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Support and Funding

Technology Programme  £320 million in grant funding is available to UK businesses to support R&D projects.

Grant for R&D provides grants to help individuals and small and medium-sized businesses research and develop technologically innovative products and processes  

Selective Finance for Investment in England offers grants towards the capital costs of certain investment projects in Assisted Areas.

BERR Business Support  Each year, BERR invests over £400m assisting businesses through grants, loans and subsidised consultancy.

Small Firms Loan Guarantee (SFLG) guarantees loans from the banks and other financial institutions for small firms that have viable business proposals but who have tried and failed to get a conventional loan because of lack of security. 

Research Councils UK  The major source of funding for research in the UK higher education sector is split between eight resource councils

R&D Tax Credits are a company tax relief which can either reduce a company's tax bill or, for some small or medium sized companies, provide a cash sum.

Vaccines Research Relief   This is an addition tax credit for firms carrying out research into tuberculosis (TB), malaria, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Regional initiatives  Support and funding for the biotechnology sector may also be found through regional schemes and initiatives.

Regional Venture Capital Funds (RVCFs) are an England wide programme to provide risk capital finance in amounts up to £500,000 to Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) who demonstrate growth potential.

The Small Business Service (SBS) provides leadership, expertise and promotes change and innovation within the small business sector.

Early Growth Funds have been developed to encourage risk funding for start-ups and growth firms.

Government Science Spending In March 2005, Lord Sainsbury announced that UK biotechnology spending from the Government science budget will rise to over £1billion over the next few years. 

Export Help  UKTI can help develop export capabilities and provide expert advice, reliable data, and professional research.

Regulatory Atlas An online facility providing guidance on regulations to guide biotech SMEs and start-up companies.

There is also a useful searchable directory of grants and business support. This includes support from central and local government as well as private organisations.