Up to £2.5 million in grants available to drive innovative growth in agri-tech

Up to £2.5 million in grants available to drive innovative growth in agri-tech

Businesses in the agri-tech, agri-biotech and food-tech sectors in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough can now bid for innovation funding as part of a Combined Authority partnership with councils in the east and Government body Innovate UK.

 

Building on the region’s existing strengths and ambitions to be a global hub of innovation in the sector, up to £2.5 million of Launchpad funding will be split into two competitions, with grant packages ranging from £25,000 to £300,000. The fund launched today (Sep 23) with applications taken until November 6.

The aim will be to break down barriers to innovation-led growth, supporting jobs and growing the local economy.

Home to over 250 companies and institutes, it is estimated the agri-tech and food-tech sector in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough employs about 5,000 people regionally with £1.5 billion turnover and representing £1 billion GVA to the UK economy. Over 90 per cent of those companies are small or medium sized enterprises.

Grants could be given to, for example, innovation projects which focus on driving agricultural productivity, quality food production and novel food production systems.

Innovate UK is part of UK Research and Innovation and the Launchpads are aiming to build on innovation clusters around the UK that have significant growth potential and to deliver jobs, growth, and higher productivity, supporting the Government’s agenda for powering forward the economy.

The Agri-tech and Food Technology in Eastern England Launchpad has been developed jointly by Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, Norfolk County Council, Suffolk County Council, the Greater Lincolnshire LEP and Innovate UK, and tailored to the region’s needs and circumstances. The Launchpad has engaged with a number of organisations to develop the partnership. They include:

• Agri-TechE
• Anglia Innovation Partnership LLP
• BT
• Cambridge Enterprise, University of Cambridge
• NIAB (National Institute of Agricultural Botany)
• University of East Anglia
• University of Lincoln
• UK Food Valley
• Lincoln Institute for Agri-Food Technology (LIAT), University of Lincoln.
• Norwich Research Park
• National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM), The Centre of Excellence in Agri-food Technology
• The Seafood Grimsby and Humber Alliance Limited (SGHA)

The current round of funding will be delivered through two forms of grant competition:

• In the ‘Minimum Financial Assistance (MFA) competition, micro, small and medium sized businesses can apply for grant funding between £25,000 and £100,000. The grant is to cover up to 100% of the project costs.
• The Collaborative Research and Development (CR&D) competition offers grant funding of £150,000 to £300,000 for business-led collaborative innovation projects lasting between 6 and 18 months. Project consortia must include an SME and be comprised of organisations such as businesses, universities, research institutes, charities and the public sector.

In both competitions, innovative businesses can seek funding for projects developing and applying technologies in themes that include the following:

• enhancing the productivity of primary crops, livestock, aquaculture or ornamental crops
• biotechnologies related to agriculture, aquaculture, food processing and nutrition
• food that promotes safe, lower carbon or more sustainable healthy and nutritious diets
• resource efficient production and processing methods for low emission foods

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough is home to significant technology clusters in AI, big data, and biotechnology and this expertise is well positioned to further the rapid acceleration of a high-tech based agri-food tech cluster in the region.

Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Dr Nik Johnson said: “By supporting cutting-edge agri-tech and food-tech projects, this new funding will create high-quality jobs, boost our local economy, and enhance food security, ensuring Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and the East in general is a global leader in this sector.”

Chair of the Combined Authority Business Board, Al Kingsley said: “Grant funding like this is essential for seeding growth in businesses, particularly in the agri-tech and food-tech sectors where innovation drives success. I encourage businesses to take advantage of this opportunity to push boundaries, develop new solutions, and help strengthen our region’s economy. The Business Board is committed to supporting initiatives that fuel growth, create jobs, and position Cambridgeshire and Peterborough as leaders in this field.”

The Combined Authority has already supported the agri-tech sector and business innovation through a variety of ways, as Mayor Dr Nik Johnson found out on a trip to crop research organisation NIAB this month.

To apply and find out more about eligibility, competition scope and how to register for the online briefing event, visit: Innovation competitions – Innovation Funding Service (apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk)