Scottish Enterprise, Scotland’s national economic development agency, and Interface, a hub connecting Scottish businesses and academic institutions, have announced a £250,000 fund for research and development collaborations to create new products, processes, and services.

The Advanced Innovation Vouchers are aimed at building sustained relationships between business and academia.

They are open to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Scotland and are awarded on a sliding scale with the business match funding the award up to £20k.

Since 2011, the Advanced Innovation Vouchers programme has awarded £1.77m for 143 business-academic projects.

The vouchers are aimed at building sustained relationships between SMEs and universities or colleges in Scotland, designed to bridge the gap between companies and academics to ensure collaborative work between the sectors.

Funders will require supporting statements for the projects in relation to Net Zero and Fair Work policies to support applications for the voucher scheme.

Paul Cross, innovation team leader at Scottish Enterprise, said:  “We are really pleased to invest in this funding which will enable businesses to create impacts as they innovate and scale whilst deepening their relationships with academics.”

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Laura Goodfellow, associate director of business engagement and systems at Interface, said: “Interface encourages universities and colleges across Scotland to collaborate with SMEs on groundbreaking products, processes, and services.

“This funding provides a significant opportunity for businesses aiming to scale their innovative projects—whether building on a successful partnership or launching a new venture.

“Interface is here to help businesses connect with the academic expertise that can drive their ideas forward.”

The initial deadline for applications is 27th September 2024, with subsequent deadlines on 31st October and 29th November 2024.

Further information on application criteria can be found here: