Research and development for businesses

The HIE network aims to increase capacity and facilitate a move towards a culture of research and development among both business and academia in the Highlands and Islands.

The research team of HIE's business growth and research group will initiate and implement a range of programmes and projects which will encourage a move towards a culture of research and development in the area.

Research and development for businesses

The Scottish Proposal Assistance Fund (SPAF)

The Scottish Proposal Assistance Fund (SPAF) encourages research and technological development by Scottish businesses, particularly SMEs, by providing assistance in the form of a grant to help applicants develop project proposals for submission to the European Commission's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

Up to 50 per cent of eligible costs associated with the development and preparation of the FP7 proposal can be granted (staff time, travel and subsistence, consultancy).

Priorities

• to stimulate the capacity of businesses in the Highlands and Islands to participate in FP7
• to help businesses overcome the barriers and challenges faced in developing proposals
• to increase the number of successful proposal submissions to FP7 from the Highlands and Islands

What's next?

• If you have no previous experience of FP7 - contact your local Innovation Relay Centre (IRC)
• Read the factsheet and frequently asked questions document
• Download the proposed project details form

Contact

Research team
Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Cowan House
Inverness Retail and Business Park
Inverness, IV2 7GF

Email research team

SPAF - a Highlands and Islands Enterprise service delivered in partnership with Scottish Enterprise and made possible with financial assistance from the Scottish Government.

HI Links

The aim of the HI Links project is to enable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Highlands and Islands to prosper through greater links to the knowledge, expertise and technology available in Scotland's universities, colleges and research institutes in the fields of science, engineering and technology.

Greater access to research and development resources through collaborative projects will provide businesses with a competitive advantage, by, for example:

• developing new added value products or processes
• providing the business with new technology or business systems
• reducing costs
• developing new markets
• increasing sales
• improving efficiency

Such innovation should help provide long-term prosperity and sustainability to Highlands and Islands businesses.

Visit the HI Links website for more information.

HI Links is a project supported by a SEEKIT grant from Scottish Government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and UHI