Funding and Networks

Our Business Partnerships Managers have significant experience of undertaking collaborative projects with a wide range of organisations and the funding routes available to support these.

A person sat in the InfoLab SkyLounge

We provide specialist expertise and advice on accessing funding for collaborative projects that enable your organisation to access the right research, knowledge, people and facilities here in the School of Computing and Communications to improve the competitiveness of your business.

Through their extensive networks, our Business Partnerships Managers keep informed of changes to funding schemes, funders priorities and regulations to ensure that you have the most up-to-date information available. In developing partnerships we can help you determine which funding body you should apply to and which funding scheme best fits your aims and help you access that funding.

Examples of funding schemes available can be found at the links below, but as they are constantly changing please get in touch with one of our Business Partnerships Managers to find out more.

Funded Research

Realise your ambitions for business growth through funded R&D with a world-leading university. Register your interest now in benefitting from an intensive three-year programme of funded research and development (R&D) with Lancaster University. The value of the support on offer is up to £100,000.

Collaborative Research

UK Networks

Innovation Vouchers

Innovation vouchers are designed to encourage businesses to look outside their current network for new knowledge that can help them to grow and develop. SMEs from across the UK can apply for an innovation voucher. A grant of up to £5000 is available to work with a supplier for the first time and is used to pay for knowledge or technology transfer from that supplier. The voucher has three key criteria:

  • The idea that you want help with should be a challenge for your business that means you need to look for specialist help.
  • This should be your first time that you have worked with the knowledge supplier.
  • Your idea should be applicable to one of the three priority sectors.

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs)

KTPs are the Government’s premier “knowledge transfer” mechanism providing the framework and resources to support company-academic collaborations. Any project should be focused on meeting the needs or solving a problem of the industrial partner through technology transfer. Knowledge is transferred via a recent graduate working within the Company with mentoring from an academic expert. Financial support is available as a grant, which can cover up to 67% of the programme costs. In order to qualify for KTP, a Programme should have clear deliverables, be at least 18 months work, and lead to an increase in profits for the company.

Collaborative research and development (R&D)

Collaborative research and development are designed to assist the industrial and research communities in working together on R&D projects in strategically important areas of science, engineering and technology, from which successful new products, processes and services can emerge, contributing to business and economic growth.

By co-funding projects involving partnerships between businesses and between business and academia, collaborative R&D reduces the financial and technical risk and encourages knowledge exchange, supply chain development and parallel working on complex challenges. Regular competitions for funding of collaborative R&D projects are released throughout the year.

Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI)

SBRI utilises government procurement to accelerate technology development, supporting projects through the stages of feasibility and prototyping which are typically hard to fund. It provides opportunities for innovative companies to engage with the public sector to solve specific problems.

Research Councils

Our team also have a working knowledge of funding available for business innovation through UK Research Councils, for example, Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Impact Acceleration Account fund for research and development.

International Networks

Contact Us

Nick King

Nick King

Business Development Manager

C73/C74, C - Floor, InfoLab21
Colin McLaughlin

Colin McLaughlin

Head of Partnerships and Engagement for Cyber Security (Cross-Institutional)

C73/C74, C - Floor, InfoLab21
Neil Dullaway

Dr Neil Dullaway

Head of Partnerships and Business Engagement for Computing and Communications