Up to £30,000 for creative industries, food & drink and tourism projects
Groups of businesses in three industry sectors are being invited to team up with academic experts for research and development projects which have the potential to transform their industries.
Interface is seeking proposals from companies in the creative industries, food & drink, and tourism sectors collaborating with Scottish universities.
Funding ranging from £5,000 to £10,000 will be awarded to projects determined by an external judging panel.
Suzanne Dawson, Head of Sector Relationships at Interface, said:
"Creative industries, tourism and food & drink are key sectors in Scotland, as highlighted in the 2017-18 Programme for Government.
“This multiparty competition aims to drive innovation in each sector and create impacts for the companies involved, academic institutions, the wider economy and society.
“This is our second round of funding for multiparty collaborations in these sectors and provides a fantastic opportunity to jointly research and develop new products, processes or services which could bring benefits such as job security in rural areas or the ability to target new international markets.”
Applications should demonstrate not only innovation but how the project will add value and transformational impact to the sector as a whole. A winning entry from the last round was a group of leading tourism businesses including Camera Obscura and National Museums Scotland working with Edinburgh Napier University and Heriot Watt University carrying out research to develop a programme to attract and engage the older generation at visitor attractions.
Groups of businesses which have identified an appropriate issue or challenge but who are not linked with an academic partner can contact Howell@interface-online.org.uk to help connect them to expertise in Scotland.
Applications and any queries about the competition should be submitted by 5pm on Tuesday, 7 November, 2017, to applications@interface-online.org.uk