GCID Venture Studio Makers Voucher for SME Product Development Support  

The Glasgow City Innovation District Venture Studio has launched the Makers Voucher as part of our Make pillar. 

This initiative aims to support SMEs who develop tangible products to access expert support to accelerate the development of new or improved innovative products from prototype to production. This programme is targeted at companies with growth ambitions located within the Glasgow City Council boundary.    

During the three-month support programme, successful applicants will work with product development experts from National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), University of Strathclyde's Design Manufacturing and Engineering Management (DMEM) department and Scottish Enterprise at an in-person workshop to work through product development challenges. 

Following the in-person workshop, participants will have access to technical expertise, tailored to their requirements, up to the value of a ‘Makers Voucher’.  This support will be delivered through NMIS, University of Strathclyde (DMEM), Scottish Enterprise and a network of product design consultancies.  

Why Apply?

As part of the programme, successful applicants will: 

  • Gain access to coordinated support: our programme will support you to access the support available across Glasgow to develop your product. GCID will act as the main point of contact and facilitate interactions with the support ecosystem on your behalf.
  • Identify solutions for product challenges: participants will have the opportunity to work with product design and manufacturing experts to work through current production challenges and identify a road map for development. 
  • Accelerate your product to market: access expertise and tools, up to a value of £15,000, that enable you to accelerate the development of prototypes, enabling you to get your ideas to market quicker. 
  • Networking and collaboration opportunities: benefit from becoming part of the GCID Venture Studio with opportunities to network and leverage connections across Glasgow to grow your customer base.  

 

Complete the application form

This programme will offer: 

  • Facilitated access to support organisations located within/connected to GCID.  
  • A bespoke half-day in-person product design workshop to work through current product development challenges and identify support requirements.
  • Access to technical and expert support from NMIS, the University of Strathclyde (DMEM), and a network of product design consultancies through a 'Makers Voucher'. This may include: 
    • 1:1 advice and support around design, materials, equipment and/or techniques;
    • Designing in efficiency/sustainability/net zero aspects; 
    • Data analytics/AI/data-driven manufacturing​;
    • Small-scale prototyping support​;
    • Access to 1:many offerings for SMEs; 
    • Identification of potential future use of equipment at NMIS; and
    • Support to utilise existing tools, including the Product Design Scotland toolkit.  
  • Access to market development and networking support through Scottish Enterprise and GCID. 
  • Access to additional funding, identification and application support through the University of Strathclyde, NMIS and Scottish Enterprise.  
Find out more information

3D printer

Timeline  

  • Applications open: 31st October 2025 
  • Application Deadline: 24th November 2025  
  • Application outcome notification: early December 2025  
  • Initial programme workshops (in-person in Glasgow): December 2025/January 2026  
  • Programme end date: March 2026  
Complete the application form

Glasgow City Innovation District Venture Studio Funding 

This project is funded by Glasgow City Council and UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). 

Funded by UK Government
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