Innovation Centres
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Register hereInnovation Centres connect Scotland’s academic expertise with key industrial sectors to help solve industry problems, as well as supporting skills and training to develop the next generation of researchers and knowledge exchange practitioners.
SFC currently funds four Innovation Centres. Whilst Innovation Centres are hosted by one university, their focus is Scotland-wide and they collaborate with all universities and colleges.
Innovation Centres are a long-term investment for the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). This provides certainty and stability and encourages long-term relationships with industry.
In 2025-26, the total SFC funding for Innovation Centres was £8 million, with £2 million awarded to each Innovation Centre. This core funding enables innovation centres to leverage further funding from the wider system scaling the ambition and impact of each Innovation Centre.
Scotland’s innovation centres
Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST)
The Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST) Innovation Centre is the launchpad to a zero carbon built environment. It provides the connections, infrastructure and culture to solve the sector’s most pressing challenges.
The Data Lab
The Data Lab changes lives and makes Scotland a more productive and sustainable place by transforming the way organisations use data and artificial intelligence. Its aim is to turn Scotland into a thriving, data-driven economy.
Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre
The Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre has a vision that innovation in digital health and care will help the people of Scotland live longer, healthier lives and provide sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
Industrial Biotechnology
The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBIOIC) is the national networking and support organisation helping to bring Scottish biotechnology processes and products to the global market.
Innovation Centre Infrastructure Assessment Process 2023
The evaluation focused on the delivery of the Innovation Centre (IC) programme over Phase 1 and Phase 2. Commissioned by IC funders SFC, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, it was conducted by consultants Additional Research in association with CONTEXT Economic & Social Research, ADD Specialists, OpenCities Ltd, and ibp Strategy & Research.
The evaluation informed the Innovation Centre Infrastructure Assessment process which assessed Innovation Centre’s suitability for SFC Infrastructure Investment.
View the Innovation Centres Evaluation Report [PDF].
Individual Innovation Centre Annexes are available on request, please contact
Jenny Jamieson, Policy Officer, Research & Innovation, email: jjamieson@sfc.ac.uk.
Subsidy Control Scheme
The SFC’s Innovation Centre Scheme operates under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation agreement (TCA) and within UK Subsidy Control requirements.
SFC Strategic Plan 2022-27
Building a connected, agile, sustainable tertiary education and research system for Scotland.