Business Funding
Supporting innovative business ideas
The Applied Knowledge Exchange offers funding support to Small and Medium Sized Companies (SMEs) and acts as a gateway to EU and SFC funding collaborations between the University and the corporate sector.
We welcome enquiries from SMEs, third sector organisations and larger businesses about funding and eligibility for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.
Knowledge Transfer Partmerships (KTPs) is the UK's leading knowledge transfer programme, helping businesses to access funding for the knowledge and skills that reside within the UK knowledge base to improve their competitiveness and productivity.
Glasgow Caledonian University's KTP portfolio encompasses a broad range of business sectors including design, distribution, construction, IT, food, and electronics. We currently have KTPs running with The Natural Fruit & Beverage Company, Silvers Marine (UK), Street League, FearsomEngine, If Only, Airpoint, VAG Valves, Shearwater Marine Services, Agrico UK and Vion Foods. In total, projects have attracted grants of over £4m.
We can also tell you more about Scottish Funding Council opportunities, including the Innovation Voucher Scheme, which offers SMEs up to £5,000 worth of support for a project. From the year August 2010 to July 2011, GCU will have £15,000 allocated. The programme is aimed at building relationships between SMEs and Higher Education Institutes in Scotland. The proposed collaborative project should lead to new products and processes that will benefit the business, the institution and the Scottish economy. The company contribution is expected to match the grant contribution from the Scheme.
The SFC's Horizon Fund for Universities also offers support for knowledge exchange proposals addressing the needs of Scottish industry. For more details of SFC funding schemes, please contact GCU's Knowledge Transfer Manager Janette McAlpine on 0141 331 8877.
Staff and students can also get in touch for advice on how to apply to the Glasgow Caledonian University Enterprise Fund. The £500,000 Enterprise Fund, launched by Jim Mather MSP, supports joint-venturing activity with organisations which can benefit from the University's expertise. One such business was Spruce Carpets, and innovative social enterprise, which worked with our Caledonian Environment Centre to develop new viable markets for carpet waste.
Glasgow Caledonian Unviersity has worked successfully to develop its own business funding mechanisms. The Business Transformation Fund was a £150,000 grant partnership running with Scottish Enterprise until March 2010 to help SMEs to work collaboratively with Glasgow Caledonian University and access specialist expertise including consultancy, contract research and access to facilities or equipment. Successful Business Transformation Fund applicants included Red Button Design, TWM Productions, and Lat 56. 
We also encourage alumni of Glasgow Caledonian University with exciting business proposals to get in touch and benefit from our access to expertise, technology or skills.
