The Grant for Research and Development is a Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) business support initiative which provides funding to help individuals and small and medium-sized businesses research and develop technologically innovative products and processes. The grants are discretionary and the South West of England Regional Development Agency will draw on the advice of independent technical specialists and internal expertise to appraise applications and decide which projects can receive funding. 
 
While the Agency is still accepting applications for Grant for Research and Development, new projects which are successful will not be able to start before before 1st April 2009. We would, however, strongly recommend that businesses continue to submit their applications to enable them to be appraised, queries dealt with and grant offer letters issued for a very prompt start on 1st April. 
 
What is Grant for Research and Development? 
 
The South West of England Regional Development Agency is currently supporting four types of projects:

• Micro Projects are small scale development projects lasting no longer than 12 months. The output should be a simple prototype of a novel or innovative product or process. Aid of £5,000 - £20,000 for all micro businesses covering 45% of eligible costs is available
• Research Projects typically involve planned research or critical investigation into the feasibility of new products or processes, lasting between 6 and 18 months. The result of the project could be new scientific or technical knowledge that may be commercially exploited. Grants of £20,000 - £100,000 for micro and smalll businesses covering 60% of eligible costs are available.
• Development Projects involve the shaping of industrial research into a plan or design (such as a pre-production prototype) of a technologically innovative product or industrial process. Grants of £20,000 - £250,000 are available for micro, small and medium sized businesses covering 35% of eligible costs.
• Exceptional Projects involve technology developments which have higher costs, but can demonstrate that they will have a major effect on the performance of UK industry. These projects are likely to generate much wider economic benefits and must have strategic importance for a technology or industrial sector. The scheme offers grants between £250,000 and £500,000 for micro, small and medium sized businesses covering 35% of eligible costs.

Click the link below to download a one page summary of the scheme: 
Grant for Research and Development Flyer (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 34.02kb) 
 
How to Apply 
 
If you are a small or medium-sized business seeking funding for a Research and Development Project, you should contact your local Business Link in the first instance. 
 
Details of your local Business Link can be found here or call 0845 6009 006.  
 
Grant for R&D is managed by the South West RDA Technology Transfer Team. The team is responsible for paying grant claims and monitoring the progress of successful projects, as well as appraising new applications. New applications should be addressed to:  
 
South West Regional Development Agency  
Grant for Research and Development  
100 Temple Street  
Bristol  
BS1 6AE  
Tel: 0117 933 0266 
e-mail: innovation@southwestrda.org.uk 
 
Application packs should be submitted in paper form, and where possible backed up by electronic copies. 
 
Applications can be submitted at any time until further notice. Details of any changes including temporary of permanent closure to the call for proposals will be published at this website. 
 
Prospective projects are subjected to detailed internal and external appraisal of technical, financial and strategic aspects of the proposal, in order that the South West RDA can make clear and informed decisions on which projects can receive funding. Where this process involves protracted correspondence to obtain further information from the applicant the decision may take up to 90 working days. Applicants should anticipate this time scale when submitting an application. 
 
Application Documents 
 
Grant for Research and Development Application Form (Microsoft Word Document - 211.96kb) 
 
Grant for Research and Development Application Form Appendix: Financial Schedules (Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet - 85.50kb) 
 
Grant for Research and Development: Guidance Notes for Applicants (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 124.47kb) 
 
Grant for Research and Development Claim form for Live Projects (Microsoft Word Document - 158.72kb) 
 
Technical Advisers Register (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 56.64kb)