State aid rules are highly complex and carry significant risk for both providers and recipients, so it is critical for higher education institutions (HEIs) to ensure they remain fully compliant.

Our dedicated state aid team can help your university identify, assess and solve state aid issues in a range of projects, from grant funding applications and research and development (R&D) collaborations to student accommodation projects. We pride ourselves on our ability to provide clear and concise advice and identify practical and commercial solutions for our HEI clients.

What we offer

• Supporting HEIs’ applications for external funding with state aid advice and advising funding bodies, including local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) and central government bodies and departments
• Advising on state aid in R&D collaboration projects, including joint R&D, research infrastructure and contract research
• Assisting HEIs in structuring their projects to comply with existing exemptions such as innovation clusters and research infrastructures
• Advising on the inclusion of appropriate contractual terms in relevant contractual documents such as grant funding agreements, loan facilities, collaboration agreements and development agreements
• Enabling HEIs to establish, support and develop spin-outs in compliance with state aid rules
• Drafting internal guidance and governance documents to assist with state aid compliance
• Supporting HEIs subject to funding compliance audits
• Advising on all aspects of state aid law, including exemptions, approved schemes, notification and challenges.
• Delivering bespoke and practical training on state aid at all levels.

Why choose Browne Jacobson higher education lawyers?

We have a specialist team providing advice on all aspects of state aid for higher education institutions. For more information please contact Alex Kynoch.

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