Competition Opens: Monday, 23 September 2024
Competition Closes: Wednesday, 6 November 2024 at 11:00 amUK time

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Organisation: Innovate UK
Funding Type: Grant

Funding

• Project Size: Total grant funding requests must be between £150,000 and £300,000.

Eligibility

• Who Can Apply: UK-registered businesses.
• Geographical Requirement: Businesses must be growing their innovation activities in the agri-tech and food technology cluster in Eastern England, specifically in:some text
   
  • Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership area
   
  • Cambridgeshire
   
  • Peterborough
   
  • Norfolk
   
  • Suffolk
 
• Project Focus: Projects must contribute to growing innovation activities in the cluster, both during and after the project.
• Project Type: Projects must undertake industrial research or experimental development.

Scope

The competition seeks projects that focuson one or more of the following areas:

• Enhancing Productivity:
   
  • Primary crops
   
  • Livestock
   
  • Aquaculture
   
  • Ornamental crops
 
• Biotechnologies:
   
  • Agriculture
   
  • Aquaculture
   
  • Food processing
   
  • Nutrition
 
• Sustainable Diets:
   
  • Food that promotes safe, lower carbon, or more sustainable healthy and nutritious diets
 
• Resource Efficiency:
   
  • Production and processing methods for low-emission foods

Note: Thislist is not exhaustive. Projects fitting within the scope of the competitionmay focus on other relevant themes.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through theInnovate UK application portal by the deadline. Applicants should ensure:

• They select the correct competition strand for their project:some text
   
  • Round 3 Collaborative Research and Development (CR&D) (this strand)
   
  • Round 2 Minimal Financial Assistance (MFA)
 
• They clearly describe how their project will grow innovation activities in the cluster, both during and after the project.

Additional Information

• Portfolio Approach: Following independent assessment, applications scoring over 70% will be reviewed by a panel including Innovate UK and local partners. The panel will consider portfolio criteria to inform funding decisions.
• Prioritisation: Innovate UK reserves the right to prioritise projects that
   
  • Are from applicants who have not led successful applications in previous rounds.
   
  • Are shorter in duration.
   
  • Have more innovation activity taking place in the innovation cluster or outside of the Greater South East.
   
  • Achieve a balance between the specific themes for this competition.
 
• Exclusions: Projects that do not meet eligibility or scope requirements, are aimed solely at equine markets, involve wild caught fisheries, or involve primary production in fishery, aquaculture, or agriculture are not eligible.
• Accessibility and Inclusion: Innovate UK welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds and is committed to making the application process accessible to everyone.
• Contact: For more information, visit the Innovate UK website or contact their support team.

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