Encouraging innovation

The Scottish Government recognises that science, engineering and technology will continue to underpin our national competitiveness. Knowledge and skills in these areas are becoming increasingly vital to Scotland as our businesses become even more dependent on high-value added and knowledge-based products, processes and services.

Innovation and research and development are inherently high risk activities, especially when results are several years from the marketplace. They often require considerable financial investment and enterprises typically experience difficulties raising finance to research and develop new ideas.

This section of the website covers grant schemes that the Scottish Government provides to businesses to assist in the R&D of new products and processes.

Find out whether you are eligible, what's available and how to apply. There are also case studies, news stories and downloadable reports.

Scottish R&D Grant support, including SMART:SCOTLAND, is delivered under the umbrella State Aid notification reference N510/2007.  Explanatory notes for the notification can be found on the State aid website here