Economy and enterprise

Stimulating collaboration between business, academia, and government in Scotland.

The RSE’s economy and enterprise activity will address three priorities over the next five years:

  • Increasing economic efficiency via faster, more sustainable growth and overall incomes in Scotland.
  • Enhancing equity by reducing inequitable distribution of incomes and employment, by geographical area, age group, ethnicity, gender, and other relevant categories.
  • A more environmentally sustainable economy – by reducing carbon emissions, more sustainable energy production and consumption and other key issues as they arise.

The RSE will deliver to these priorities through a series of activities, including relaunching RSE’s successful Enterprise Fellowship scheme to consider developments in new business generation, as well as exploring a fund to boost the profile of diverse and under-represented new enterprises, and further work on taxation and public expenditure, considering equity among income groups.

On this page:

Policy advice
Enterprise Fellowships
News
Resources
Newsletter
Contact

Policy advice

Enterprise Fellowships

Since being established in 1997, the RSE Enterprise Fellowship scheme has supported more than 200 researchers to develop and launch new businesses, with companies formed across a wide range of fields – from tidal energy generation and safety systems for the oil and gas industry, to insect repellents and communication solutions for sufferers from Alzheimer’s disease.

Enterprise Fellowship Awards are specifically designed to support academic researchers in becoming outstanding entrepreneurs. Enterprise Fellows get access to the most up-to-date training in entrepreneurial skills, delivered to the highest standard of international excellence by individuals who have a proven track record of commercial success. Awardees are further supported to establish and grow their businesses via one year’s salary and business development funding to cover costs associated with attending conferences and trade shows.

An evaluation and economic impact assessment was carried out by economic consultancy BiGGAR Economics in 2019, it found that the programme:

  • £170m to annual global gross value added (GVA)
  • 3,000 jobs have been created
  • 200 businesses created

In August 2026 the Enterprise Fellowship Scheme relaunched. Applications are open until 12 October 2026. Find out more.

Resources

Contact us

For more information regarding the economy and enterprise programme, please contact the Policy Advice team on:

publicpolicy@theRSE.org.uk

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