from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), covering all academic disciplines and industry sectors.
Innovate UK
We support Scottish companies through our Funding Information & Support Service to apply for Innovate UK funding.