This funding aims to foster new collaborative projects across the academic and industrial sector and drive novel and exciting research and innovation. Applications must focus on a topic that belongs to or is for the benefit of life and health sciences with a strong data or digital element.

Funding can be used for research costs or facilities access, it cannot be used to employ staff. The amount requested must be match-funded through cash or in-kind contributions from industry. Projects should have significant consideration for sustainability post-award and show demonstrable potential for securing further funding. This scheme can be for a new project within a new or existing industry-academia partnership but is not for continued funding of existing projects.

Applicants are encouraged to reach out to innovation centres and similar organisations where appropriate when developing their application.

You can apply for £5,000-10,000 and we hope to award around 3 projects. 

• This call is open to the following SULSA members only: University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Napier University, University of Glasgow, Glasgow Caledonian University, Heriot-Watt University, University of the Highlands and Islands, James Hutton Institute, Robert Gordon University, University of St Andrews, University of Strathclyde, University of the West of Scotland.
• The lead applicant can be a Senior Postdoctoral Researcher that has secured more than £50,000 from independent research funding (as a PI or Co-I, not including fellowship salary costs) or a Principal Investigator that has secured less than £500,000 from independent research funding.
• There must be an industrial co-applicant with agreed match funding as cash or in-kind contributions. Industrial co-applicants can be from outwith Scotland. Other collaborators are welcome, please reference them in the main body of the application.
• All applicants must have at least 12 months remaining on their contract from the application deadline (if this is not the case we will consider applications where a letter from your line manager stating that your contract is likely to be extended)

• Projects must have a strong Digital or Data element to them and be in or for the benefit of life and health sciences.
• The funding aims to seed new collaborative projects between industry and academia.
  • For new collaborations, we recommend an MOU (memorandum of understanding) is in place or in the process of being drafted, but this is not an essential criteria.
  • Existing collaborative partnerships can be funded but the collaboration cannot have received any external funding to date.
• Funding can be used for
  • Research consumables
  • Facility Access
  • Research costs (shipping etc.)
  • Travel i.e., between host institution and industry partner
• Funding cannot be used for
  • Salaries
  • Attendance at conferences
  • Equipment (hardware or software)
• Match funding from the industry co-applicant can be extended to in-kind contributions, or be a combination of cash and in-kind. In-kind contributions may include consumables, use of lab facilities, or industry staff time.
• Applications that support the development of students, technical or research staff will be looked upon favourably.
• We encourage applications to be multidisciplinary and collaborative. This may include multiple universities (nationally and/or internationally) or engagement with innovation centres or similar external organisations.
• Applicants who are Postdoctoral Researchers must have their application signed by their PI to demonstrate their support.

The below webinar took place in May 2025 focusing on the last round of this funding call. While dates mentioned are no longer correct, the rest of the information detailed in this webinar is accurate as the scope of the call has not changed. 

Judging Criteria
Applications will be reviewed in two stages, first for scientific quality by a review team comprising experts from across SULSA’s membership, and secondly by The Data Lab for their commercial feasibility. The following will be considered during the review:

• The novelty, innovative nature and need for the project
• Impact and commercial feasibility of project
• The collaborative strength of the project
• Engagement of external organisations and/or development of students or staff
• Potential to leverage further funding
• Sustainable and impactful outcomes

Key Dates 

• Call Opens: Monday 20th April 2026
• Application Deadline: Monday 1st June 2026
• Applicants Informed of Outcome: w/c 22nd June 2026
• Funding End Date: 31st July 2027

Payment of Funds
If successful, funds will be transferred to the host institution of the lead academic applicant. Funds must be spent within 12 months of the date of transfer. Upon request funds can be divided up between applicant’s host institutions.

Awardee Reporting
You must provide the SULSA administration with project updates and outcomes at 3 months and 12 months post-award. If this project leads to a published article, or leverages grant funding, please contact the SULSA administration to make them aware.

These grants are partly provided by the Scottish Funding Council and must therefore comply with constitute Subsidy Control (previously State Aid).

Download a copy of the Innovation Seed Funding Guidelines

Application Deadline: 5pm on Monday 1st June 2026

How to Apply: Submit your completed Innovation Seed Application Form (all files merged into a single PDF file) to Jill.Inkster@glasgow.ac.uk before the above deadline.

Eligibility Enquiries: Alison.Hughes@glasgow.ac.uk 

All Other Enquiries and Post-Award Communication: Jill.Inkster@glasgow.ac.uk