Agri-Tech Catalyst Industrial Research Awards Round 5 

Headline: The Agri-Tech Catalyst, run by Innovate UK and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, offers funding to innovative businesses and researchers to develop solutions to global agricultural challenges including the identification of new markets for UK technology.

Key Objective: The objective of the industrial research award is to develop innovative technologies and processes which provide solutions that are economically, environmentally and socially sustainable. Applicants should demonstrate how their application will contribute to international development outcomes, specifically enhanced food security, nutrition and welfare of the poor.

• Duration - up to 3 years
• Typical project size -up to £3 million
• Match funding required

Eligibility This round is for Industrial Research Awards.  Research should be based on research conducted in the UK; or outside the UK where an application is specifically seeking funding from DFID for proposals related to International Development. In the latter case collaboration with relevant and approved overseas partners will be permitted. All funding will however be routed via UK based organisations and institutions.

Projects must be collaborative and be led by a UK based business. They should also be industry focused and present a clear case for business benefit and/or international development benefits. Where the research involves the use of animals there are strict guidelines which must be adhered to.

Business-led collaborative projects are those which develop any relevant innovative solution from across all sectors of the Agri-Tech sector and/or other industrial sectors, that advance the sustainable intensification of global agriculture (including aquaculture) by developing and adopting innovative solutions. This could include:

• Technology development
• Lab-based prototyping
• Product development planning
• Extending proof-of-concept using plot/ field trials
• Exploration of production mechanisms
• Market testing

Funding available:  total project costs can be up to 3 million pounds sterling with SMEs receiving 45% funding and larger companies 35%.  Academic institutions can apply for 100 % funding*. Where collaborations involve one or more academic or research organisation partners, the total eligible costs of all research partners may not exceed 50% of the total project costs.

*Academic eligible costs are 80% of their full economic costs. The balance of 20% is not to be shown as a contribution.

Duration: Projects may run for up to 3 years.

Opening:  The industrial research awards category involves a two-stage process which involves a written expression of interest (EoI), followed by a full application for invited applicants. Opened on 25th June 2015

Application deadline: Applicants must first register via the Innovate UK website by noon 7 October 2015. The deadline for EoI applications is noon 14 October 2015. Full submissions for invited applicants required by 20^th Jan 2016

Timeline:  Applicants will be notified if successful on the 11^th March 2016 by email and conditional letters sent out in April.

Details: The industrial research awards category involves a two-stage process which involves a written expression of interest, followed by a full application for invited applicants.  Full stage applications are assessed by written review and moderation panel involving independent experts.

Certain applicants may need to attend an interview panel to represent their project and answer questions to a panel of independent, expert assessors. The panel, after discussion, recommend a ranked list of applicants to be funded by the Agri-Tech Catalyst body.

Scope: The grant funding is open to innovative ideas from any sector or discipline that demonstrate the potential to advance sustainable intensification of agriculture and deliver economic impact for the UK Agri-Tech industry by tackling domestic or international challenges.

It is expected that all projects will be based on significant prior research where the feasibility has already been demonstrated.

The Catalyst will take innovative ideas from any sector or discipline that demonstrate the potential to advance sustainable intensification of agriculture and deliver economic impact for the UK Agri-Tech industry by tackling domestic or international challenges. The scope of the Catalyst includes:

• Primary crop and livestock production, including aquaculture
• Non-food uses of crops including ornamentals
• Food security and nutrition challenges in international development
• Addressing challenges in downstream food processing , provided the solution lies in primary production

Applications from the aquaculture and livestock sectors are particularly encouraged, as are crop sector projects targeting weed control and on-farm storage and management.

The following are examples of project subjects within scope:

all aspects of arable and horticultural food production including plant genetics and breeding, crop establishment; agronomy, precision farming, soil and land management practices; tackling weeds, pests and diseases; crop harvesting and storage; sustainability of production methods; non-food uses of crops (for example, for biomass or high-value products); developing sustainable solutions to increase the productivity of the UK and global livestock sector (including aquaculture) while reducing the industry's adverse impacts on the environment, reducing waste and limiting human health issues; livestock genetics and breeding, health and disease, nutrition, welfare and husbandry.

In all projects, multi-disciplinary collaborations involving engineering, IT or any other relevant disciplines and approaches are encouraged.

Industrial research phases include:

Technology development 

• Lab-based prototyping
• Product development planning
• Extending proof-of-concept using plot/ field trials
• Exploration of production mechanisms.

Conditions: There are a limited number of areas where the Agri-Tech Catalyst will not fund projects currently, we are happy to advise on scope and general eligibility.

ACTION To discuss this grant and how we can help maximise your chances of success, save you time and get the biggest possible grant please complete the enquiry form at www.grantaid.com ; a  consultant will contact you   within 24 hours

Agri-Tech Catalyst Late Stage Grants Round 5 

Headline: The Agri-Tech Catalyst supports businesses and research organisations, including academia, to respond to challenges across the agricultural sector. It will fund projects to make the UK a world leader in agricultural technology, innovation and sustainability. The Late Stage projects explore the commercial potential of late stage experimental development.

Key Objectives:

The objective of the Late Stage Award is to evaluate or trial the commercial potential of a technology in a field testing or real-life environment. These projects will test and validate innovative concepts in a commercial environment to demonstrate their economic and technical feasibility ahead of large-scale deployment.

• Duration - up to 12 months
• Typical project size-up to £1 million 

Eligibility: This round is for Late Stage Experimental Development. .

Individual companies or business partners working in collaboration are eligible to apply for late stage awards. For applicants targeting international development developing country partners must be involved.

Funding available: total project costs for late stage awards can be up to 1 million pounds sterling.  SMEs are eligible for 35% funding and larger companies eligible for 25% funding.  Research base partners may participate as subcontractors to a business.  Projects focused on international development must include a UK business partner and a developing country partner.

Duration: Projects may run for up to 12 months for the late stage awards.

Opening:  These wards involve single stage process

Opened on 25th June 2015

Application deadline: Applicants must first register via the Innovate UK website by noon, 13 January 2016. The deadline for applications is noon, 20 January 2016

Timeline:  Applicants will be notified if successful on the 11^th March 2016 followed by feedback on 16^th March 2015.

Details:  The industrial research awards will fund projects that explore and evaluate the technical potential of a research concept through technical feasibility studies. The project will aim to establish if a pre-industrial concept is ready for further technology development and evaluate the commercial potential.

The industrial research awards category involves a two-stage process which involves a written expression of interest, followed by a full application for invited applicants.

Scope: The Late Stage Grant will take innovative ideas from any sector or discipline that demonstrate the potential to advance sustainable intensification of agriculture and deliver economic impact for the UK Agri-Tech industry by tackling domestic or international challenges. The scope of the grant includes:

• Primary crop and livestock production, including aquaculture
• Non-food uses of crops including ornamentals
• Food security and nutrition challenges in international development
• Addressing challenges in downstream food processing , provided the solution lies in primary production

Applications from the aquaculture and livestock sectors are particularly encouraged, as are crop sector projects targeting weed control and on-farm storage and management. Projects targeting the late stage award category are also encouraged.

The Agri-Tech Catalyst will not fund equine-related proposals, or proposals relating to forestry or wild-capture fisheries.

The following are examples of project subjects within scope: all aspects of arable and horticultural food production including plant genetics and breeding, crop establishment; agronomy, precision farming, soil and land management practices; tackling weeds, pests and diseases; crop harvesting and storage; sustainability of production methods; non-food uses of crops (for example, for biomass or high-value products); developing sustainable solutions to increase the productivity of the UK and global livestock sector (including aquaculture) while reducing the industry's adverse impacts on the environment, reducing waste and limiting human health.

 The Catalyst will take innovative ideas from any sector or discipline that demonstrate the potential to advance sustainable intensification of agriculture and deliver economic impact for the UK Agri-Tech industry by tackling domestic or international challenges. The scope of the Catalyst includes:

• Primary crop and livestock production, including aquaculture
• Non-food uses of crops including ornamentals
• Food security and nutrition challenges in international development
• Addressing challenges in downstream food processing , provided the solution lies in primary production

Applications from the aquaculture and livestock sectors are particularly encouraged, as are crop sector projects targeting weed control and on-farm storage and management.

The following are examples of project subjects within scope:

all aspects of arable and horticultural food production including plant genetics and breeding, crop establishment; agronomy, precision farming, soil and land management practices; tackling weeds, pests and diseases; crop harvesting and storage; sustainability of production methods; non-food uses of crops (for example, for biomass or high-value products); developing sustainable solutions to increase the productivity of the UK and global livestock sector (including aquaculture) while reducing the industry's adverse impacts on the environment, reducing waste and limiting human health issues; livestock genetics and breeding, health and disease, nutrition, welfare and husbandry.

In all projects, multi-disciplinary collaborations involving engineering, IT or any other relevant disciplines and approaches are encouraged.  

Conditions: There are a limited number of areas where the Agri-Tech Catalyst will not fund projects currently, we are happy to advise on scope and general eligibility.

ACTION To discuss this grant and how we can help maximise your chances of success, save you time and get the biggest possible grant please complete the enquiry form at www.grantaid.com  and a relevant consultant will contact you   within 24 hours