About Lincam
Our EPSRC funded Lincam Ceres-Agri-Tech PBIAA is a novel funding mechanism designed to translate and commercialise UK Agri-Tech research, which will have impact within the Greater Lincolnshire and North Cambridgeshire (Lincam) region.
Our Lincam project is heavily focussed on research translation, seeking to support university and RTO teams to translate their agri-tech innovations from lab to field by the onward development of their technologies and commercialisation using the established Ceres Agri-Tech model.
We will support impact delivery for science that supports the regions crop based production sector and its supply chains in terms of concurrent economic, environmental and/or social benefits. Projects must be more than 50% in EPSRC scope (e.g. AI, robotics companies, digital plant breeding, net zero engineering etc) and are funded with IAA rules (no FEC).
We have both Project Awards and Proof of Concept Awards available in Lincam Ceres Agri-Tech for UK Universities and EPSRC approved Research Translation Organisations (RTO).
Scope in brief:
• Technology must be novel
• UK University or RTO researchers only
• Crop-based technology
• Must have relevance to Lincam region – note researchers do NOT need to be based in the Lincam region to be eligible for funding.
• Project must be at least 50% EPSRC scope e.g. AI, chemistry, robotics, material science, engineering, computer science, physics etc.
This call focuses on the following challenges:
- AI solutions to transform agriculture e.g. Nutrient prediction, pest detection and control, scouting, farm planning, water management
- Reduction of emissions/NetZero e.g. Efficient use of resources, Circular economy, utilising waste streams, precision farming, novel inputs, fertiliser reduction
- Crop storage and logistics e.g. Early disease detection, cold chain monitoring, storage energy use optimisation
- Data driven farming e.g. Grower data management, decision support, sensor technologies, monitoring, phenotyping
- Crops of the future e.g. Breeding technologies, robotic harvesting, crop scouting, specialty crops, phenotyping
- Climate resilience e.g. water use efficiency, biodiversity monitoring, breeding technologies, controlled environment, GHG reduction
Novel, innovative technology is in scope, but deployment of off the shelf solutions or best practice solutions of use of existing tech are out of scope.
Of particular interest is technology from other disciplines that could be adapted and applied in agriculture. Note the above examples are intended to illustrate the categories but not limit scope and are not exhaustive.
We will also consider applications addressing challenges in agriculture other than the above list.
Project Awards:
Full information about Project Awards can be found on the Ceres website.
Ceres will provide quick access to milestoned Lincam Ceres Agri-Tech translational investment, anywhere between £20,000-£150,000 per project (no FEC), based on a 15-minute pitch to the Ceres Investment Committee. Funding rounds are held quarterly, with quick decisions.
Proof of Concept Awards
Full information on Proof of Concept Awards can be found on the Ceres website.
Ceres will provide quick access to milestoned Lincam Ceres Agri-Tech translational investment, anywhere between £5, 000 – 20,000 per project (no FEC), based on a 7-minute pitch to the Ceres Investment Committee. Funding rounds are held quarterly, with quick decisions.
Lincam funding webinars
Information sessions to learn more about the Lincam funding programme and how to apply for this funding. Sign up with the Eventbrite links below.
Friday, 7th November, 11am-12noon: Lincam Funding Webinar Tickets, Fri, Nov 7, 2025 at 11:00 AM | Eventbrite
Thursday, 27th November, 12pm-1pm: Lincam Funding Webinar Tickets, Thu, Nov 27, 2025 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite
How to apply
FAQs and how to apply can be found on the Ceres website. The closing date for Expressions of Interest for this Agri-Tech funding for UK Universities and RTOs is 10th December at midnight.
You can see other funding calls in our Funding Finder.
