Funding opportunities
The Centre for Food Innovation has access to a wide range of funding opportunities for companies of all sizes within the food and drink sector. These funds are designed to encourage and drive innovation within the sector.
Appetizing Innovation
An exciting new initiative, Appetizing Innovation, brings together leading academic expertise to support companies in their efforts to produce innovative products and packaging to meet the demands of consumers and retailers. The strength of the initiative, supported by Yorkshire Forward, brings the best academic knowledge to the factory floor and translating it into workable, targeted solutions to meet the specific needs of individual companies.
Any food and drink manufacturing business can benefit, while those based in the Yorkshire and Humber region can get an enhanced level of funding support (up to 50 per cent). The entire process is carefully project managed by the experienced Appetizing Innovation team.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs)
As one of the Technology Strategy Board's key business support products, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships provide resources and expertise to thriving organisations that wish to innovate, expand or improve their performance.
Projects utilise our knowledge and expertise, and transfer it into businesses. Working in partnership with the company, we help define the project, and then recruit a graduate, known as a KTP Associate, to work full time on it. The KTP Associate would be supervised jointly by University staff and the company.
Part-funded by the government, projects can be for any length from one to three years. Businesses and organisations of all sizes in most industries and commercial sectors can take part.
Types of projects that we can help companies carry out include
- developing new products
- streamlining a manufacturing process
- systems development
- business re-engineering
- developing strategic management systems
Knowledge Exchange
The Knowledge Exchange programme supports University and business interaction through the placement of academics into industry, public or voluntary sector organisations and the secondment of experts into the University. Placements usually involve around 20 days through which we aim to
- grow relations with industry, public and voluntary sector organisations
- transfer our knowledge and expertise in order to grow the regional economy
- generate future income to the University through the provision of contract research, consultancy or the use of industry experts to advise on commercialisation projects
Innovation Vouchers
Funded by Yorkshire Forward, Innovation Vouchers provide small to medium sized businesses (SMEs) in the region, with financial support to engage with Yorkshire's universities and other academic institutions to help their business grow and develop. Vouchers up to the value of £3,000 can be redeemed to fund the cost of this practical knowledge and expertise.
Research and development (R&D) grants
Yorkshire Forward (YF) administers research and development (R&D) grants funded by the UK government and the European Commission, variously available to individuals, SMEs and large companies.
The national Grants for Research and Development (GRD) scheme, administered in our region by Yorkshire Forward, sets aside £18.5 million over five years to provide finance to individuals and SMEs in England to research and develop technologically innovative products and processes. It is anticipated that these GRDs will support at least 185 projects across Yorkshire and the Humber.
In addition, YF awards R&D grants to large companies in Yorkshire and the Humber, in support of industrial research and pre-competitive development projects, or a combination. The current £24.2 million round of funding began in autumn 2008 and runs until 2013.
For more information please contact John Sorsby.
