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Minister comments on business research figures
Sector: Central Government
Date Created: Thu 31st Jan 2008, 12:06:34
Source: The Scottish Government
Link: www.scotland.gov.uk
UK - Changes to the system of grant support will help to boost levels of commercial
research and development and improve Scotland's competitveness, Enterprise Minister
Jim Mather said.
He said the general R&D Grant, which will be available from Scottish
Enterprise from April, will provide support for innovative projects
across Scotland.
Three existing grant schemes are being consolidated into one general grant to
simplify the process of securing Government support for research and development.
It comes after statistics published show that Scottish business research
and development expenditure decreased by four per cent between 2005
and 2006.
Mr Mather said: "Enhancing the quality
and focus of support for business and
innovation will have a direct and positive impact on competitiveness
and growth.
"The Business Enterprise Research and Development 2006
(BERD) figures show that Scotland's public and private sectors must
work together to increase the level of research and development activity.
"The Government Economic Strategy recognises that responsive, accessible
business support
services will be crucial to generating increased, sustainable economic
growth.
"That's why we have brought together three previous schemes to create a
consolidated R&D grant that will make it easier for innovative
firms across Scotland to secure grant support and grow their businesses."
The General R&D Grant consolidates three previous schemes - Scottish Enterprise's
Small Company
Innovation Support (SCIS), R&DPLUS and the Scottish Government's
SCORE scheme.
Phase one of the Scottish Government's drive to simplify the business support
landscape saw small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) able
to access a new tier of Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grant
across large parts of the south, east and west of Scotland.
Phase two saw the launch of the SMART:SCOTLAND programme, which helps
small and
medium-sized businesses improve their competitiveness by developing
new, highly innovative and commercially viable products or processes
to the benefit of the national economy.
When it is available in April 2008, the general R&D grant will
accept applications for innovative developments at any level and
will be open to small,
medium and large firms alike. There will be no upper ceiling for
grants to SMEs and no lower ceiling for grants to large firms.
SMEs will be able to attract grant support at up to 35 per cent if
the overall grant is less than £40,000 and at up to 25 per cent if the grant is above £40,000.
Larger grants (£40,000+), whether to SMEs or to large firms, must demonstrate
a positive impact on R&D jobs in Scotland.
Scottish Enterprise will be responsible for the delivery and administration
of the general R&D grant across the Scottish Enterprise area. Highlands and
Islands Enterprise will continue to administer its own support for business R&D.
The latest Business Enterprise Research and Development (BERD)
Scotland figures, released, show that BERD expenditure in Scotland in 2006 was £579
million - four per cent of the UK total of £14.3b. This is
a decrease of four per cent in real terms from 2005 at a time when
UK BERD expenditure increased by five per cent.
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