Defra Farming Innovation Programme Small R&D Partnership Projects Round 3

What is the grant available for?

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), will invest up to £9.8 million in innovation projects.

This funding is part of Defra's Farming Innovation Programme which is a partnership with UKRI's Transforming Food Production Challenge and delivered by Innovate UK.

The aim of this competition is to:

• develop solutions with the potential to improve overall productivity, sustainability, resilience and move existing agricultural sectors to net zero
• ensure solutions have positive outputs for farmers, growers or foresters in commercially relevant situations
• develop new agricultural solutions, by collaboration through engagement with end users and the UK research community in the innovation process
• accelerate adoption by ensuring knowledge exchange with the wider sector and other stakeholders

Your proposal must be able to demonstrate how the project will benefit farmers, growers or foresters in England.

Your solutions must significantly improve:

• productivity
• sustainability and the environmental impact of farming
• progression towards net zero emissions
• resilience

In applying to this competition, you are entering into a competitive process.

This competition closes at 11am UK time on 25th October.

 

Percentage of project cost

For mid-stage R&D industrial research projects you could get funding for your eligible project costs of:

• up to 70% if you are a micro or small organisation
• up to 60% if you are a medium sized organisation
• up to 50% if you are a large organisation

Any eligibility criteria

Your project must:

• have total eligible costs between £1 million and £3 million
• start by 1 June 2024
• end by 31 May 2027
• last up to 36 months
• be collaborative
• carry out all of its project work in the UK
• intend to exploit the results from or in England

What grant amounts are available?

Your project’s total costs must be between £1 million and £3 million.

 

Who provides the grant?

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Farming Innovation Programme.

How to apply for the grant?

For further information or to apply please click here.