Research commercialisation - Proof of Concept Fund: guidance

3. Collection of Personal Data

The personal data collected in the application process is collected from the lead applicant only on submission of an application to Scottish Government. We aim to collect and report on data relating to five characteristics:

• age
• conditions, illnesses or disabilities
• ethnicity
• gender
• socioeconomic background

As stated in the data protection impact assessment and privacy notice information provided in this section of the application will not be used to inform any decisions on what projects are awarded funding.

Providing the data requested in this section is optional.

‘Prefer not to say’ refers to when respondents have chosen to not disclose their personal information and selected the ‘prefer not to say’ option.

‘Prefer to self-describe’ refers to when respondents have chosen to input their own response as free text.

3.1 Age

Applicants are asked the following: What is your age? They are presented as:

• 18-24
• 25-34
• 35-49
• 50-64
• 65+
• Prefer not to say

3.2 Ethnicity

Applicants are asked the following: What is your ethnicity or ethnic group?

Your ethnic group could be your cultural or family background and should be the option you most closely identify with.

Responses are presented as follows:

• Asian Black
• Latino Hispanic
• Mixed or Multiple Ethnic groups
• White
• Prefer to self-describe
• Prefer not to say

Respondents may choose to provide additional details about their ethnic background within each group, if they wish and can tick more than one box.

3.3 Gender

Applicants are asked the following: What is your gender?

For this question you are asked about your gender, which may reflect a combination of gender identity, expression or experience. Gender refers to your current gender, which may be different to sex recorded at birth and may be different to what is indicated on legal documents.

Responses are presented as:

• Man
• Non-binary
• Woman
• Prefer to self-describe
• Prefer not to say

3.4 Trans status

Applicants are asked the following: Do you consider yourself to be trans or have a trans history?

Responses are presented as:

• Yes
• No
• Prefer not to say

3.5 Condition, illness or disability

Applicants are asked the following: Do you consider yourself to have any conditions illness or disabilities that lasting or expected to last 12 months or more?

A ‘substantial or long-term barrier’ is legally defined as ‘12 months or more’. The conditions, illnesses or disabilities do not need to be medically diagnosed.

Responses are presented as:

• Yes
• No
• Prefer not to say

Respondents may choose to provide additional details about any conditions, illnesses or disabilities if they wish.

3.6 Socioeconomic status

Applicants are asked a variety of questions to determine socio economic status. These questions include:

• What is the highest level of qualification achieved by either of your parent(s) or guardian(s) by the time you were 18?
• Did either of your parents attend university by the time you were 18?
• What was the occupation of your main household earner when you were about aged 14?
• At age 14, did the main household earner in your house work as an employee or were they self-employed?
• Where question above is self-employed with employees: How many people did your main household earner employ at this time? If yes follow on to next question.
• Did they supervise employees?

3.7 Additional Information

At the end of the form there is a text box providing a space where you can provide an account of any other positive or negative experiences you have had when undertaking work related to commercialisation and/or entrepreneurship or if you have ever experienced any barriers to participation?

This is optional and you do not have to fill this out even if you have completed the rest of the data form.