Funding opportunities
Discover funding opportunities
Funding is at the forefront of any new research, spin-out or start-up, so it’s important to know what support is out there. But it can be a challenge to understand what’s available. The team can provide support and guidance to help you navigate different funding streams.
Internal funding streams
Research, impact and innovation funding – the University provides support for researchers seeking external funding, in pre- and post-award management. It also operates a series of funding schemes accessible to researchers within the University.
St Andrews Innovation Fellowship – a competitive opportunity that provides one year of buyout support (there is the potential of extension to a second year should this be required). Up to two fellowships will be funded per year and the St Andrews Innovation Fellows will be able to devote their attention to entrepreneurial activity full-time during the term of the fellowship.
Start-up and spin-out funding – funding provided for staff and students across the University for start-ups and spin-outs through a series of funding streams including completion of enterprise programmes and internal competitions.
External research and innovation funding
Research Professional and Research Connect are key resources for finding research and innovation funding opportunities. You can access them on campus automatically, and off campus by VPN or institutional log-in. Both are specialist databases which let you explore funding opportunities relevant to your research area.
UK Research and Innovation Council – the core funding agency for the UK, granting both research and innovation funding.
Horizon Europe – the EU’s research and innovation programme for 2021 to 2027, with a budget of €95.5 billion.
The team has experience of working with many more regional, national and international funders. We encourage you to contact your school‘s business development manager to discuss further.
- Dr Adeel Shafi – Chemistry, Computer Science, Medicine, Physics and Astronomy
- Dr Ailsa Lamb – Biology, Psychology & Neuroscience
- Dr Jayshree Johnstone – Industry
- Dr Joanna Pulver – CREEM, Earth & Environmental Science, Geography & Sustainable Development, Maths & Statistics, Transition Team
- Dr Lorraine Black – Horizon Europe and other European Union programmes
- Dr Sneh Jain – Art History, Classics, Divinity, Economics & Finance, English, History, International Relations, Management, Modern Languages, Museums & Libraries, Philosophy, Anthropology & Film Studies, Service Units
Investor ecosystem
The team has a strong relationship with an ecosystem of investors, from angel investors to venture capitalists.
For further support and advice, get in touch with the team.
Innovation Vouchers
The Scottish Funding Council provide the University with an Innovation Fund targeted at supporting or amplifying innovative ideas stemming from research.
The University has used this to create a fund to create 30 Innovation Vouchers of up to £750 which can be used to pay for services within the Rapid Prototyping Centre based at Eden Campus.
The opportunity is open for staff and students to apply for an Innovation Voucher.
Speak to me to see how we can help
Hello, I’m Kelly Maher and I head up the Research Business Development team. We provide support in identifying and securing research funding from grants and government funding, to contract research with industry. We can help from the very beginning of your research journey right through to follow on funding opportunities.
Kelly Maher
Head of Research Business Development