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  • Scottish Enterprise - The Ecosystem Fund

    Created: 04/09/2023
    News/Events Category: Funding and Finance


    The Ecosystem Fund is a Scottish Government initiative delivered by Scottish Enterprise. Aimed at Scottish entrepreneurs, start-up activity, or enterprise education, they're looking for ideas that fill gaps and propel the business community forward, with a particular focus on helping entrepreneurs from under-represented groups. 

    Proposals are open to ecosystem partners and intermediary organisations. Scottish Enterprise are welcoming proposals for funding to help deliver innovative and inclusive entrepreneurship support activities across Scotland and internationally. 

    The Ecosystem Fund is for organisations that can enrich Scotland's start-up ecosystem. It’s designed to help support Scottish entrepreneurs to access the resources, knowledge, connections, and capital to thrive.

    Funding will create new — or broaden existing — activities for more people to access. It will also encourage:

    • Skills development;
    • Ideas exchange and collaboration;
    • Access to expert guidance;
    • Greater levels of innovation;
    • Greater access to non-public funding channels;
    • Increased visibility for Scottish entrepreneurs.

    Successful organisations will demonstrate their ability to strengthen networks, accelerate growth, inspire new start-ups, and drive economic impact.

    The fund aims to nurture the conditions for Scottish entrepreneurship to flourish through events, education, research, increased accessibility and inclusion, or other means.

    While the Ecosystem Fund seeks to nurture start-up businesses, it does not provide direct funding for individual companies to grow. Rather, the fund is designed to strengthen infrastructure, resources, and support activities accessible to the start-up community.

    Funding Available

    Scottish Enterprise is looking for proposals between £10,000 and £50,000. In special circumstances, a very limited number of higher awards may be available if the proposal demonstrates clear strategic economic importance and impact.

    However, it’s important to be aware that all activity must be delivered, and funding must be spent, by 31 March 2024. This is a hard deadline, so your proposed projects must be feasible for delivery in this timescale.

    Dates for your diary: 

    • Online information and Q&A event 1 — 2pm-3pm, Friday 1 September 2023
    • Online information and Q&A event 2 — 10am-11am, Monday 4 September 2023
    • Closing date for proposals — 1pm, Monday 25th September 2023

    To apply, download the proposal form from the Scottish Enterprise website and send your completed version to [email protected] 

    More information can be found on the website detailing eligibility for funding, the Ecosystem Fund proposal guidance document, a link to register for the online Q&A events, and a full timeline. 

    You can also e-mail [email protected] with any queries you have prior to submitting your proposal.




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