In order to be eligible for the Global Incubator Programme, you must be a small or medium-sized company based in the UK. We are looking for businesses with the ambition and commitment to scale globally. The programme best suits businesses that already have some traction and sales in the UK that are now looking to innovate their products and services through building global partnerships and collaborations to accelerate their growth and scaling journey. A senior person from the company needs to commit to being involved in all stages of the programme.

The three stages of the programme are as follows:

Prepare

A two-day preparation workshop delivered to the entire cohort in the UK. You will be allocated an Innovate UK innovation & growth specialist who will work with you on your strategic action plan for the programme. You will receive an overview of the innovation and sector landscape of the country’s market, a full briefing on the programme and engaging with the incubator, and support to better present your business and the value proposition.

Pursue

This four to six months stage of the programme is about working with the incubator. A typical programme will see a visit to the market at the beginning, providing the opportunity to consider technology and market fit, preliminary customer validation and an introduction to ecosystem players. This will be followed by regular (weekly or fortnightly) virtual sessions with the incubator team, mentors, and experts, to do a deep dive into understanding what it takes to be successful in accessing the market. The final part is a second visit to the market, including a demo day to showcase the achievements of the cohort, continuing to raise the profile and make connections for the businesses involved.

Exploit

Work with your innovation & growth specialist to continue to exploit the programme, building on all the connections, knowledge, and expertise gained. You should now be in a much better position with the necessary understanding and networks to accelerate your global growth and scaling journey.

To apply, you must:

• Be a UK-based innovation-led company with ambitions to grow and internationalise
• Be a company with fewer than 250 employees
• Have a focus on Agri-Tech

Innovate UK is committed to improving the diversity of who we support. We welcome applications from under-represented groups.

Saskatchewan, home to over 40% of Canada’s cultivated farmland, provides the perfect setting for the programme, giving founders direct access to farmers, investors, and industry leaders. Its vast farmland, strong producer network, and collaborative Agri-Tech community make it an ideal testing ground for new technologies.

Successful applicants will benefit from an intensive 9 to 12 months three phased programme and bespoke support from an innovation & growth specialist throughout.

• Getting ready for the market: Preparation workshops to build knowledge and understanding of the market and opportunities, consideration of cultural differences and how to do business in Canada, protecting Intellectual Property and training on articulating your value proposition and how to pitch.
• Visiting the market: Exclusive access to the Canadian market and the opportunity to meet with key contacts, research organisations and companies. Meet potential collaborators and partners through pre-arranged meetings and matchmaking events.
• Exploiting the opportunity: A follow-up workshop and bespoke support from an Innovate UK innovation & growth specialist to exploit contacts and knowledge gained during the visit and develop cross border innovation projects.

Innovate UK will fund and organise flights, accommodation, and group airport transfer fees for successful applicants. One representative from each company will be funded.

On acceptance of the offer, a commitment fee of £2,000 will be obtained from each delegate. It will be refunded on completion of the full activities and agreed work plan. Non-completion after formal acceptance may result in forfeiting some or all the commitment fees.

We would welcome applications from innovative Agri-Tech companies that focus on, but not limited to:

• Big data and predictive analytics
• Supply chain, traceability, and sustainability
• Precision agriculture
• Robotics and automation
• Farm management software, sensing, and Internet of Things
• Animal health

• Applicant briefing: Thursday 27th November 2025 at 16:00
• Closing date for applications: Sunday 11th January 2026
• Shortlist Interviews: Monday 19th – Wednesday 21st January 2026
• Successful Applicants notified: Monday 26th January 2026
• Market Visit – Immersion Week: Saturday 11th – Saturday 18th April 2025
• Incubation Programme (Virtual): April – July 2026
• Market Visit – Showcase Week: Saturday 18th – Saturday 25th July 2026

To learn more about the Programme, including hearing how this has worked for previous participants, register for the Applicant Briefing event on Thursday 27th November 2025 at 16:00

This briefing will be one hour and cover context, focus, local innovation ecosystems in Canada, programme and visit itinerary, eligibility, cost, and application process.