What is it?

HIE’s Digital Specialist Advice Grant offers organisations based in the Highlands and Islands area up to £5,000 towards the costs of obtaining specialist advice on automation, robotics and artificial intelligence (AI).

Introducing the right AI technology into your business has many advantages, including cutting costs, speeding up processes, improving customer insights, creating the ability to make faster business decisions and increase revenue. But what’s the best option for you?

Our Digital Specialist Advice funding is available to cover the costs of 1-2-1 consultancy on advanced digital technologies leading to an action plan for your business or a feasibility study. The advance digital technologies can include, for example:

• Robots / robotics
• Sensor technologies, including the Internet of Things
• Data innovation
• Artificial intelligence
• Cyber security / risks

Who is eligible?

Organisations engaged with HIE and based within the Highlands and Islands region are eligible to apply.

Applicants must comply with HIE’s fair work conditions for support. For more information, please visit our fair work page. If you would like to speak to someone about the fair work requirement or need more information, please email enquiries@hient.co.uk

How much can I apply for?

You can apply for between £2,000 (minimum payable) and £5,000. If your project exceeds £5,000 you will need to meet the additional costs.

Applicants will be required to identify eligible consultants to support their project, HIE can not make recommendations on who you should work with.

What can the funding be used for?

This funding can be used for projects focused on the adoption of advanced digital technologies, including artificial intelligence or robotics.

• The funding is for consultancy costs to develop a feasibility study / action plan for digital technologies e.g. increase productivity, impact on jobs / skills / workforce development, efficiency gains, reducing energy costs, carbon reduction etc.

The consultancy can include:

• Market research / testing, opportunity analysis and market assessments
• Energy efficiency feasibility study associated with application of a digital technologies
• Project feasibility, identify and appraise options and preparing a business case for investment
• Feasibility and impact analysis of new workplace practices and organisational structures and approaches to learning and development to reduce costs or improve resource utilisation
• Research supporting emerging digital technologies e.g. Industry 4.0 related, within the business
• Specialists to fill a skills gap relating to adoption of digital technologies.

What can’t the funding be used for?

 The funding can not be used towards:

• projects previously funded by HIE
• covering salary costs of payroll employees
• materials
• placements
• legal costs
• travel and accommodation costs are generally excluded from eligible costs but they will be considered on a case by case basis depending on the applicant’s location.

How do I apply?

To apply, please complete our short enquiry form and we will get in touch.

THE SMALL PRINT – THIS IS IMPORTANT

• All HIE grant assistance is discretionary. 
• Grant awards are subject to due diligence and budget availability. Due diligence includes: making an assessment on the need for public funding; the viability of the business going forward; the ability of the applicant to deliver the project; the impact of the development on the economy, and the strength of the business case presented to HIE. 
• Making an application to the fund does not guarantee that your application will be successful. If you are not successful in your application or you are only partially successful e.g. you receive funding of a lesser amount than you applied for, we will arrange a call with you to let you know why you have been unsuccessful and point you in the direction of other possible sources of funding. 
• There is no appeals process. We are unable to consider a complaint purely relating to dissatisfaction as to the outcome of a funding decision. However, if you have identified a specific process failure relating to your application, then you may wish to make a formal complaint. See our formal complaints process for more information.
• Organisations will commission a supplier of their own choosing. When submitting an application organisations will also have to provide a copy of their outline brief for the work proposed and evidence that at least 3 quotes have been received from potential contractors.

NEED TO SPEAK TO US?

If you would like to talk to someone about your enquiry, please email enquiries@hient.co.uk and we will get back to you.