The Dairy UK guide to sourcing
the finance, equipment, products, training and knowledge
for innovation
The Dairy UK guide to sourcing
the finance, equipment, products, training and knowledge
for innovation
SMART:
SCOTLAND
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/support/16879/6782
Open to individuals and small businesses based in Scotland with less than
50 employees and either an annual turnover not exceeding €7m or a
balance sheet total not exceeding €5m. They were created to improve
the creation of new, innovative businesses and to help existing small businesses
boost their competitiveness by developing new products and processes.
It is competitive and assists individuals and small firms to carry out
a technical and commercial feasibility study lasting 6-18 months. Successful
applicants receive 75% of the cost of the study up to a maximum of £50,000.
Following success at this stage, further support can be applied for using
the SPUR programme.
SPUR
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/support/16879/6783
It aims to help small and medium-sized businesses (with less than 250 employees)
improve their competitiveness by developing new products and processes
and provides grants on a discretionary basis for development up to pre-production
prototype stage of a new product or process, as long as it involves a significant
technological advance.
The grant provides 35% of eligible costs (up to a maximum grant of £150,000) for projects of between six months and three years in duration involving eligible project costs of at least £75,000.
SPURplus
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/support/16879/6783
A limited number of SPURPlus awards are also available for small and medium-sized
businesses attempting to develop world-beating products and processes. These
are targeted at markets such as telecommunications and biotechnology, which
demand particularly expensive leading edge technology. The grant provides
35% of eligible project costs (up to a maximum grant of £500,000) for
projects between 6 months and 3 years in duration.
SCORE
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/support/16879/14115
The programme is designed to support R&D projects jointly undertaken
between public sector research bodies (such as Higher Education Institutes
(HEIs), Research Institutes, NHS Trusts) and Scottish SMEs. Under this scheme,
an SME or group of SMEs with a specific technical problem or need can assign
a significant part of the required scientific and technological research
to a public sector research body.
Financial support is available at 50% of eligible project costs to eligible
partnerships in order to undertake an R&D project, up to a maximum grant
of £35,000 per project. The research base partner(s) must incur and
defray at least 40% of the total eligible costs of the project and it is
expected that they will receive 100% of their total eligible costs.
Scottish Financial Enterprise
http://www.sfe.org.uk/
Scottish Financial Enterprise (SFE) is an independent organisation that
supports and represents the industry's interests. Its aim is to provide
relevant and accurate information about the financial services industry
and each of the main sectors that comprise it. You can also find out about
the main financial services companies operating from Scotland and key issues
on their agenda.
91 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 3ES
Email: info@sfe.org.uk
Phone: 0131 247 7700
Fax: 0131 247 7709
Small Company Innovation Scheme (SCIS)
http://www.icass.co.uk/fundinginnovationscis.html
This is provided by Scottish Enterprise and gives vital financial support
for projects that lead to the development and introduction of new products
and processes. A single company R&D scheme, SCIS does not offer grants
for joint venture/collaborative projects. Under the scheme, support is available
to companies that can demonstrate that:
All applications undergo detailed assessments on technical, financial, and commercial grounds.
To find out more information, please contact an ICASS adviser.
Regional Selective
Assistance (RSA)
http://www.rsascotland.gov.uk/
A national grant scheme administered by RSA Scotland, part of the Scottish
Executive. It is aimed at encouraging investment and job creation in the
areas of Scotland designated for regional aid under European Community
(EC) law (the Assisted Areas). Businesses of all sizes can apply for RSA,
whether
they are Scottish-owned or owned or headquartered outside Scotland.
Once the latest proposals have received European Commission approval, a new Assisted Areas map will be published and the website will be updated to reflect the details of a new investment grant scheme. We hope to have these details available from early January 2007 at which time application forms for the new scheme will be available.
No applications are currently being accepted but, once the latest proposals
have received European Commission approval, a new Assisted Areas map will
be published and the website will be updated to reflect the details of a
new investment grant scheme. These details will be available from early
January 2007 at which time application forms for the new scheme will be available.
Connect Scotland
http://www.connectonthenet.com/Web/Site/AboutUs/about_us.asp
Connect Scotland provides access to such a vast pool of resources and skills
specifically focused on helping young, innovative technology companies
to become “investor-ready”, to develop their ideas and to grow
their businesses.
3 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh EH3 3QJ
E-mail: info@connectonthenet.com
Phone: 0131 226 0390
Fax: 0131 220 2205
Andrew McNair, Director, University of Strathclyde, Graham Hills Building,
50 George Street, Glasgow G1 1QE
E-mail: andrew@connectonthenet.com
Phone: 0141 548 4892
Dorothy Burke, Regional Director (North), 10 Tall Pines, Banchory AB31
5ZY
E-mail: dorothy@connectonthenet.com
Phone: 01330 82619
ICASS
http://www.icass.co.uk/contact.htmlScottish Development International
The Innovator’s Counselling and Advisory Service for Scotland (ICASS)
was founded in 1999 and is a free business development support service for
small innovative companies with less than 250 employees. It is funded by
the Scottish Executive and operates throughout Scotland. It can help by introducing
you to appropriate business advisers and identify schemes and local funding
sources that may be available in your area and appropriate to your needs.
To find your local adviser, please click this link.
Scottish Development International
http://www.sdi.co.uk/
Scottish Development International was launched in 2001 and replaces the
former inward investment group Locate in Scotland and the former export promotion
group, Scottish Trade International. It is 100% government funded and is
jointly operated by the Scottish Executive and Scottish Enterprise.
Its aims are to:
Enquiry Desk,SDI Headquarters, Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw
Glasgow, G2 8LU
Phone: 0141 228 2828
Fax: 0141 228 2089
Local Investment Networking Company (LINC) Scotland
http://www.lincscot.co.uk/index.htm
LINC Scotland is a non-profit making trust and a national business introduction
network, focused on bringing together backers of technology companies with
small firms seeking finance. LINC Scotland can improve the chances of finding
the right investment partner through a wide range of networking introduction
services.
Queens House, 19 St Vincent Place, Glasgow G1 2DT
Phone: 0141 221 3321
E-mail: info@lincscot.co.uk
Innovation
Relay Centre (IRC) Scotland is your local link into a Network of almost
250 European technology support organisations committed to helping their
local industry base find partners from elsewhere in Europe to grow their
business. IRC Scotland works with academic and industrial
organisations to help identify and acquire innovative new technology,
find market entry partners for their own innovations or enter into
joint development partnerships across Europe. It also helps Scottish
organisations find suitable development partners, secure European funding
for R&D projects and find Framework 7 partners or projects to join
(see page 65 for further details on the Framework 7 Programme).
http://www.ircscotland.net
Please click on this link for the contact details of your local IRC adviser.
R&D
Plus
http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/publications/r_d_plus.pdf
R&D Plus is open to all large companies located within Scotland and the
scheme provides discretionary grants of up to 25% of eligible costs to undertake
development of new products or processes to the pre-production prototype
stage. The eligible costs might include those for: staff costs, equipment
used for the research activity, consultancy services and operating expenses.
Further information: please contact your local Scottish Enterprise company – see the end of this section for full details.
The
Company Support Initiative, funded by Scottish Enterprise and led by the
Food Processing Faraday Partnership (FPFP) helps companies to identify,
facilitate and disseminate technology and best practice to the food and drink
industry
with the objective of increasing bottom line productivity.
http://www.scottishfoodanddrink.com/view_item.aspx?item_id=48322
It provides confidential 1:1 Company Support with food industry experts to identify the business issues that need to be tackled and to agree an action plan that will enable innovation to support your company’s growth.
E-mail: helen.glass@fpfaraday.com
Phone: Helen Glass on 01664 503640
Starter for 6
It is run by NESTA (see page 42) and provides business skills training for
budding entrepreneurs, working across science, technology and the creative
sectors. It is setting up in six cities and regions around Scotland - Aberdeen,
Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Stirling – and participants
to start training in a Scottish city near their home in spring 2007.
http://www.nesta.org.uk/programmes/starter_for_6/index.aspx
NESTA, Dundee University Incubator, Dundee Technopole, James Lindsay Place,
DUNDEE DD1 5JJ
E-mail: starterforsix@nesta.org.uk
LOCAL ENTERPRISE NETWORK
http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/sedotcom_home/about_se/local_enterprise_companies.htm
The Scottish
Enterprise Network has 12 local enterprise companies - or
LECs - located across the southern half of Scotland, from the Grampians
right
down to the Borders. These organisations are one of the main ways to access
the range of services provided by Scottish Enterprise and its partners.
To find the contact details for your nearest one, please click this link.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise
http://www.hie.co.uk/contactinfo.htm
If you live in the Highlands and Islands, similar services are provided by
Highlands and Islands Enterprise. Please click opposite to find your nearest
Local Enterprise Company.