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Knowledge Exchange Vouchers

Scottish Funding Council Innovation Vouchers
Scottish Universities can offer Scottish SME project partners an Innovation Voucher.
This voucher will match 50% of a total project cost. The company provides the remainder 50% in cash/in-kind or a mix.
The maximum voucher is £5000. All market sectors. Contact the University you wish to work with.

A pilot Follow on Innovation Voucher scheme is currently running which provides up to £20k of further funding to Innovation voucher recipients.

See also Kick Start Awards; In-kind match funding for Scottish based SMEs to access University expertise; up to £10k per project.

The Scottish Sensor Systems Centre
Funded by the Scottish Funding Council, this new initiative is a collaboration between eight of Scotland’s leading universities and industry to undertake joint industrial/academic projects into sensor systems.
To encompass all areas of the sensors market the fund is managed as two workstreams focusing on either subsea or terrestrial applications. Led jointly by Aberdeen and Glasgow Universities.
Vouchers of £5k; £10k or £20k are available.
Contact via the S3C webpage. For Subsea sector projects contact subsea general enquiries

EDTC Technology Gateway
Edinburgh Napier University’s technology mentoring service delivers support to individuals and companies in Scotland who are involved in the design and development of new innovative products and or the evolution of existing products.
EDTC Technology gateway has a feasibility award of 100% up to £5000 for all technology sectors. All market sectors. Contact via the EDTC webpage.

dePICT voucher for ICT product R&D
dePICT connects you with experts from Robert Gordon, Dundee or Aberdeen universities in areas such as cloud computing, cognitive engineering, Artificial Intelligence and video communication.
dePICT works closely with innovative SMEs to undertake initial feasibility studies leading to further R&D funding opportunities. Contact via the dePICT webpage.

RenewNet-renewable energy technologies
Links with the science base to help you access not only specialist expertise, but also cutting edge technology and test facilities for wind, wave, tidal, solar or hybrid technologies.
RenewNet offers direct support and free electrical engineering expertise to SMEs for up to 3 months to help accelerate technical developments. Contact via the RenewNet webpage.

Sporting Chance Initiative
The Sporting Chance Initiative STAR Grant from Stirling University supports collaborations between Scottish SMEs and Higher Education Institutions. Projects may be funded up to £5,000 matched in kind or in cash by the business.
Sporting Chance enables SMEs to undertake feasibility studies on sports-related innovation from i-Phone apps to new sports technologies and materials. Contact via the webpage.

Scottish Universities Physics Alliance knowledge exchange support
SUPA Scottish SME Support provides technical consultancy to SMEs and SUPA’s INSPIRE provides studentships and staff exchanges in the PaLS (Physics applied to Life Sciences) sector
Areas include, but are not limited to: photonics, condensed matter, bio-physics, energy, instrumentation, nanotechnology, cryptography, telecommunications across most market sectors. Contact via the SUPA webpage.