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For Academics

Academic Opportunities

For more on how we can help you secure the project funding your need, get in touch.

Get in touch

Unlock the funding you need

Thanks to our extensive network of contacts and collaborations, we are able to access a wide range of grants and other external funding mechanisms for data-science-based research and project development. We specialise in helping academics expand their research and development activities, and can help academic research teams access funds for translational work that commercialises research.

Why come to The Data Lab for funding and assistance?

We can help secure funding for transformational projects from different external sources by working with you to write and coordinate strategic bids. We have had success with funding sources such as the Digital Innovation Hubs and the Strength in Places Fund.

Key benefits

Grant applications

Get help with the paperwork

Funding resources

Find the best source of funding

Strategic bids

Fund your transformational project

Funding and grants in Scotland

Funding for your MOOC and other online courses

As part of our mission to turn Scotland into a leader in Data Science, we provide funding and advice for academics and researchers who want to develop online courses. To date, we have funded a number of successful online courses that have provided learning opportunities to thousands of students.

What funding is available?

The Data Lab will provide up to £30,000 or £50,000 for the development of online courses:

  • Short online course (for example: open resources and MOOCs) – up to £30,000
  • Professional online course (for example: professional training) – up to £30,000
  • Large course (for example: MSc credit bearing course or MOOC + accompanying online training course) – up to £50,000

The Data Lab will provide funding for the costs incurred in the development of new online courses. This could include, curriculum design, video design and production, project management, and academic expertise.

We expect the institution leading the project to find funding for the remainder of the development costs for the course. Typically, this will be equal to or greater than The Data Lab contribution.

In-kind contributions may be counted towards meeting the development costs. Please contact the Skills Team at skills@thedatalab.com if you have any questions about a current or future application.

Collaborative Innovation Funding

The Data Lab works to link up academics with Scottish-based companies and public sector organisations to develop and deliver data-driven innovative research projects for new products, services, or processes.

We provide Innovation Funding for such collaborative and work with academics and their industry partners to develop applications that are suitable for review by our Innovation Advisory Board. This Board is made up of a mix of data experts from industry and academia. The core requirements for collaborative project funding applications are as follows:

  • Applicants must have a Scottish office, with personnel based in Scotland
  • There are clear economic (e.g. jobs, turnover) and/or social impact(s) that benefit the company and Scotland as a result of a successful project delivery and commercialisation
  • There must be a clear ability to execute the project. This can be demonstrated through previously delivered research & development projects, domain expertise, and commercial capabilities (including access to markets)
  • The project must feature a novel and innovative application of data science/ AI techniques. This can be in the context of a particular industry or public sector area
  • SMEs will make a cash contribution of 25% towards total academic projects costs, rising to 40% for large companies
  • Project proposals should typically be within Technology Readiness Levels 3 to 6 (TRL)

Projects generally run for 3-12 months. The Data Lab project management team will provide project governance support to ensure the collaboration runs smoothly and achieves the best outcomes for all parties.

Speak to one of our team to help find out what’s right for you

Get in touch

Find out how we’ve helped Scotland’s researchers get the funds they need:

  • Student data project helps analyse student feedback at University of the Highlands and Islands

    Case Study

    Academic collaboration, Case Studies, HIE, MSc

    Student data project helps analyse student feedback at University of the Highlands and Islands

    Bringing together further and higher education, the University of the Highlands and Islands is one of a new style of integrated regional universities emerging across Europe. A partnership of 13 colleges and research institutions, it serves over 40,000 students across more than 70 learning centres. The problem: The three annual surveys produced a vast quantity […]

    View case study

  • FITsense: Harnessing data to predict and prevent dangerous falls

    Case Study

    Academic collaboration, Case Studies, Funding, Healthcare, Support to innovate

    FITsense: Harnessing data to predict and prevent dangerous falls

    The FIT Home initiative is pioneered by the Albyn Housing Society, in partnership with Carbon Dynamic (a manufacturer of sustainable, modular homes) and NHS Highland. FIT Home aims to develop housing solutions to enable people to live independently for longer – supporting them to make their own choices, providing a secure environment for them to […]

    View case study

View all case studies

News about our work helping Scotland’s researchers get the funds they need:

  • Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc’s Innovation Challenge 2 Awards £86,000 in Funding

    Net Zero, News, Support to innovate
    31/01/2023

    Five companies have been awarded funding as part of Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc’s (MSIP) second Innovation Challenge. MSIP and partners The Data Lab, CENSIS and Dundee City Council, are providing project funding of over £86,000, towards a total project cost of over £136,000. MSIP, a joint venture between Michelin, Dundee City Council and Scottish Enterprise, […]

    View

  • Scottish companies using space data to help tackle climate change

    Funding, Net Zero, News, Support to innovate
    24/01/2023

    The 11 companies selected to take part in the Scotland Can Do ‘Applying Space Data to the Net Zero Economy’ research and development (R&D) challenge – run by Scottish Enterprise in partnership with the Scottish Government and The Data Lab – came together yesterday (Monday, 23 January) to share their innovative ideas after recently being […]

    View

  • 2023 predictions on data and AI

    Healthcare, Net Zero, News, Support to innovate
    18/01/2023

    Brian Hills, CEO at The Data Lab, on what’s likely to happen this year in the world of data, AI and machine learning. SMEs will invest more in digital transformation I see 2023 as a year of opportunity for SMEs to drive innovation and adoption of data, AI and machine learning, and a time when […]

    View

View all news

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The Data Lab is part of the University of Edinburgh, a charitable body registered in Scotland with registration number SC005336.

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