SMARTExpertise – Please note this project has now closed.

Project description

SMARTExpertise supports collaborative projects, between industry and Welsh research organisations, which address strategic industrial technical challenge/s with a clear focus on commercialisation and exploitation of new products, processes or services and growth in capacity and capability in key areas of Smart Specialisation.

SMARTExpertise aims to:

• increase commercialisation of Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) within research organisations in collaboration with industry.
• encourage businesses and researchers to work together on innovative projects in strategically important areas of science, engineering and technology.
• assist in securing competitively won follow-on funding
• assist the growth of R&D expertise and capacity in research organisations and industry creating Innovation Clusters

Further information: https://businesswales.gov.wales/expertisewales/smartexpertise

Delivery model

SMARTExpertise will be delivered by a team with experience of innovation, knowledge transfer and technology gained in industry, the public sector and academia. The team have extensive experience of engaging with academia and industry, and of previously delivering against EU funded projects.

The Research Development Managers are key to the delivery as they identify and scope collaborative projects between research organisations and industry. The SMARTExpertise team will add value by working in close alignment with SMART Innovation, SMARTCymru, other ES&T operations, UK and EU RD&I programmes and Horizon 2020.

Innovation Specialists from SMARTInnovation will work in a closely integrated fashion with the Research Development Managers, ensuring improved and enhanced communications between all parties.

Funding supports 100% of the research organisations eligible project costs which shall equate to a maximum of 50% of the total eligible project costs. The industrial partners provide the remaining balance of the total eligible projects costs. The funding is awarded to the research organisation.

Geographical coverage

The project will benefit all local authority areas in Wales.

Essential eligibility criteria

Funding will support 100% of the research organisations eligible project costs which shall equate to a maximum of 50% of the total eligible project costs. The industrial partners shall provide the remaining balance of the total eligible projects costs. The funding will be awarded to the research organisation. There needs to be at least one welsh research organisation and 2 non-academic partners.

There are no restrictions on size or location of industrial partners, however, the project must demonstrate it is an effective collaboration and will deliver positive Welsh economic impacts.

Duration of projects: Project activity must end no later than 1 August 2022

Contract research and provision of research services are not eligible.

Specific targets

	EW	WWV
Number of enterprises cooperating with supported research institutions	212	120
Employment increase in supported enterprises.	110	63
Number of enterprises supported to introduce new to the market products.	32	18
Number of enterprises supported to introduce new to the firm products.	48	27
Number of patents registered for products.	53	30

Contact details

Name: Leanne Thomas
Email: smartexpertise@gov.wales
Telephone: 0300 061 5963
Address: Welsh Government Offices, Main Avenue, Treforest Industrial Estate, Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, CF37 5YR
Website:
Twitter:

Progress

Progress to end Aug 2019

17 Projects Approved – total funding granted £9.7m, total project value £20.2m.