Our SUPA START grant is for technology transfer between SMEs and Physics in Scotland.

• SUPA START awards fund feasibility studies with 2 or more partners involving Scottish SMEs and Scottish Physics researchers
• Up to £5,000 is granted to the University to help solve a problem or conduct a feasibility study in an area relevant to the SME
• SME is expected to match the funding, this can be in kind
• Technology areas include, but are not limited to: photonics, condensed matter, bio-physics, energy, instrumentation, nanotechnology, cryptography, telecommunications
• Sectors include: Life sciences, chemicals/materials and optical/electronic components/subsystems, manufacturing, defence, security, computing
• Markets: medical devices, electronics, optoelectronics, energy, automotive, pharmaceuticals, audio/video
• The awards aim to establish, then enable, technology transfer projects particularly with a cross-sectoral and inter-disciplinary focus.

The SUPA START grant is available as part of the SUPA KT project funded by the Scottish Government, through SEEKIT, and the European Union, through the ERDF.

Click here for an application form. Click here for the FAQ document.

FAQ

What are SUPA START Awards?

SUPA START feasibility study awards are aimed at building relationships between Scottish based SMEs (Small to Medium sized Enterprises) and Physics departments and academics in Scotland, and at stimulating collaborative work that will lead to new products, processes or routes to markets that will benefit both the enterprises and the institutions involved.

The feasibility studies must focus on opportunities that can either, attract follow-on funding from existing sources, demonstrate a clear route to market or indicate a step change in current processes within a company.

The grants are up to a maximum of £5000 and are paid as de minimis aid funding.
The output of the feasibility studies should, preferably, reflect the interdisciplinary or cross-sectoral nature of the work, the value to be obtained from any partnerships on an ongoing basis and the potential to develop a product or process that can give benefit to both the participants in the study.

How much is a SUPA START Award?
 

The grants, which are of a value up to £5000, are to be awarded to the Physics Department of the HEI(s) to evaluate the feasibility of an interdisciplinary or cross sectoral technical approach to a market led problem for a Scottish SME. This should be of relevance to a Scottish SME who should be a contributing partner to the study.

To encourage participants, maximise the effectiveness of the programme and deliver result to each SME, a fast and effective application process has been established. No restrictions apply to the number of SUPA START Awards that an SME can apply for. There is flexibility in the way in which the funding may be committed. All expenditure, however, must be clearly accounted for in a final report.

What is required in the Final Report?

The Final Report submitted with the Grant Invoice shall be in two parts. The First Part must detail the work done during the study and outline the outcome of the feasibility study. The First Part of the Final Report will be available for publication on the SUPA Web Site and by Scottish Government. The Second Part (Part 2) of the Final Report is NOT for publication. It must include detailed accounting of all expenditure by the HEI and the SME and full details of the SME contribution. If the Final Report includes any confidential material then this should be included in Part 2 which will be available to SUPA (under appropriate confidentiality agreements if required).

Confidentiality and Intellectual Property

The University/ies and SME/s applying for the SUPA START Award must consider both confidentiality and intellectual property prior to submitting their application. The university’s industrial liaison office will be required to approve any application of grant, so it is strongly recommended that the applicants make early contact with the university’s ILO or equivalent office.

SUPA will, if required, enter into a Non Disclosure Agreement with the applicants.
Given the value of the award it is considered unlikely that significant levels of IP will be generated during the study. However the applicants should evaluate the potential for generating intellectual property and consider entering into an appropriate agreement, if necessary. It will be a condition of award that the SME is able to exploit any foreground Intellectual Property within their business sector.

De Minimus Rules

Under EC regulation 69/2001 ("the de minimis aid regulation"), this is de minimis aid to an SME. There is a ceiling of 200,000 euro for all de minimis aid provided to any one firm over a 3-year period. Any de minimis aid awarded to you under this grant will be relevant if you wish to apply, or have applied, for any other de minimis aid.

How do SUPA decide who should get a grant?

Applications will be considered by the SEEKIT/ERDF Development Team. Proposals will be assessed according to the following criteria:

• Must have 2 or more partners involved.
• A strong opportunity to show the feasibility to research and develop a novel market led product or process.
• Demonstrable route to market for the product or process.
• Creation of new long term relationships within the Scottish Community.
o e.g. New partnerships that have not jointly received funding from any source.
• Preference will be given to a strong cross-sectoral approach.
• Preference will be given to a strong interdisciplinary approach.
• Quality of the work proposed in the feasibility study.
o e.g. HEI and company track record.
• Opportunity to attract follow-on funding from other sources to develop market led products or processes
• Value for money.

What is the deadline for applications?

There is no deadline for applications. We consider applications on a regular basis and aim to have a response within 2 weeks of receipt of the application form.

Where can I get help with my application?

It is advised that prior to submission of your final application that a draft application is sent to the SUPA SEEKIT/ERDF team. 

General advice and help may be sought from:

SUPA KT Directorate
University of Strathclyde
Wolfson Centre, 106 Rottenrow
Glasgow, G4 0NW

Tel: 0141 548 4652  
e-mail: SUPAKT@supa.ac.uk

How do I apply?

Please use the application form provided.

Application forms should be sent in writing to:

SUPA KT Directorate
University of Strathclyde
Wolfson Centre, 106 Rottenrow
Glasgow, G4 0NW

Should you have any problem submitting your application please contact:
Richard Mosses on 0141 548 4652.

What happens next?

You will receive notification of the outcome of your application within 2 working weeks of receipt of your application. If your application is successful, subject to verification of status, the HEI will be offered a grant of up to £5000 to carry out the work proposed in your application.

How do I claim the grant?

The grant is payable in arrears to the HEI and will be paid on receipt of the 2 part final report on how the grant was used, which in the sole opinion of SUPA, meets with all the criteria specified in the award winning proposal, and an invoice.

The HEI can only claim for the actual staff costs and timesheets for any staff working on the project will need to be submitted along with the invoice.

How to Establish Technology Transfer Opportunities

If you have a need for physics technology the following contacts are able to help you find the appropriate partner to complete the feasibility work (or direct you to an alternative department or discipline if that is more appropriate to your needs).
Sara Diegoli –  sara.diegoli@supa.ac.uk, 0141 330 2338
Richard Mosses – richard.mosses@supa.ac.uk, 0141 548 4652
Matthew Wasley – matthew.wasley@supa.ac.uk, 0131 451 3879

Alternatively for more general enquiries on technology transfer contact Interface on:
http://www.interface-online.org.uk

SEEKIT/ERDF Funding

The SUPA START grant is funded through an award co-financed by the ERDF and SEEKIT for promoting links between both SMEs and the science base in Scotland.
 

SME Declaration

All applications for the SUPA START Grant must be accompanied by a self declaration of SME status according to EU rules.  A copy of the rules and a declaration form can be downloaded from here. http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/enterprise_policy/sme_definition/sme_user_guide.pdf