As it celebrates 20 years of driving business–academic innovation, Interface has secured a double commitment from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC).
A new three-year funding agreement, running from August 2025 to July 2028, enables Interface to continue connecting businesses with the expertise of universities and colleges across the country.
The SFC has also confirmed ongoing support for the Standard and Student Placement Innovation Voucher Programmes, which enable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), universities and colleges to collaborate on projects leading to new products, processes and services.
Since it was set up in 2005, Interface has played a key role in connecting over 2,200 SMEs with college and university expertise, 92% of which said their project would not have happened without Interface’s support. Once established, over half the partnerships continue to work together on further research and development.
Impacts from Interface’s work include:
- 11,000+ new or improved products, processes, services and workforce practices
- More than 3,300 jobs created or safeguarded
- Over £28m increased turnover in the businesses which have accessed the free and impartial service
- 89% of projects in the last five years have delivered positive impacts for social inclusion, environmental sustainability, or equality and diversity.
- Since its launch in 2009, the Innovation Voucher programme has provided £13.25M to date to create, develop, test and analyse new and existing products, processes and services.
Francesca Osowska and Amelia Whitelaw
Interface has also staged the Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards for the past 10 years, celebrating the people and projects behind the successful collaborations and helping to raise the profile of knowledge exchange across Scotland.
Commenting on the new funding, Francesca Osowska, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said: “We are proud to have been able to support Interface’s impact on business innovation across many sectors of the economy throughout Scotland for the past 20 years. Combining expertise and talent from universities and colleges with ideas and knowledge from progressive companies is crucial to Scotland’s economy and future prosperity.
“This new wave of funding will support Interface to continue to connect business innovation with academia and foster new products, processes and services.”
Amelia Whitelaw, Director of Interface, added: “This funding means we can help even more businesses turn bold ideas into reality and strengthen Scotland’s position as one of the most innovative small nations in the world.”
Francesca Osowska and Amelia Whitelaw recently met Lorenzo Conti, founder of Crover, one of over 2,200 businesses supported by Interface. Based at the National Robotarium at Heriot-Watt University, Crover is pioneering robotic technology that “swims” through grain to improve storage management, cut waste, protect resources, and set new efficiency standards for the industry.
Watch the video of the tour of Crover here https://youtu.be/l1_jjR3RgDs
More information about Interface at 20, including testimonials and case studies can be found here.