Agri-Tech Catalyst round 6 – late stage awards

The objective of the late stage experimental development awards is to fund research and development (R&D) that requires a short period of further study after embarking on a larger R&D project. The larger project may have been publicly funded or have been undertaken privately.

These awards will allow applicants to trial innovative ideas in a real-life environment prior to large-scale deployment through:

• the visualisation, planning and documentation of new products, processes or services
• producing drafts, drawings, plans and other documentation, provided that they are not intended for commercial use
• the development of commercially-usable prototypes

We expect that all projects will be based on significant prior research where the feasibility has already been demonstrated. Examples of project work in this late-stage award category can include projects looking to achieve first tests in a real-life environment (eg field trial setting) to measure commercial potential (crop or livestock as appropriate).

In addition, projects can trial and test technologies in the external environment. Here projects can investigate product safety and effectiveness to the validation of the final product design and production of final prototype. In some cases we may support early adoption studies.

Projects may include work to support the overall usage of existing knowledge and skills to produce plans and arrangements, or designs, for new, altered or improved products, processes or services.

• typical project size: up to £800,000
• duration: 12 to 18 months
• applications must be UK business-led.
• funding proportion for business: up to 45% of total eligible project costs for micro and small companies; 35% for medium companies and 25% for large companies
• research-base organisations may only participate as subcontractors
• all projects must be collaborative and must include both a UK and eligible developing country partner. See International Development Funding section below for further details on eligible countries. All funding will be sent through UK based organisations and institutions
• applications must be industry focused with a clear case for business benefit and/or international development benefits
• the main objective of the project proposal should be to benefit developing country agriculture. Research can be conducted within the UK or outside the UK
• if you have been unsuccessful in a previous round, you may re-apply for funding in this grant category once only for the same project