Funding to support developer decisions in Scottish countryside

Organisations can apply for a share of £250,000 of UK Government funding to support developer decisions in the Scottish countryside.

Datasets are useful in informing decisions around land management. The competition is looking for projects which will investigate how technology can deliver better targeted information and advice to users – including land owners, developers and local authorities – to support proposals that limit, damage or benefit conservation efforts.

Tourism in the Scottish countryside is worth as much as £420 million a year. However, landscape damage and other changes can result in the loss of local distinctiveness and wildlife diversity, and erode the quality of nearby towns and cities.

Funding is available through an Innovate UK Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) competition which forms part of the GovTech Catalyst for Scottish National Heritage (SNH).

Projects should:

• detail how Scottish National Heritage can use new and current datasets in proposals to limit damage or enhance their environmental impact
• explore how data can be shared in non-digital formats, such as maps
• help users identify organisations involved in the development or approval of proposals where SNH is not the authorising body
• be compatible with other public sector organisations

The competition is made up of two phases.

A total of £250,000 including VAT has been allocated to phase 1. Around five research and development contracts are expected to be awarded, with projects starting on 1 October 2019 and lasting up to three months.

Phase 2 will be subject to outcomes of phase 1 and is expected to award 2 R&D contracts from successful phase 1 applicants. Up to £500,000 including VAT will be allocated to each contract to develop a prototype and conduct field testing. Phase 2 projects can last up to 12 months.

The competition opens on 13 May 2019 and the deadline for registration is at midday on 19 June 2019

Find out more about this competition and apply.