Interface

Interface (Scottish Funding Council)

Stage

Idea / pre-product, MVP / early product, Early revenue, Scaling

Location

Scotland

Equity

No equity taken

Cost

Free

Delivery

Hybrid

Deep tech / hardwareHealth / biotechClean / green techAI / SaaSAny sector

Idea / pre-productMVP / early productEarly revenueScaling

Interface connects businesses of all sizes with Scotland's universities, research institutes, and colleges to drive innovation. The free, impartial service has been running since 2005 and is core-funded by the Scottish Funding Council. Interface helps businesses access academic expertise, specialist facilities, and funding to develop new products, services, and processes. They also administer Scottish Funding Council Innovation Vouchers: up to £5,000 for first-time business-academic partnerships and up to £20,000 match-funded for sustained collaborations. Since launch, Interface has initiated over 3,800 business-academic collaborations.

Why this programme

Raise funding

Innovation Vouchers up to £20k for collaborative R&D projects with Scottish universities — non-dilutive and available at any stage

Build product / validate MVP

Access to university research expertise, specialist labs, equipment, and facilities to develop and test new products

Access to mentors / operators

Direct connection to academic researchers and domain experts across every Scottish university and research institute

Find customers / partnerships

Over 3,800 business-academic collaborations since 2005 — Interface brokers partnerships between businesses and the right university teams

Interested in Interface?

Head to their website to learn more and get connected with your nearest university or research institute.

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