23/04/2024

Round 2: Innovate UK Agri-Tech and Food Tech Launchpad

Innovate UK have confirmed that the next competitions under the £7.5m Agri-Tech and Food Tech Launchpad (covering Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, and Lincolnshire) will be launched in May offering £4.5m of funding over the two competitions:

1) “New Innovator” funding for early-stage businesses to develop highly innovative ideas that have a clear route to commercialisation and business growth. Micro and small businesses new to Innovate UK funding support will be invited to apply for up to £50,000 of grant funding for their projects.

2) Further grant funding for collaborative R&D projects, led by businesses building consortia with researchers, academics, charities and larger corporates, and requesting up to £300,000 of grant funding.

The eligibility will be similar to the previous round, which you can find here: https://iuk.ktn-uk.org/opportunities/launchpad-agri-tech-and-food-tech-in-eastern-england/. £1.8m funding was allocated across 12 projects across the four counties in round one, with £1.097m allocated to Norfolk and Suffolk businesses.

Overall, the key scope/themes covered include:

  • open to support agri-tech, agri-biotech, food tech and aquaculture.
  • enhancing the productivity of primary crops, the bioeconomy, livestock, aquaculture or ornamental plants
  • sustainability in the context of environmental challenges such as climate change and resource scarcity
  • nutritional composition, food manufacturing and processing, packaging, and safety
  • protecting, maintaining or enhancing animal welfare within current UK regulatory standard
  • minimising negative effects such as pollution, food loss and waste
  • resilience and responsiveness in the supply chain, mitigating risks, interruptions or disruptions
  • biotechnologies related to agriculture, food and nutrition
  • food that promotes safe, healthy and nutritious diets
  • resource efficient production methods for low emission foods

For the New Innovator competition, we have been informed that this is likely to include the adoption of new technology and kit.

We are encouraging companies from Norfolk and Suffolk to take advantage of free bid writing and grant mentoring support available through the Innovation Grant Mentoring Project – they supported successful applicants in round one: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/article/43314/Innovation-grant-mentoring-project