The Interface team can discuss a number of different funding opportunities with you so please contact us or, for further information on general funding visit business.scotland.gov.uk/funding.

Discover a range of funding opportunities currently available:

• Invention for Innovation (i4i): Supporting entrepreneurial organisations to move their innovative technology along the pathway to commercialisation or adoption. The NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) Programme is a translational research funding scheme aimed at medical devices, in vitro diagnostic devices and digital health technologies addressing an existing or emerging health or social care need.
• Scotland Beyond Net Zero: The scheme is open to academics from participating universities, with awards of up to £15,000 in total to support potentially high-impact collaborative and interdisciplinary work on Scotland’s climate challenges.
• Converge Challenges: Converge in partnership with The Challengers Group recently announced a £400K prize pot, including £305K equity-free funding and £100K in business support which aims to boost early-stage businesses addressing social and environmental challenges.
• CoSTAR Realtime Lab Virtual Production Tool Box: The CoSTAR Realtime Lab focuses on making Virtual Production more accessible, affordable, and efficient for independent filmmakers and creators. Currently, the process is highly technical and resource-heavy. To address this, the lab is seeking an R&D partner to help develop an open-source, user-friendly media player for creative professionals. The chosen partner will receive access to cutting-edge facilities, research support, and up to £50,000 in funding, with a total support package valued at over £140,000, including an exclusivity period to commercialise the solution.

Interface also work with a number of other organisations that offer funding to stimulate innovation. These include:

• Knowledge Transfer Partnership – accelerate business innovation by supporting knowledge exchange with academic institutions. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/knowledge-transfer-partnerships-what-they-are-and-how-to-apply
• SMART: SCOTLAND available pan Scotland – provides grants to Small / Medium Enterprises (SMEs) based in Scotland. The grant helps you undertake technical feasibility studies and research and development (R&D) projects that have a commercial endpoint: http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/services/develop-new-products-and-services/smart-scotland/overview
• Innovate UK Innovation grants for business – businesses and research organisations can apply to funding competitions to help them develop their innovations. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/innovation-grants-for-business-apply-for-funding
• Intellectual asset protection – free, impartial advice to help your business identify, manage and exploit intellectual property assets – protecting your brand and ideas in overseas markets. (Any enquiries on IP for the South of Scotland should be directed to South of Scotland Enterprise.) For more information visit https://www.scottish-enterprise.com/support-for-businesses/develop-products-and-services/innovation-support
• Research and development (R&D) tax relief for SME’s – Corporation Tax relief for costs on research and development (R&D) if you’re a small or medium-sized enterprise. Learn More: Research and Development tax relief for small and medium-sized enterprises – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• R&D Grants: Discover further grant opportunities for research and development via Find Business Support: Find business support in Scotland – Find Business Support

Please note Interface do not manage any of the above funding streams. If you have specific enquires about them, please visit the associated websites and contact them directly. If you would like to discuss academic involvement with any of the funding opportunities please contact us.