SMART Partnerships
Funds collaborative R&D between Wales-based businesses and knowledge-base partners, with the Welsh Government covering 100% of the academic or research partner's eligible costs.
SMART Partnerships funds collaborative R&D projects between a Welsh business and a knowledge-base partner — a university (HE), further education college (FE), research and technology organisation (RTO), or a Catapult centre. The Welsh Government covers 100% of the knowledge-base partner's eligible project costs; the business is required to contribute a minimum 50% match of the knowledge-base partn…
Applied research and experimental development addressing a meaningful technical challenge. The project must be business-driven with clear commercial application in Wales. Priority sectors: digital transformation, net zero and decarbonisation, agri-tech and food, creative industries, life sciences and biotech, materials and manufacturing.
Sign up free to see the funding breakdown
Sign up free to see the industries in scope
Sign up free to see the full eligibility
Sign up free to see how to apply
Sign up free to see what you submit
Sign up free to see how they score you
Sign up free to see the timeline
Sign up free to see where teams trip up
Guides for this application
All guides →Grants for Biotech Startups: NIH, NSF, SBIR/STTR, and Non-Dilutive Funding
A practical guide to grants for biotech startups, including NIH SBIR/STTR, NSF, translational funding, evidence, regulatory readiness, and budgets.
Where to applyGrants for Robotics Startups: SBIR, Defense, NSF, and Pilot Funding
A practical guide to grants for robotics startups, including SBIR/STTR, NSF, DoD, NASA, field validation, TRL, pilot evidence, budgets, and commercialization strategy.
BudgetGrant Financials and Co-Funding Evidence: Examples for Startup Applications
See examples of grant financials, match funding evidence, co-funding tables, accountant letters, investor commitments, and budget-to-work-plan checks.
Write proposalHow to Write a Grant Proposal Reviewers Can Score
Learn how to write a grant proposal around reviewer criteria, evidence, work packages, budget logic, and commercialization for deeptech and R&D funding.
More from Business Wales
All grants from this funder →Similar grants
Browse the directory →
SMART Partnerships
🇬🇧Welsh Gov · United Kingdom
Funds Welsh business and research institution collaborations for short-term joint innovation and commercialization projects.
US-Ireland R&D Partnership
🇮🇪Research Ireland · Ireland
Funds tri jurisdiction collaboration between the United States, Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland through a science and technology partnership.
UKRI International Science Partnerships Fund
🇬🇧UKRI · United Kingdom
Supports United Kingdom researchers connecting globally through partnerships in planet, health, technology, and talent priorities via UKRI International Science Partnerships Fund.
International AI Partnerships for Local Innovation
🇪🇺European Commission · European Union
Funds two €1.5M projects that adapt European AI to local data, innovation hubs and real-world challenges in low- and middle-income countries.
Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP): 2026 – 2027 Round 3
🇬🇧Innovate UK · United Kingdom
A university and a business share a graduate for a project neither could run alone.
BBSRC Industrial Partnership Awards (IPA) — Always Open
🇬🇧BBSRC · United Kingdom
Supports United Kingdom industry-academia teams through partnership awards for precommercial innovation experiments.