Inward investment support for business - academic collaborations

"Inward investment is critical to driving economic growth, supporting jobs and creating news ones – and Scotland boasts a remarkable track record in attracting investment from across the globe. A key factor in this success is the skills, expertise and innovation offered by our world-renowned universities and research capabilities.

"The Inward Investment Catalyst Fund is about bringing together Scottish academia and companies based outwith Scotland to collaborate on projects which have the potential to translate into future inward investment into Scotland. The Fund has already led to several businesses establishing roots and operations in the country and I look forward to this new round of funding acting as the catalyst to more successful partnerships."

"We are really starting to see the acceleration of impacts from this fund. Of the nine projects funded last year, three of the companies have set up or spun-out operations in Scotland: ZIYX, registered in Nottingham have established an office in Glasgow employing three staff with plans to expand; Italian-based Gruppo Sismica have spun out a Scottish business in Glasgow, strengthening its ties with local academic partners for future innovation and Vaste, from London, have now based their headquarters in Edinburgh."

"The Inward Investment Catalyst Fund has given Vaste far more than capital. We’ve benefitted from strategic open doors to key stakeholders, including customers, talent, and investors. Through this support, Vaste can scale faster, reach further, and deliver more value than we could by ourselves."