Government has announced that Greater Lincolnshire has been successful in its bid to the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF), with up to £20 million available to accelerate innovation-led growth. The funding recognises Greater Lincolnshire as a nationally significant centre of excellence in agri-tech and defence. Led by the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority (GLCCA), the successful bid brings together universities, businesses, investors, local authorities and defence partners in a powerful regional coalition.

The University of Lincoln was a core partner in developing the proposal, with Professor Fiona Strens and Professor Simon Pearson co-authoring the bid with the Combined County Authority.

The programme will focus on developing “Lincolnshire EDGE” (Engine for Dual-use Growth & Excellence) – a pioneering innovation ecosystem that brings together expertise in agriculture, defence, artificial intelligence, robotics and autonomous systems to accelerate the development of technologies with both civilian and defence applications.

By strengthening collaboration between sectors and supporting the translation of research into real-world products, the initiative aims to drive productivity, create high-skilled jobs and attract significant private investment into the region.

Through the Lincoln Institute for Agri-Food Technology (LIAT) and the Centre for Defence & Security Artificial Intelligence, the University brings internationally recognised expertise in translating research into commercial and operational impact. It also plays a key role in connecting businesses, government and researchers to accelerate innovation.

The University will continue to work alongside GLCCA and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) in the next phase of co-designing the programme and delivering its long-term ambitions.

Professor Simon Pearson, Founding Director of the Lincoln Institute for Agri-Food Technology, said: “We are delighted to secure this funding, building on Lincolnshire’s historic strength in both agriculture and defence as key economic anchors. This investment enables real horizontal transfer between these sectors, accelerating productivity and resilience across the agri-food and defence industries.”

The programme will now move into a co-creation phase with UKRI, developing a pipeline of projects that will unlock the full potential of Greater Lincolnshire’s innovation economy.