Innovate UK and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) are investing up to £8 million (£4 million each) in projects that use cutting-edge technologies to solve agricultural challenges in China.

The aim of the competition is to encourage innovative partnerships between the UK and China. Innovate UK, BBSRC and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) are funding the competition as part of the Newton Fund.

Projects should address challenges related to agricultural technologies in one or more of the following 3 sectors:

• precision agriculture, agriculture digitisation and decision management tools
• improving the efficiency of sustainable agricultural production
• agricultural products processing

Projects are expected to range in size from total projects costs of £1 million to £2 million. The total project grant must not exceed £1 million per project in the UK. Projects should last up to 3 years.

For a project to be eligible for the competition it will need to include one UK business and one UK higher education institute or research council institute eligible for BBSRC funding. Applicants will also need to partner with one Chinese business and one academic institution. Either a business or a research organisation can lead the project in the UK.

The competition opens on 5 June 2017 and applicants must register before midday on 26 July 2017.  Deadline for final applications is before midday on 2 August 2017. Projects are expected to commence in January 2018.

Click here to attend the briefing event.

Click here to register and apply online.