Small-Scale Innovation Grants
Many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) may be new to innovation grants or collaborating with research institutions. Applying for funding for the first time can be daunting. Our range of small grant competitions was designed to encourage and de-risk research and innovation activity.
Business Innovation Vouchers
Our Business Innovation Vouchers were designed to initiate collaboration between industry and the cutting-edge research facilities in Kent and Medway.
Businesses were able to apply for a voucher that could be redeemed with a partner research organisation in the region to subsidise access to their technical expertise.
The vouchers could be used to test a prototype product, trial a new piece of technology, or get data to validate an innovative idea.
Successful applicants could claim 50% of the total project costs of between £20,000 to £60,000. A cash or in-kind contribution of 50% was required.
Vouchers Awarded
Successful Projects
Projects funded by Business Innovation Vouchers included plant protection products, sustainable fresh produce packaging, and novel techniques for producing non-alcoholic drinks.
Business Sustainability Challenge
This grant scheme was open to businesses with innovative ideas to make their operation more sustainable or to create viable circular economies in the Kent and Medway region.
Proposed projects could relate to any part of the horticultural and plant-based food and drink supply chain.
Grants of between £10,000 and £50,000 were available. A 50% co-investment was required and collaborative projects were encouraged.
Challenge Grants
Challenge Winners
Successful projects funded through our Business Sustainability Challenge grant include creating packaging from crop waste, growing mushrooms from whiskey distillation, and developing non-alcoholic wines in Kent.
Partner Grants
Our Partner Grant scheme was delivered as part of our commitment to foster impactful research and innovation within the horticulture, food, and drink industry of the Kent and Medway region.
We awarded six collaborative projects a total of £150,000 to advance sustainable innovation in the local food system. This funding was designed to empower research organisations to drive collaborative projects with industry partners, accelerating the translation of cutting-edge research into real-world applications.
The projects supported the development of circular bio-economies and resilient food supply chains.
Partner Projects
The successful partner projects include research into improving fruit storage to reduce waste, boosting biodiversity in vineyards and creating new value from waste streams.
