Royal Bank of Scotland has unveiled a new lending product designed to help high-growth businesses unlock funding using the value of their intellectual property (IP), marking a significant shift in how innovation-led companies can access capital.
The scheme officially launched today (3 June 2026) at the University of Edinburgh, with representatives from Scotland’s technology and creative industries in attendance.
Positioned as the first offering of its kind in Scotland, the initiative enables businesses to secure loans ranging from £250,000 to £10 million by leveraging their IP rather than traditional physical assets. The move is expected to particularly benefit university spinouts and firms operating in sectors such as technology, gaming and the creative industries, where tangible collateral is often limited.
The product builds on a wider rollout by NatWest Group, which introduced IP-backed lending across England and Wales in 2024. Under the model, applicants’ intellectual property is independently assessed by specialist valuation partner Inngot, with lending available for up to 50% of the assessed orderly disposal value. To date, £34 million has been distributed through the scheme.
The Scottish launch has been made possible by legislative changes under the Moveable Transactions (Scotland) Act 2023, which came into force last year and allows intangible assets such as IP to be used more easily as collateral.
Robert Begbie, CEO Commercial & Institutional, Royal Bank of Scotland, said: “This new lending offer has game-changing potential for firms in Scotland’s high growth and innovation sectors – like gaming, life sciences and tech.
“As we look to the future, more and more firms in innovation industries will lack the tangible physical assets that are used as collateral in traditional lending. Our new product gives those firms with exciting ideas and high potential a new route to access the capital they need to grow.
“Our Royal Bank IP lending product is now open to applications and we look forward to expanding our support for growing Scotland’s innovation economy.”
Martin Brassell, CEO of Inngot, added: “Scottish inventions and creativity have shaped our world. It’s high time that we made it easier for innovative Scottish businesses to raise non-dilutive funding. Thanks to Scotland’s legal reforms, harnessing IP and intangibles is now a viable way to improve the flow of capital to the companies that need it most.”
Industry leaders have also welcomed the move, particularly within Scotland’s thriving games and interactive entertainment sector.
Chris van der Kuyl, Chairman, 4J Studios, said: “With the right access to capital, Scotland has the potential to be the next global hub for video games and interactive entertainment. We have the talent and the ambition. By making IP-backed lending available to video games companies across Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland is helping to secure an exciting future for this pioneering creative industry.”
Nick Poole, Chief Executive, UK Interactive Entertainment, said: “Video games and interactive entertainment have been highlighted as one of the four UK industries with the highest growth potential. To unlock that growth, we need financing solutions that recognise the IP-rich nature of creative businesses. This new initiative Royal Bank of Scotland is a milestone in financial services, helping to supercharge innovation and creativity across Scotland.”
From an investment perspective, the scheme is also seen as a valuable addition to existing funding pathways.
Hannah Dent, Investment Manager at Old College Capital (OCC), the University of Edinburgh’s venture investment fund, part of Edinburgh Innovations, said: “From the earliest pre-seed stages through to Series A, OCC invests in the most promising technologies and innovations emerging from the University. Royal Bank’s IP loans are a valuable addition to the financing landscape, offering new pathways for innovative ventures that are tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges across future health and care, climate and environment and responsible use of data and AI.”
Government figures have also backed the initiative, highlighting its role in supporting Scotland’s evolving economy.
Kirsty McNeill, UK Government Minister for Scotland, said: “This innovative funding model by the Royal Bank of Scotland recognises the evolving industrial and economic landscape, as well as showing confidence in the value and potential of these companies.
“It is encouraging to see new ways businesses in Scotland can be supported to grow, unlocking the technological and creative developments to benefit both now and in the future.”
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Ben Macpherson, Scottish Government Innovation Minister said: “Scotland is home to an incredible array of exciting entrepreneurs, start-ups and spinout opportunities – and it must be a shared endeavour to support our business founders establish and scale-up.
“Access to capital is of course fundamental to this success and I look forward the Royal Bank of Scotland’s IP-backed loan providing invaluable support to help kick-start the country’s greatest ideas and business innovation.”
Further details on the Royal Bank of Scotland’s IP lending product and application process are available via Inngot.
