UK Government Local Innovation Partnership Fund

UK Government Local Innovation Partnership Fund - call for projects to join our bid 

We are seeking innovative, large-scale projects to drive sustainable growth in the blue economy to form a bid to the UK Government’s Local Innovation Partnership Fund (LIPF). 

If our bid is successful, up to £20 million over five years could be available to accelerate commercialisation and help turn ideas into reality.  

Important: This is not a funding application. We’re asking for project ideas to include in a regional bid led by HIE. The stronger the bid, the better chance of securing funding. 

Priority areas 

We particularly welcome project ideas that develop innovative technologies to enable growth in the priority areas listed below. This could include data analytics, AI, space science or robotics: 

• clean blue energy systems - offshore wind, tidal energy, and solutions for grid connection challenges; and
• sustainable aquaculture - fin fish, algae, shellfish, marine biotechnology, and processing. 

Projects should preferably be large-scale. They must drive sustainable economic growth, deliver positive impact at scale and build long-lasting innovation capacity in the Highlands and Islands region. Ultimately the goal is to deliver the region’s competitive advantage. 

Who should submit ideas? 

• businesses with growth potential; and
• research organisations with translational R&D capabilities.

Summary of assessment criteria 

Project must demonstrate: 

• a clear linkage to one of the two UK Industrial Strategy’s eight (IS-8) Frontier Industries that we are targeting – ‘clean energy’ and ‘advanced manufacturing’;
• the ability to deliver at least 2:1 private sector co-investment;
• the potential for high-value job creation in the Highlands and Islands;
• sustainability with clear pathways to commercialisation;
• clear potential for follow-on investment in the region;
• collaborative approaches across the civic, industry and research community; and
• the ability to deliver against Scotland’s community wealth building agenda. 

Early discovery or ‘blue-sky’ research is excluded from this call. 

Full details are available in the applicant guidance, which should be reviewed before submitting a proposal. 

Download applicant guidance 

How to submit your expression of interest 

• Expression of interest should be made by completing the expression of interest form to enquiries@hient.co.uk by Wednesday 21 January 2026. 
• Projects will be reviewed and shortlisted by 1 February by a HIE led expert panel who are independent of the project expressions of interest.
• The HIE-led application to LIPF will be submitted by 12 February. 

Information session 

An information session will be held on 8 January for interested parties. 

Book now