Overview
This online consortia building webinar is for innovators who want to apply for funding to work on collaborative R&D projects around automation and robotics. Up to £20 million will be available for innovative projects that will provide real impact and benefit to farmers, growers and/or foresters in England.
Project ideas should aim to transform automation and robotics in agriculture to drive productivity, profitability, quality, sustainability and welfare, and provide solutions that will overcome the shortages of skilled people and reduce the reliance on seasonal labour in the sector.
-
Our briefing and finding partners event is all about setting you up for success with your funding application.
At this webinar you will be able to:
- Find out about the competition from the funders who will share specific details about the opportunity
- Hear from successful applicants to previous automation and robotics funding competitions
- Find innovative partners to work with on collaborative opportunities
- Ask questions about the competition
You’ll need a collaborative project to apply for this funding. During this event you will meet other individuals interested in the competition. It’s a great opportunity to meet others you could collaborate with. We are here to help you make connections with the right people and increase your chances of success.
Make connections with others interested in this competition by joining our Farming Innovation Programme LinkedIn group
-
The Farming Futures – Automation and Robotics competition will fund Industrial Research projects with ambitious solutions for automation and robotics in agriculture, horticulture and forestry to:
- Support specific recommendations for automation innovation funding including the Defra Automation review
- Align with the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy that identifies Agri-Tech as a Frontier industry within Advanced Manufacturing
- Address key issues affecting the sector, where automation and robotics can mitigate labour challenges and increase productivity.
- This competition opens on the 3 August 2026 and closes on the 30 September 2026.
The funding is for:
- Businesses of any size
- Academic institutions & research and technology organisations (RTOs)
- Farmers, growers and/or foresters
- Charities and not for profits
- Public sector organisations
A UK registered business must lead the application. You will need to collaborate with at least one other organisation to apply for this funding.
-
Projects must focus on one or more of the following agriculture production sectors:
- Farmed animals including monogastrics and ruminants
- Plants including horticulture and arable
- Ornamental plant propagation, growing and monitoring where the technology can also be applied to and is relevant to horticultural growing for food production
- Forestry for tree nursery and planting operations, and for woodland monitoring and management systems. Heavy equipment and harvesting operations will be excluded.
The Farming Futures – Automation and Robotics competition is funded by the Defra Farming Innovation Programme, delivered by Innovate UK.
Accessibility and Inclusion
We are committed to ensuring our events are accessible for all.
If you experience any barriers to registering, for any reason, please contact us by email: enquiries@iukbc.org.uk or phone: +44 03333 403250 and we will support your registration.