Applications for research and development grants to support innovation for horticultural food and drink-based businesses operating in the Kent and Medway area are open now until 11am 20 October 2021.<\/p>\n
The collaborative grants, worth up to \u00a3250,000, will be awarded to proposals demonstrating potential to positively impact the local economy. Successful applicants will also be asked to commit to delivering community engagement in the Kent and Medway region.<\/p>\n
Proposed projects will need to support their business\u2019 transition to net-zero, and deliver improved productivity and sustainability in food and drink production.<\/p>\n
All information about the grants and application for them can be found on the\u00a0Innovation Funding Service<\/a>\u00a0website.<\/p>\n Interested local sector businesses can attend an online briefing event, run by\u00a0Growing Kent & Medway<\/a>\u00a0and Innovate UK, to maximise their chances of accessing the \u00a32 million available. The event will be held on Zoom at 11.30 am, 14 September 2021\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n These grants have been made available by Growing Kent & Medway, a project led by horticultural and agricultural research institution NIAB EMR to strengthen the competitiveness of Britain\u2019s horticulture, food and drink industries with government funding provided through UK Research and Innovation\u2019s flagship\u00a0Strength in Places Fund<\/a>.<\/p>\n The University of Kent is a key partner in delivering the Growing Kent and Medway project. Kent\u2019s\u00a0School of Biosciences<\/a>\u00a0is establishing a Biotechnology Hub for Sustainable Food and Drink to apply high-tech approaches to production and processing of high-value foods and plant-based compounds from plant material and waste, pathogen identification and control, and maintenance of healthy soil.\u00a0Kent Business School\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0innovative Mentoring Hub offers specialist advice on how to market a business and promote products.<\/p>\n Dr Nicola Harrison, Programme Director for Growing Kent & Medway, said: \u2018These grants are an important part of our programme to uplift the region\u2019s economy through inclusive and innovation-led growth. The impact of these R&D projects will help to cement the area\u2019s reputation as world-leaders in sustainable food and drink production.<\/p>\n \u2018We would encourage local businesses across the whole horticultural food and drink supply chain, from food processing, packaging, storage to agri-food technology to apply.\u2019<\/p>\n David Sweeney, Executive Chair of Research England and leader of the UK Research and Innovation Strength in Places Fund, said: \u2018Growing Kent and Medway is developing the area as the UK\u2019s leading region for climate-smart food production and processing with funding from UK Research and Innovation\u2019s Strength in Places Fund. These newly available grants for horticulture, food production and related technology businesses will help drive inclusive, sustainable economic growth that will benefit local people across Kent and Medway, and help them move towards a sustainable, net zero future\u2019.<\/p>\n And as well as the financial support, the businesses will also be able to access advice on innovation and growth from the specialists at\u00a0Innovate UK EDGE<\/a>, which is also part of the UK Research and Innovation family.\u2019<\/p>\n Eligible businesses must be based in Kent or Medway, or carrying out significant economic activity in the region. They can be involved in any part of the horticultural food and drink sector; from production, fresh produce packaging, food processing or technologies that underpin the supply chain.<\/p>\n Full information about the competition brief and the application form are available are available on the\u00a0Innovation Funding Service<\/a>\u00a0website. Applications for the grants close on 11 am, 20 October 2021.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"