Open from 7 February 2020 until 20 April 2020, the UK Seafood Innovation Fund is seeking applicants with plans for innovative projects to transform the future of UK seafood.

Have you got an inspiring idea to transform UK seafood production? Got some top-secret tech ready to be tested in the real world? Tasted a new seafood product you want to share? We want to hear from you!

Applications Open from 7 February to 20 April 2020

Following the strong round of applications received in 2019, the UK Seafood Innovation Fund is hoping to receive an even more diverse and disruptive set of bids for this call – the first funding call in 2020. The programme will support projects that aim to deliver longer-term, cutting-edge innovation across the seafood sector and supply chain. It will also support projects to take innovative ideas from early-stage research to commercial viability. 

Professor Fiona Lettice, Chair of the UK Seafood Innovation Fund Steering Group and Pro-Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation at the University of East Anglia said ‘we are looking for projects that can genuinely transform or disrupt the seafood industry. These should be innovative ideas that aim to make a significant improvement to the future sustainability, profitability and efficiency of any part of the seafood sector.’ 

Launching its second open call for applications, the Fund encourages bids from experts in the fishing, aquaculture, and seafood processing sectors. And Professor Lettice emphasises that SIF is also searching beyond the seafood sector: ‘We are keen to hear from innovative thinkers in tech, engineering, data science and app development, whose expertise could bring new insights to benefit the future of UK seafood.’ Collaborative consortia, bringing together established and new players for the first time, are also welcomed. 

Close up image of shellfish fishing pots

EU and UK based public and private organisations, including academic institutions, are eligible to apply to the fund. The fund accepts bids from groups of organisations working together and collaborative bids – especially those forging new relationships between sectors – are encouraged.  

The call is a competitive procurement process. Applicants can bid for a portion of the £10 million fund, applying for up to £50,000 for a three-month feasibility study, or up to £250,000 to fund a research and development (R&D) project running for up to 18 months. Match funding is not essential, and all applications are subject to a highly competitive external review process. 

For further information about how to apply to the fund and whether you are eligible, please read our FAQs.