SOME £4.2 million has been dispensed to Scottish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the first six months of the new "Smart Scotland" research and development grant scheme, the Scottish Government announced yesterday.
The scheme is designed to help companies improve their competitiveness by developing commercially viable products or processes.
Smart Scotland consolidates existing R&D-promoting schemes, including the Smart, Spur and Spur Plus schemes, widening
the application criteria to include medium-sized firms.
The programme gives grants of up to £70,000 for technical feasibility studies, and up to £600,000 for prototype development projects.
The enterprise minister, Jim Mather, said: "Our recently launched government economic strategy sets out how we will achieve success through a fresh approach.
"I have been greatly impressed by the first projects to be supported by Smart Scotland, which will enable firms and their expert staff to commercialise their technological innovation and help us become a more successful country."
Among the 33 recipient companies is Glasgow-based firm Ocutec, which was awarded £232,173 to develop a new technique for manufacturing soft contact lenses.
Company chairman James Browning said: "The funding injection will enable us to accelerate our progress to market over the next two years."
The full article contains 214 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
