Digital Dairy Chain

Collaborative R&D and Growth
Funding competition

Grant funding will be made available by the Digital Dairy Chain for collaborative research and development (R&D) projects.

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OPENING SPRING 2024

This competition will see significant investment in innovation projects with a focus on improving productivity and sustainability in advanced, high value dairy production.

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, will work with the Digital Dairy Chain to invest up in projects, within the region of Cumbria, South and West Scotland.

Your project activities can solve challenges at any point in the dairy value chain, including dairy farming, milk transport and logistics, as well as processing of milk and manufacture of other dairy products. Your project should demonstrate a realistic potential to support business growth, scale-up and job creation in Cumbria, South and West Scotland.

The 2023 Collaborative R&D Competition is now CLOSED for applications. The 2024 competition is expected to open in the spring with dates and connected events to be announced at the end of 2023.

Successful Project Applications 2023

Scope

Funded projects will focus on advanced, sustainable and digitally connected dairy production and manufacturing.

Priority R&D themes include:

Reducing waste

Improving sustainability

Reducing carbon emissions

Optimising production and manufacturing

Digitalising the supply chain

Increasing productivity

Novel and high-value products from dairy

Your Project Must:

Be collaborative and business led

Have total grant funding request between £50,000 and £350,000

Last between 6 and 24 months

Carry out a significant proportion of its project work in South and West Scotland or Cumbria

Intend to exploit the results in South and West Scotland or Cumbria

Collaborations with Digital Dairy Chain research organisations (SRUC, University of the West of Scotland, University of Strathclyde, CENSIS) are encouraged to help further develop and translate research towards commercially relevant impact and wider societal outcomes.