The Future Food Production Systems (FFPS) competition, funded through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, is a £20 million grant funding for projects that disrupt the traditional land-based models of food production. SAIC wants to hear from businesses with disruptive technologies for future aquatic food production who wish to join this competition.
This is a significant opportunity for innovative thinkers who are nurturing an idea for a large-scale project with the potential to make a genuine difference to the food production industry:
- Projects need to be ambitious and transformational.
- Taking a system-level approach is highly encouraged.
- The commercial application/industry relevance of the proposed R&D will be emphasized.
- There is a focus on driving productivity towards net zero emissions.
- Data-driven/precision approaches will be preferred.
- The closing date is noon on January 22, 2020.
Specific themes in the aquaculture space could include (but are not limited to):
- Waste capture and valorization
- Data-driven solutions/SMART farms/AI applications
- Creating or saving energy to reduce carbon emissions
- Reduced handling/improved welfare
Preferred project teams will have cross-sectoral engagement, draw on relevant academic excellence, and ideally bring some inward investment with them. There must be at least one SME in the project consortium.
SAIC supports the development of collaborative proposals, with industry and academic partners coming together to maximize impact. They are standing by to offer assistance to ambitious aquaculture (and associated) consortia who would like to submit an application. For projects that align with SAIC’s priority innovation areas and have potential UK-wide impact, they would like to consider contributing in-kind or with project funds.
SAIC will work closely with UK and regional expert organizations – such as The Data Lab, CENSIS, AgriEPI Centre, IBioIC, Zero Waste Scotland, Seafood Scotland, CEFAS and other partners – to bring together strong project teams.
Contact Polly Douglas, polly@scottishaquaculture.com or Robin Shields, robin@scottishaquaculture.com, for further details and to discuss project proposals. More information here.
