SCOTTISH ENTERPRISE

Their core work

Scottish Enterprise is Scotland's national economic development agency, operating as a public body that drives business innovation and growth. Within H2020, they manage Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) services for Scotland — helping SMEs improve their innovation management, access coaching, and scale internationally. They also coordinate and fund transnational energy research through ERA-NET programmes, particularly in ocean energy, smart grids, and digitalized energy systems. Their role bridges policy, funding, and business support rather than conducting research directly.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In 2014-2017, Scottish Enterprise focused almost entirely on SME support infrastructure — innovation management coaching, peer learning among business agencies, and Enterprise Europe Network operations. From 2017 onward, a strong energy dimension emerged: they began coordinating ERA-NET cofund programmes in ocean energy and smart grids, and later joined projects on energy system digitalisation and environmental monitoring. The shift shows a deliberate expansion from pure business support into substantive energy and environment funding coordination.

Scottish Enterprise is moving from generic SME support toward becoming a regional coordinator for energy transition and environmental research funding — expect future projects in digitalised energy and clean tech.

How they like to work

Scottish Enterprise splits evenly between leading (6 coordinator roles) and joining as partner (7 participant roles). As coordinator, they typically run smaller nationally-focused projects (EEN Scotland EIMC rounds), but they also lead large transnational programmes like OCEANERA-NET COFUND. With 85 unique partners across 36 countries, they function as a networking hub rather than a specialist contributor — their value lies in connecting ecosystems rather than delivering technical research.

Extensive network of 85 unique partners spanning 36 countries, reflecting their dual role as an EEN node and ERA-NET coordinator. Their reach is genuinely pan-European, with connections far beyond the UK.

What sets them apart

Scottish Enterprise is rare in combining national economic development authority with hands-on EU research programme coordination. Unlike universities or research institutes, they bring policy influence, business networks, and regional funding mechanisms to consortia. For energy projects especially, they offer a gateway to the Scottish innovation ecosystem — one of Europe's strongest regions for ocean energy and smart grid deployment.

Highlights from their portfolio

• OCEANERA-NET COFUND
  Their largest project (EUR 1.15M) and a coordinator role managing transnational funding calls for ocean wave and tidal energy research across multiple countries.
• EN SGplusRegSys
  Their second-largest funded project (EUR 878K) and a long-running initiative (2018-2023) on integrated regional energy systems covering smart grids, heating, cooling, and renewables.
• AquaticPollutants
  A notable diversification into environmental health — addressing antimicrobial resistance and emerging pollutants in aquatic ecosystems, signaling broader environmental ambitions.