Business Innovation Vouchers will open doors to three new research centres in the region, helping food and drink companies to grow through innovation
A new voucher scheme is offering food and drink businesses in Kent and Medway the chance to carry out projects with three new research centres in the area.
Providing 75 per cent funding towards projects worth up to £20,000, the Business Innovation Vouchers will open the doors to three cutting-edge research centres in Kent and Medway, namely the GreenTech Hub for Advanced Horticulture at NIAB, the Medway Food Innovation Centre at the University of Greenwich, and The Biotechnology Hub for Sustainable Food and Drink at the University of Kent.
The scheme, launched by R&D consortium Growing Kent & Medway, will make technical support more accessible to start-ups, micro, small and medium-sized businesses.
Over 40 vouchers, each worth up to £15,000, are available to plant-based food and drink companies and businesses related to horticulture across the supply chain in the Kent and Medway region.
Sophie Packer, innovation growth manager for Growing Kent & Medway and the University of Kent, said: “Growing Kent & Medway has invested in three new state-of-the-art research facilities. This means we now have modern facilities to match the world-leading expertise and capabilities in our region and are able to deliver a wide-range of technical projects for the horticulture, food and drink sectors.
“We hope these vouchers encourage people who may not have worked with a research organisation before, to get in touch and find out how our technical teams can help grow their business through innovation.”
The research projects funded by the vouchers can help with challenges in: crop production, food processing, packaging, producing high-value compounds from plants, or agri-tech solutions.
Robert Saville, innovation growth manager for Growing Kent & Medway and NIAB, said: “Whether you would like to test new products in a food laboratory, or trial new technology in horticultural production systems, we have specialists on hand who are able to help.
“We will work with businesses to explore the types of research support that could benefit them and connect them to the right facilities and expertise to help drive their business forward.”
The Business Innovation Vouchers are awarded on a competitive basis, with the best ideas receiving funding. To apply, you must first complete an Expression of Interest Form and discuss your business or project ideas with a support manager at Growing Kent & Medway.
Applications close on 3 October 2022.
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