Deadline: 3-June-2026
The Innovate UK is requesting applications to support late-stage agri-tech projects aimed at improving product performance, reliability and readiness for manufacturing and market adoption.
The focus is on advancing automation technologies that reduce labour needs while enhancing productivity and sustainability across agricultural sectors. It includes the development of robotics and intelligent sensing systems supported by data-driven decision-making, addressing key technological, manufacturing, and regulatory challenges, and accelerating pathways to market through investment and scalability. Emphasis is also placed on demonstrating strong market demand, long-term commercial potential, and improving product performance and reliability for real-world adoption.
This competition aims to help agri-tech innovators enhance their products by addressing barriers that prevent them from being proven and accepted in real-world conditions. Projects must focus on advancing performance and reliability while moving technologies closer to manufacturing readiness. By doing so, they are expected to support commercial engagement, adoption, and growth of the agri-tech sector while contributing to improved agricultural productivity and sustainability.
Eligible projects must have total costs between £250,000 and £750,000, last between 6 and 12 months, start by 1 October 2026, and end by 30 September 2027. All project work must be carried out in the UK, and organisations must intend to exploit the results within or from the UK. Projects must begin on the first day of a month and cannot commence until the grant offer is approved. Any deviation from duration requirements requires prior approval.
Projects must not be early-stage research or feasibility studies, must clearly define existing technology gaps, and must demonstrate a clear route to market. They should not focus on excluded areas such as equine projects, wild-caught fisheries, bioeconomy systems, or production systems related to human consumption through fermentation or medicinal crops.
To lead a collaborative project, the lead organisation must be a UK-registered business of any size. Collaboration must include at least one additional UK-registered organisation such as a business, academic institution, charity, not-for-profit, public sector organisation, or research and technology organisation. Academic institutions cannot lead or work alone. All partners must actively participate in the application and provide justification for the collaboration structure. Projects may also include non-funded partners and subcontractors, including those from overseas if properly justified.
For more information, visit Gov.UK.
