“Proof of Concept Programme" a best practice example concerning innovation of ECRN member region Scotland

Scottish Enterprise is Scotland's main economic, enterprise, innovation and investment agency. The ultimate goal is to stimulate sustainable growth of Scotland’s economy and to promote innovation, introduce management support and provide funding to build a strong and innovative environment in Scotland’s key business sectors.

To achieve this goal SE helps ambitious and innovative businesses grow and become more successful through a range of dedicated support services which will stimulate company growth locally, nationally and internationally through:

• Improving operational and service efficiencies;
• Accessing new sources of funding and
• Conquering new markets

One of the SE programmes focuses specifically on creating new high growth companies through commercialising new technologies coming out of universities and research institutes. The Proof of Concept Programme was created in 1999 and aimed to address the lack of available funding, from both the public and private sector, to support the development of research concepts into commercial products or services.

It helps researchers from Scotland's universities, research institutes and NHS Boards export their ideas and inventions from the lab to the global marketplace. The Programme focuses on sectors where Scotland has distinct strengths: the chemical industry is included in this process.

Applications should be early-stage ideas which have typically reached patent level, and could lead to the creation of new businesses, or licensing innovative technologies. Successful providers have to demonstrate that their ideas have originality and true commercial potential.

Welcome in particular are applications from a collaboration of two or more Scottish institutions.

Only those proposals which have been approved and endorsed by the Director of the Institution and the commercialisation office will be considered for funding. Students are not eligible for funding from this programme – there are other schemes applicable to student entrepreneurship.

The Proof of Concept Programme website (see below) includes the assessment criteria for receiving Proof of Concept funding and details of the application process

The Proof of Concept Programme is a unique Scottish initiative which helps with the important step between initial scientific discovery and first prototype.

More information available under: http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/sedotcom_home/start-your-business/turn-research-into-business/poc.htm

Lilian Hamilton
Innovation Topic leader SE Chemical Sciences
Team Scottish Enterprise

phone: +44 (0)1786 452 015
mail: lilian.hamilton@scotent.co.uk