This scheme enables the provision of up to £5000 of government funding toward qualifying projects which are conducted by utilising the university's facilities and / or staff.
Successful applicant businesses will be eligable to recieve up to 75% discount against the invoice from the University for work done.
The Business Innovation Voucher Scheme is specifically designed to promote collaborative innovation between The University of Nottingham and UK businesses by offering vouchers of up to £5k to be used toward the costs of projects using the University’s facilities and / or its academic staff.
The vouchers will be allocated to successful SME applicants who wish to engage with the University and its academics in helping to develop products or processes that will benefit the company. Successful applications are expected to mainly include consultancy and technical services, but could also include small research projects.
In effect the voucher will act as a discount of up to a maximum of 75% against the invoice from the University or Nottingham University Consultants for work done.
Criteria
The scheme is primarily aimed at attracting interactions with SMEs for work that is aligned with the expertise and research interests of one or more of the University’s academics. Preference will be given to those projects that are both of interest to the academic staff involved and could lead to additional future collaborative interactions.
The value of the voucher will not exceed £5000 or 75% of the cost of the project. If demand for the scheme exceeds the Univeristy's budget, preference will be given to companies in the East Midlands. University spin out companies or other companies in which the University has a shareholding will not be eligible for this scheme.
Process
Applicants should apply by completing an application form from the scheme manager, David Southall. The applications will be examined as they arrive and decisions to award vouchers will be made at monthly meetings.
Under this scheme, all consultancy projects involving academic staff working on their personal capacity (external work) will be administered through Nottingham University Consultants (NUC) and the contract will be between the client and NUC. Where such work involves the use of some University facilities, NUC will pay the appropriate school or department. If the work is largely service based using University staff, equipment, consumables and other facilities then it should be done as a services rendered contract with the University.
The vouchers will enable an internal transfer of funds to the appropriate department in the University and their value will be deducted from the invoice, acting like a discount. This means that invoices will have a minimum of 25% to be paid by the client. In kind contributions are not accepted in this scheme.
Enquries should be directed to david.southall@nottingham.ac.uk
