SMART: SCOTLAND
Last published SMART feasibility terms: up to GBP 100,000, covering up to 70% of eligible costs for a small enterprise or 60% for a medium enterprise; current route closed · Scottish Enterprise
SMART: SCOTLAND is a grant programme from Scottish Enterprise for Scotland-based SMEs undertaking high-risk, highly innovative feasibility R&D Current lifecycle: closed. Real economics: Last published SMART feasibility terms: up to GBP 100,000, covering up to 70% of eligible costs for a small enterprise or 60% for a medium enterprise; current route closed.
Tier 3governmentscotlandgrantnon-dilutive
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Key facts
| Funder | Scottish Enterprise |
| Amount | Last published SMART feasibility terms: up to GBP 100,000, covering up to 70% of eligible costs for a small enterprise or 60% for a medium enterprise; current route closed |
| Decision time | The closed route used enquiry, application, case-officer support, intensive due diligence and a worldwide patent search. No next-fund decision timetable is published. |
| Eligibility | Currently not actionable. Last published rules targeted Scotland-based SMEs, university spin-outs and individuals undertaking technically risky, commercially oriented feasibility work with private match funding, adequate team/resources, financial viability and ownership/rights to required and generated IP. |
| Restrictions | Last published awards paid one third upfront and the balance quarterly in arrears. A dedicated grant manager reviewed claim forms and evidence; approved claims were released within 30 days. Awardees also had Fair Work and 2045 net-zero-plan obligations. Last published support covered 6–18 month technical feasibility studies with a commercial endpoint. The project needed private match funding and had to fit Scottish economic-transformation priorities; future successor rules may differ. |
| Status | closed |
Always confirm on the official page before applying — dates and terms change.
Application process
- Wait for the announced late-autumn 2026 successor fund and verify its rules
- Under the last SMART route, submit an initial enquiry
- Submit an application and supporting documents with a case officer
- Undergo intensive technical, financial and IP due diligence plus a worldwide patent search
- If approved, sign the contract before starting
- Submit evidence-backed claims through a dedicated grant manager
Background
Scottish Enterprise operates SMART: SCOTLAND. The official-source pass records the actual access gate, economics, constraints, application burden and current lifecycle instead of treating the umbrella headline as an unrestricted grant. Last published terms offered one-third upfront payment and evidence-backed quarterly claims Scottish Enterprise explicitly closed the route and announced a replacement fund for late autumn 2026
How the application really works
Wait for the announced late-autumn 2026 successor fund and verify its rules → Under the last SMART route, submit an initial enquiry → Submit an application and supporting documents with a case officer → Undergo intensive technical, financial and IP due diligence plus a worldwide patent search → If approved, sign the contract before starting → Submit evidence-backed claims through a dedicated grant manager
Tips
- Show direct fit with energy transition.
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- Show direct fit with human-health life sciences.
Watch out for
- Current lifecycle is closed.
- Last published awards paid one third upfront and the balance quarterly in arrears. A dedicated grant manager reviewed claim forms and evidence; approved claims were released within 30 days. Awardees also had Fair Work and 2045 net-zero-plan obligations.
- Last published support covered 6–18 month technical feasibility studies with a commercial endpoint. The project needed private match funding and had to fit Scottish economic-transformation priorities; future successor rules may differ.
Track record
- Last published terms offered one-third upfront payment and evidence-backed quarterly claims
- Scottish Enterprise explicitly closed the route and announced a replacement fund for late autumn 2026
No application or award denominator is published; the route is currently closed.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this actionable now?
- closed. SMART: SCOTLAND is on hold and not accepting applications. Scottish Enterprise says a new innovation fund is expected in late autumn 2026, but no successor application date is published.
- What is the real economic value?
- Last published SMART feasibility terms: up to GBP 100,000, covering up to 70% of eligible costs for a small enterprise or 60% for a medium enterprise; current route closed
- Who is eligible?
- Currently not actionable. Last published rules targeted Scotland-based SMEs, university spin-outs and individuals undertaking technically risky, commercially oriented feasibility work with private match funding, adequate team/resources, financial viability and ownership/rights to required and generated IP.
- How does selection work?
- Wait for the announced late-autumn 2026 successor fund and verify its rules; Under the last SMART route, submit an initial enquiry; Submit an application and supporting documents with a case officer; Undergo intensive technical, financial and IP due diligence plus a worldwide patent search; If approved, sign the contract before starting; Submit evidence-backed claims through a dedicated grant manager. The closed route used enquiry, application, case-officer support, intensive due diligence and a worldwide patent search. No next-fund decision timetable is published.
- What burden and restrictions apply?
- Last published awards paid one third upfront and the balance quarterly in arrears. A dedicated grant manager reviewed claim forms and evidence; approved claims were released within 30 days. Awardees also had Fair Work and 2045 net-zero-plan obligations. Last published support covered 6–18 month technical feasibility studies with a commercial endpoint. The project needed private match funding and had to fit Scottish economic-transformation priorities; future successor rules may differ.
- What official evidence exists?
- Last published terms offered one-third upfront payment and evidence-backed quarterly claims Scottish Enterprise explicitly closed the route and announced a replacement fund for late autumn 2026 No application or award denominator is published; the route is currently closed.
Related grants
Sources
- www.scottish-enterprise.com/how-we-can-help/funding-and-grants/business-grants-and-funding-calls/smart-scotland-grant — Official closure, successor timing, last eligibility/economics, application, IP and claims rules (checked 2026-08-10)
- www.scottish-enterprise.com/how-we-can-help/funding-and-grants/business-grants-and-funding-calls — Official current index listing SMART: SCOTLAND among closed calls (checked 2026-08-10)