A number of major new grant schemes have opened recently to support innovation in agriculture and the food chain, with themes which are very relevant to Greater Lincolnshire.

This includes new grants from:

GREATER LINCOLNSHIRE COMBINED COUNTY AUTHORITY

  • The Innovation Connect programme is delivered by the University of Lincoln to help Greater Lincolnshire businesses develop new ideas, address innovation challenges and explore opportunities for growth. Through workshops, events and match-funded innovation projects, businesses can develop ideas, build knowledge and access University of Lincoln academic expertise and specialist knowledge to explore, test and take forward innovation opportunities.  The programme is funded by the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority and led by Lincolnshire County Council.
  • For innovation projects, micro businesses and SMEs contribute 33% of the project cost, with 67% funded through the programme. Large businesses contribute 50%, with the remaining 50% funded through the programme, while charities and not-for-profit organisations contribute 25%, with 75% funded through the programme.
  • Full details of the Greater Lincolnshire programme are available at: Innovation Connect Programme - Business Lincolnshire

NATIONAL FUNDING CALLS

There are a range of current national funding calls which are very relevant to farming and food businesses in the UK Food Valley including calls from DEFRA and UKRI on:

UKRI Future research and innovation funding opportunities

This page lists planned opportunities by anticipated launch month across all of UKRI’s funding councils, including Innovate UK.

The opportunities are under development and some details may change. When the opportunity launches, further details including eligibility, funding duration and closing dates will be available in the funding finder. UKRI expects standard funding opportunities to be open for a minimum of eight weeks from the launch date to ensure fairness and give applicants adequate time to prepare proposals.  Selected relevant dual-use categories below.  Visit the website for full list. Future research and innovation funding opportunities – UKRI

September 2026 (View full list and October - December categories on the website.)

  • Artificial Intelligence: Enabling AI adoption across science and engineering
  • Bioinformatics and Biological Resources Fund
  • National Security and Defence: doctoral focal award in chemical threat reduction
  • National Security and Defence: National Research and Training Hub for Electromagnetic Environment
  • Sustainable efficiencies in urban environments

On Farm Reservoirs - get ready for new funding call:

Adopt:

  • The next round of Adopt funding is now open for projects and closes on 7th October.  Adopt aims to support innovative, on-farm trials or experiments to test ideas or solutions and demonstrate how they will address major on-farm, or immediate post farmgate, challenges or opportunities.  Projects need to address one or more of the following: productivity; resilience; sustainability and progression towards net zero farming.  The aim is that results will be shared with other English farmers, growers or foresters to show the idea or solution will also be of benefit to them.  There is £5m available, and projects must have total costs between £50,000 and £200,000.
  • For further details and to apply for Adopt round 9 please visit: https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/opportunities/full-adopt-grant-round-9/

Farming Futures: Automation and Robotics Round 2

  • DEFRA are investing up to £20 million in innovation projects, as part of the Farming Innovation Programme (FIP) in partnership with Innovate UK, to fund collaborative projects with ambitious solutions for robotics and automation in agriculture, horticulture and forestry to:
    • address key issues where automation and robotics can mitigate challenges such as productivity, resource use efficiency, food quality and traceability, waste, crop and animal health, animal welfare and sustainability
    • reduce the reliance on seasonal labour in agriculture
    • support the specific recommendations for automation innovation funding from Defra reviews including the Automation in Horticulture review
  • The projects will have total costs between £500,000 and £2.5million and last from 12 to 36 months.  The Automation and Robotics Round 2 call closes on 30th September and full details are at: Competition overview - Farming Futures R&D fund: Automation and Robotics Round 2 - Innovation Funding Service

Farming Innovation Programme (FIP) Small R&D Partnerships Round 5

  • The Farming Innovation Programme (FIP) Small R&D Partnerships Round 5 call will invest up to £13m to support projects with total costs of between £1-3million and last up to 30 months.  The projects should aim 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
  • The FIP small R&D partnerships round 5 closes on 14th October and full details are at: Competition overview - Farming Innovation Programme: Small R&D Partnership Projects Rd 5 - Innovation Funding Service