SME definition
For this strand an SME is defined using the UK Government definition:
- Fewer than 250 employees
- Annual turnover of £50 million or less, or balance sheet total of £43 million or less
- Independent business and not a subsidiary of a large parent company
Duration of collaboration
The collaboration should normally demonstrate at least two years of sustained engagement.
Examples may include but not limited to:
- Collaborative research and development
- Joint technology development
- Knowledge transfer partnerships
- Product development programmes
- Strategic innovation partnerships
Strategic engagement
The collaboration should demonstrate meaningful partnership between the SME and the university, such as:
- Shared decision‑making on research or innovation
- Regular collaboration through meetings or milestones
- Co‑created outputs such as prototypes, intellectual property, products or policy contributions
Partnership Structure
The collaboration must include a UK university or college and one or more SME partners. Applications may involve:
- A single academic lead
- A research group or centre
- Cross‑disciplinary teams
Institutional Submission
Each university may submit:
- One application to the Main Strand
- One application to the SME Strand