What is a Smart Partnership?
- Three-way partnership between a Welsh Research Organisation, a Wales-based Business, and an Associate;
- Associate based within the business to develop and implement the project;
- Projects last between 6 and 12 months;
- Funding is awarded to the Research Organisation;
- Welsh Government contributes 50% of costs;
- Businesses contribute the remaining 50% in cash OR in-kind i.e. staff time or company materials;
- Associate needs qualifications/experience to match project delivery requirements with a minimum of BTEC / Diploma Level;
- Applications are assessed against the following criteria: Impact, Innovation, Challenge, Cohesiveness.
How does the application process work?
Applications can be submitted at ANY time.
The application should be jointly contributed between the business and the University, as there needs to be an obvious business case for the project (SPs are not research initiatives).
What projects are funded by Smart Partnerships?
- Collaborative projects that will enhance the capability of Welsh businesses to develop R&D activities whilst facilitating the spread of technical and business skills;
- Projects that will develop new products, processes and services in alignment with Smart Specialisation – businesses need to demonstrate the capacity to exploit the outcomes of the project;
- Projects that facilitate knowledge transfer from researchers to businesses to foster innovation – especially in the fields of science, technology, and engineering;
- Projects that are aligned with the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act (2015).
