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INSIGHTS / INNOVATION FUNDING
INNOVATION FUNDING
HOW TO FIND AND SECURE THE RIGHT INNOVATION FUNDING
Funding should accelerate a worthwhile agricultural solution - not force a good idea into the wrong programme
FARMLYTICS PERSPECTIVE
Innovation funding is competitive for good reason. Public and industry budgets are finite, the need is immense, and the bar for evidence is rising. Success depends on fit-with the right challenge, the right partners and the right plan to deliver and measure change.
START WITH THE PROBLEM, NOT THE FUNDING CALL
Define the decision you need to enable and the risk you must retire. If you cannot name the outcome, it will be hard to design the work, justify the budget or prove impact.
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Clarify the commercial or environmental decision you need to make.
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List the unknowns that stop you making it today.
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Describe the impact of getting it right.
CHOOSE THE OPPORTUNITY CAREFULLY
The best programmes are not always the most visible. Read the remit literally and match scope, geography, theme are timing to your project.
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Check eligibility, consortium rules and match funding.
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Assess how success will be judged.
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Confirm the budget range fits the work and the risk.
BUILD THE CONSORTIUM AROUND DELIVERY
Strong partnerships de-risk the project, strengthen the bid and improve outcomes.
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Bring together complementary capabilities.
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Define roles, governance and decision rights early.
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Agree how data, IP and outputs will be managed.
DESIGN THE TRIAL AROUND A DECISION
A funder wants evidence that will be used. Design a trial that answers the decision with rigour and relevance.
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State the decision at the start
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Agree the primary outcome and success threshold.
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Pian the trial, analysis and independent assurance
MAINTAIN ONE CLEAR LOGIC CHAIN
Your application should tell one coherent story from challenge to impact
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Problem → hypothesis → work package → evidence → decision → impact.
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Keep each step specific, measurable and time-bound.
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Remove anything that does not change the decision.
TREAT VALUE FOR MONEY AS AN ARGUMENT
Funders need confidence that the proposed route is proportionate and efficient.
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Explain why this approach and these partners
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Show how resources are targeted at the highest-risk uncertainties.
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Describe the plan to share learning beyond the project.
PLAN ADOPTION FROM THE BEGINNING
Impact happens when adoption is intentional, not accidental.
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Identify the end user and what will drive their decision.
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Plan engagement, testing and commercial routes.
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Define the metric that will show that change in practice or performance.
The right funding should support the next logical step in the proiect. Start with the problem, design the evidence and build the team. Do that well and the application becomes the easy part.
PLANNING AN INNOVATION PROJECT?
Test the opportunity before committing time and resources to an application
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