Deadline Date: April 28, 2026
The Cost-Disrupting Innovations to Reduce the Cost of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) Grand Challenge seeks transformative solutions to significantly lower the cost of treating Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) by improving the affordability of therapeutic food.
The focus areas of this challenge include Protein Diversification and Dairy Replacement with an emphasis on reducing reliance on milk powder while maintaining high protein quality, Lipid Optimization and Stabilization to enable the use of lower-cost and locally available oils without compromising shelf life or nutrition, Packaging Materials Science aimed at reducing costs and improving sustainability of packaging solutions, and Production and Supply Innovations that enhance manufacturing efficiency, reduce operational costs, and improve scalability in low- and middle-income countries.
This Grand Challenge is designed as an idea-sourcing and proof-of-concept initiative to identify transformative solutions that can significantly lower the cost of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF). The objective is to enable a substantial increase in the number of children treated for SAM within existing or constrained budgets by achieving at least a 30 percent reduction in ex-factory production costs.
Applicants are expected to propose innovations that directly impact the physical composition, ingredients, manufacturing processes, packaging, or factory-level economics of RUTF production. The emphasis is on achieving measurable and scalable cost reductions supported by transparent cost models, clearly defined assumptions, and sensitivity analyses.
Funding is available under two options. Option A supports projects with awards of up to $500,000 USD and a grant term of up to 18 months, while Option B supports larger projects with awards of up to $1,500,000 USD and a grant term of up to 36 months. Budgets should be aligned with the scope and ambition of the proposed work, and indirect costs should not exceed 10–15% of the total award.
Proposed solutions must demonstrate proof-of-concept feasibility through pilot manufacturing, simulations, or engineering models, and present a credible pathway toward regulatory and normative acceptance. In addition, applicants must outline a clear strategy for scaling their innovations while ensuring that cost reductions remain sustainable at larger production volumes.
All projects are required to maintain clinical safety and nutritional adequacy in line with Codex RUTF Guidelines, including specified energy density, protein and lipid composition, and protein quality standards. Proposals that alter formulations must also demonstrate a pathway to clinical noninferiority and acceptance by relevant global health authorities.
The initiative strongly emphasizes applicability in low- and middle-income countries, encouraging solutions that support regional manufacturing capacity and equitable access. It also promotes responsible intellectual property practices, including affordable licensing in low-income markets and transparency in data sharing with global stakeholders.
Funding is available under two options, supporting both shorter-term proof-of-concept projects and longer-term, large-scale innovations, with budgets aligned to the scope and ambition of the proposed work. Eligible applicants include a wide range of organizations such as research institutions, manufacturers, technology firms, NGOs, and private sector entities, with a strong preference for collaborations involving LMIC-based partners.
For more information, visit Gates Foundation.
