The SCORE programme is designed to support R&D projects jointly undertaken between public sector research bodies such as Higher Education Institutes (HEIs), Research Institutes, NHS Trusts and Scottish SMEs.

Under this scheme, an SME or group of SMEs with a specific technical problem or need can assign a significant part of the required scientific and technological research to a public sector research body.

The key objectives for the new programme:

• To increase the competitiveness of SMEs through support for product or process development;
• To encourage increased co-operation between enterprises and research organisations;
• To help effect wealth creation from the science base; and
• To provide a framework for collaborative research projects involving SMEs across a wide range of sectors.

Financial support is available at 50 per cent eligible project costs to eligible partnerships in order to undertake an R&D project, up to a maximum grant of £35,000 per project. The research base partner(s) must incur and defray at least 40 per cent of the total eligible costs of the project and it is expected that they will receive 100 per cent of their total eligible costs.

Futher information is available on SCORE Grants and Funding.