RDI Voucher for Business Development
The Research, Development and Innovation Voucher (RDI Voucher) offers micro and SME companies up to €10,000 in support for collaboration projects with higher education institutions in the Turku region – regardless of industry. The support can cover up to 50 % of the project costs.
RDI Voucher lowers the threshold to start impactful cooperation with universities, helping your company grow and strengthen its business development.
Now is the perfect time to seize the opportunity and take your development ideas to the next level!
What is the RDI Voucher?
With the RDI Voucher, companies can start collaborating with universities, test new ideas, develop products or services, and strengthen their competitiveness.
Companies can receive up to €10,000 in funding, covering a maximum of 50 % of the costs of a research, development, and innovation project. This means the total budget of a joint project can be up to €20,000.
The voucher can be used for example to:
- Commission theses from higher education institutions
- Carry out research and feasibility projects, for example to support product development or validation
- Utilise analysis and measurement services provided by universities
The voucher is funded by the City of Turku.
Selection criteria
The RDI Voucher is available to micro and SME companies operating in or connected to the Turku region, regardless of industry. Below are the detailed eligibility criteria:
- The company qualifies as a micro or SME (annual turnover up to €50 million, with a maximum of 250 employees).
- The company has an office in the Turku region or another strong connection to the Turku business region.
- The collaboration project is carried out with local higher education institutions: University of Turku, Åbo Akademi University, Turku University of Applied Sciences, Novia University of Applied Sciences, or Turku School of Economics.
- The project may be research-oriented or investigative (excluding market and IPR studies).
- The company’s 50% share of the project costs may consist of up to 50% working hours, with the remaining part covered by direct funding. If a thesis worker is hired, the company’s share can be fully covered by the thesis worker’s working hours.
- Companies that have previously received RDI Voucher funding may apply again, provided the project concerns a substantially new research topic.
- The voucher is not business subsidy funding.
Applying
When your company identifies a research or development need, it’s time to apply for an RDI Voucher.
- Book a free appointment with Business Turku’s expert to outline the skills and research partners needed for your development work.
- Our expert will arrange a meeting between your company and the research partner, where a short research plan is created (including project title, brief description, duration, and participants).
- Business Turku submits the application for evaluation.
- You will receive confirmation from us regarding the possible approval of your RDI Voucher application – after which the project can begin!
Throughout the process, our expert supports the research collaboration and stands by your company from start to finish of the RDI Voucher project.
Find the right partners and networks
We help companies find collaboration partners also beyond the RDI Voucher application. When you want to strengthen your networks and build partnerships, it’s time to turn to Business Turku.
We are here for you.
