Applications are now being accepted for Small Project awards under the Agritech in China: Newton Network+

The Agri-Tech in China: Newton Network+ (ATCNN) will invest £1.3M in support of Small Project and larger Research & Development projects to support the development of innovative solutions to address critical challenges impacting the socio-economic growth of China’s agri-tech and agri-food sectors. ATCNN specifically seeks to translate UK excellence in satellite imaging, remote sensing, smart sensors, robotics and data-intensive science into new solutions for productivity and sustainability in rural China.

Small Project Awards will run for up to four months and attract up to £30,000 in total contribution from the ATCNN, at an intervention rate of 80% of total eligible costs.

The deadline for applications is 17:00 (BST) 15 September, 2017

Small Project Awards will assist UK business and academic stakeholders to:

1. Work, either individually or collaboratively, with other industrial or research organisations on initial exchanges and studies, and prior to embarking on more substantive projects.
2. Develop more in-depth evidence to demonstrate a Small Project for innovations that addresses specific challenges relating to the Chinese agri-tech/agri-food sectors and deliver viable and sustainable soultions for the end-users of these communities.

Project Awards are intended to ensure that data, technology and modelling pipelines are appropriate to de-risk larger investments in data-intensive innovation projects. They should help integrate activity across agri-food value chains and include a range of relevant stakeholders.

Projects must be led by either a UK business or a UK research organisation and should aim to develop solutions relevant to China’s agri-tech and agri-food sectors taking into account the translation of the knowledge generated and demonstrating a clear route to delivery in China.

Although only UK-based organisations are eligible for the funding available through this competition, applicants are encouraged to co-develop their proposals with Chinese partners. Projects that attract actual or in-kind support from Chinese partners will be given priority.

The lead partner in the UK must submit a single application on behalf of all participants by email to  ATCNN@Rothamsted.ac.uk. Applications must be submitted using the form available on the webpage www.rothamsted.ac.uk/china/ATCNN.

This programme is funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills though the Newton Fund with support from the Science and Technologies Facilities Council. Rothamsted Research is the lead partner in the consortium managing the programme, which also includes the University of East Anglia, University of Edinburgh, University of Reading and the Scottish Rural College.

Additional information is supplied in the associated documents for this call, but if further information is required please contact: ATCNN@Rothamsted.ac.uk