Grant for Research and Development | Walsall Borough Strategic Partnership

Grant for Research and Development is part of the Solutions for Business portfolio of publicly funded business support.

This initiative provides grants to help SMEs carry out research or development work that will lead to technologically innovative products or processes.

Who is it for?

Individuals planning to start a business, new start-ups or established businesses with an innovative proposal to either develop a pre-production prototype or to conduct research that moves a concept closer to commercial realisation.

What are the criteria?

The enterprise must be an SME and within any size limits for one of the types of grant specified below
The level of technological innovation, project risk and the IPR position
The project must be carried out primarily within the West Midlands region
It must be demonstrated that grant is necessary for the project to proceed
Applicants must show how the balance of funding will be provided
Management abilities and the skills of the project team should be evidenced
Market need and commercial exploitation prospects should be demonstrated
Wider issues such as environmental and social benefits will be considered.

Five types of grant

There are five types of grant available:

Proof of Market Grant: to test the commercial potential of an innovative idea or new technology. Projects to last up to 9 months and available to any SME (having less than 250 employees and either less than €50m sales or less than €43m of asset value). Grants are 60 per cent of actual project costs and the maximum grant is £20,000. Within this region and only until March 2010, applicants may consider that an application to the Advantage Proof of Concept fund may give them a improved level of support. See www.advantageconcepts.co.uk
Micro Development Grant: small scale development projects lasting up to 12 months in Micro enterprises (those having less than 10 employees and either less than €2m sales or less than €2m of asset value). Grants are 45 per cent of actual project costs and the maximum grant is £20,000
Research Grant: to produce new scientific or technical knowledge, projects lasting 6-18 months in Micro or Small businesses (those having less than 50 employees and either less than €10m sales or less than €10m of asset value). Grants are 60 per cent of project costs. The minimum grant is £20,000 and the maximum £100,000.
Development Grant: to develop a pre-production product or process prototype, projects lasting 6-36 months in an SME (those having less than 250 employees and either less than €50m sales or less than €43m of asset value). Grants are 40 per cent of project costs in Micro or Small businesses, and 35 per cent in larger (Medium) SMEs. The minimum grant is £20,000 and the maximum £250,000.
Exceptional Grants: in strategically important sectors such as biotechnology and low carbon energy technologies, the research and development grants as otherwise described above, may have extended grant limits of £250,000 and £500,000 respectively. Potential applicants should contact us before commencing the preparation of an exceptional grant bid.

Contact details:

Application forms are downloadable in pdf format from the Advantage West Midlands website http://www.advantagewm.co.uk/working-with-us/grants-for-research-and-development.aspx

For additional information please contact The Enterprise and Business Support Team on 01922 653620