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§ Grant
Grant programme for Welsh businesses and organisations, supporting R&D, innovation, and new product development.
SMART provides 25-70% of R&D project costs to Welsh businesses, from feasibility studies through full-scale development, managed by the Welsh Government's Business Wales service.
Welsh businesses conducting R&D across all sectors, with match funding required. SMEs receive higher co-funding rates. Programs include SMART Cymru and SMART Expertise for university collaboration.
25-70% of eligible costs depending on program and company size, covering personnel, materials, equipment, subcontracting, and IP protection.
Contact a Business Wales innovation advisor first to identify the right program. Then submit through Business Wales with project descriptions, budgets, and match funding evidence.
Welsh manufacturing, life sciences, food and drink, energy, creative, and digital tech companies in Cardiff, Swansea, the Valleys, and rural Wales, driving innovation-led economic transition.
The Welsh Government SMART Innovation Programme is a discretionary grant and advisory initiative administered by the Welsh Government and delivered through Business Wales to support research, development, and commercialization activities. The initiative historically covers between 25% and 70% of eligible project costs for technical feasibility studies and experimental development, having previously invested £150 million across more than 1,700 regional projects. Applicants must secure match funding and align their proposals with priority sectors such as digital transformation, decarbonization, agri-tech, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing. The program frequently facilitates academic and corporate partnerships involving entities like Cardiff University, UK Research and Innovation, Innovate UK, and the European Regional Development Fund. This resource is intended for micro-enterprises, SMEs, large corporations, and knowledge-based institutions based in Wales seeking financial assistance to increase R&D investment and commercialize new technologies.
The Welsh Government SMART Innovation Programme provides 25% to 70% of eligible project costs to Welsh businesses conducting research and development. The program supports innovation across Wales's economy, from early-stage feasibility studies through full-scale R&D projects. SMART is managed by the Welsh Government's Business Wales service and is one of the most significant innovation funding programs available to companies in Wales.
Welsh businesses conducting R&D are eligible, with match funding required for all grants. The program offers several grant types at different stages: SMART Cymru for feasibility studies and industrial research, and SMART Expertise for accessing university expertise. SMEs typically receive higher co-funding rates than large enterprises. Companies across all sectors can apply, though projects should demonstrate innovation that advances the company's capabilities and competitiveness.
Grants cover 25% to 70% of eligible project costs depending on the program, company size, and type of research. Feasibility studies receive higher support rates while closer-to-market development activities receive lower but still significant funding. Eligible costs include personnel, materials, equipment, subcontracting, and IP protection. Beyond grants, the program connects companies with Welsh universities and research institutions for collaborative innovation projects.
Applications are submitted through Business Wales, the Welsh Government's business support service. Businesses should first contact a Business Wales innovation advisor to discuss their project and identify the most appropriate SMART program. Applications require project descriptions, innovation justification, budgets, and evidence of match funding capability. Proposals are evaluated on innovation quality, commercial potential, team capability, and expected benefits for the Welsh economy.
SMART has funded Welsh companies across manufacturing, life sciences, food and drink, energy, creative industries, and digital technology. Recipients include Cardiff and Swansea-based tech firms, advanced manufacturing companies in the Welsh Valleys, agricultural innovators in rural Wales, and life sciences ventures connected to Welsh universities. The program has supported Wales's transition toward a more innovation-driven economy.