EEDA - East of England Development Agency

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Grant for Research and Development - supporting technological research and development

Do you have an innovative technology with commercial potential? Are you facing technical challenges to develop your idea and need financial support to help you overcome them?

Don't let good ideas go to waste - the Grant for Research and Development could help move your technology a step closer to the marketplace.

What is it?

• the Grant for Research and Development is designed to help technology-focussed entrepreneurs carry out research and development work on innovative products and processes 
• there are four tiers of grant available, each supporting a different aspect of research and development:

Grant	Aim of grant	Finance available	Project duration
Micro project grant	to develop a simple, low-cost prototype of an innovative product or process	45 per cent of total project costs up to £20,000 *	project should be completed within 12 months
Research project grant	to help assess the technological and commercial feasibility of turning highly innovative technology into a new product or process	60 per cent of total project costs up to £100,000 *	project should take between 6 and 18 months to complete
Development project grant	to help develop a pre-production prototype of a new product or process involving significant technological advance	35 per cent of total project costs up to £250,000 *	project should take between 6 and 36 months to complete
Exceptional development project grant	to help develop a new technology that is strategically important to an industrial or technology sector	35 per cent of total project costs up to £500,000	project should take between 6 and 36 months to complete

NB applicants no longer need to have up-front match funding in place. This gives the applicant an opportunity to use EEDA's provisional backing as an incentive to attract and raise the necessary funding to complete their project.

* As of 1 January 2008, the maximum grants awarded for reseach and development increased, along with other minor changes. Click here to find out more. 

Am I eligible?

You can apply for the grant if you are a small to medium-sized business, or plan to set up a business, based in the East of England. For specific grants, the following criteria apply:

• for a micro project grant your business must have less than ten full-time employees and a turnover of no more than €2 million
• for a research project grant your business must have less than 50 full-time employees and a turnover of no more than €10 million
• for a development project grant or an exceptional development project grant your business must have less than 250 full-time employees and a turnover of no more than €50 million.

What are the assessment criteria?

EEDA appraises applications against a range of criteria. The principal criteria are:

• the level of technological innovation involved with the project 
• the commercial potential of the product or process
• the experience, skills and track record of the applicant and business
• the need for the grant (grants will only be given if essential for the project)
• the wider environmental or social benefits of the project.

When can I apply?

Now! The Grant for Research and Development is a rolling scheme and EEDA welcomes applications all year round.

How do I apply?

Click below to download your application form and further information:

• application form
• guidance notes  
• fact sheet
• technical panel
• financial spreadsheet This document accompanies the appendices in the guidance notes 
• guidelines for officials
  

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