Innovate UK

Innovate UK is a non-departmental public body established in 2007 and based in Swindon, United Kingdom. Funded by a government grant, it supports innovation in science and technology by providing funding services to businesses across various sectors and regions. The organization aims to drive productivity and economic growth by facilitating advancements that contribute to the UK’s economic landscape. In addition to funding, Innovate UK offers a range of services and information related to business and economic development, thereby fostering a supportive environment for innovation.

Mike Biddle

Programme Director of Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund

Will Drury

Executive Director, Digital and Technologies

Paul Gadd

Deputy Director

Dr. Tom Jenkins

Deputy Director

Scott James O'Brien

Director, Innovation Finance

Nigel Walker

Deputy Director, Lending and Investor Partnerships

Dave Wilkes

Director of Innovation Ecosystem

Past deals in Food Processing

OCEANIUM

Grant in 2024
Oceanium is a manufacturer that specializes in developing innovative, all-natural food and nutraceutical products, as well as sustainable materials derived from sustainably-sourced seaweed. The company is committed to enhancing both human health and environmental sustainability through its technical biorefinery process, which maximizes the value extracted from seaweed. This process results in a diverse range of products, including food ingredients and natural bioactive components for health and cosmetic applications. Additionally, Oceanium plays a vital role in supporting the seaweed farming industry in the Western Hemisphere, creating job opportunities in rural coastal communities and contributing to systemic changes in the food system.

Biovit

Grant in 2024
Biovit is a company that specializes in the development of fortified foods. It uses 100% organic plant extracts, naturally rich in vitamins and minerals, to enhance the nutritional value of its products. The company aims to address health and environmental issues such as obesity and malnutrition, while also reducing food waste. Biovit has clinically developed and tested organic micronutrient blends for use in various food and beverage products, as well as supplements, providing consumers with organically sourced, nutrient-dense options.

Fuse Diagnostics

Seed Round in 2024
Fuse Diagnostics is a company dedicated to providing lab-quality diagnostic information through innovative and cost-effective testing solutions. The company manufactures diagnostic products designed to deliver accurate results for various applications, including food and water testing, bioprocessing industry needs, and cell biology research. Fuse Diagnostics aims to make high-quality diagnostic information accessible wherever it is needed, offering low-cost test kits with integrated readout technology that provide rapid results.

Industrial Robotic Solutions

Grant in 2024
Industrial Robotic Solutions creates a robotic selecting and placement solution that automatically deposits fresh ingredients into industrially manufactured sandwiches.

British Sugar

Grant in 2024
British Sugar plc produces and markets sugar for international food and drink manufacturers. It also offers aggregates, animal feeds, bioethanol, electricity, tomatoes, soil, and liming products.

Clean Food Group

Grant in 2023
Clean Food Group specializes in the development of sustainable food ingredients, focusing on providing eco-friendly alternatives to traditional fats and oils. The company produces a range of products, including liquid oils such as soybean oil and solid fats like palm oil, cocoa butter, and milk fat. Utilizing a proprietary cellular agriculture system, Clean Food Group commercializes palm oil production through fermentation using natural yeast in a sustainable, non-GM process. This innovative approach offers customers a local and circular alternative to conventional palm oil, addressing both environmental concerns and health considerations while maintaining quality and taste.

The Good Pulse

Grant in 2023
The Good Pulse is a producer of functional proteins and ingredients derived from pulses, specializing in plant-based foods and supplements. The company focuses on creating meat alternatives and cheese substitutes using precision fermentation techniques. By maximizing the functionality and nutritional value of pulse seeds, such as peas and soy, The Good Pulse aims to provide consumers with sustainable and ethical food options. Their products are designed to ensure that consumers do not have to compromise on taste or experience while adopting a more efficient diet. Through its innovative approach, The Good Pulse is dedicated to revalorizing all components extracted from pulses, contributing to a more sustainable food system.

Modern Baker

Grant in 2023
Modern Baker creates ground-breaking 'clean label' ingredient technologies to improve the nutritional profile of carbohydrate-based ultra-processed foods for the greater benefit.

Futraheat

Grant in 2023
Futraheat is an innovative company focused on developing high-temperature heat pump technology, specifically its TurboClaw system, aimed at facilitating the decarbonization of industrial heat processes. By providing cost-effective solutions, Futraheat enables a practical transition for various industries, including pharmaceuticals and food production, to shift from fossil fuel dependence to a zero-carbon alternative. The company's technology harnesses renewable electricity to deliver sustainable heating solutions, thereby contributing to the broader goal of reducing carbon emissions in industrial applications.

LiberEat

Grant in 2022
LiberEat is a developer of allergen detection software aimed at enhancing food safety for businesses. Its machine learning software identifies dangerous errors in food data, including labeling, packaging, and ingredient lists, which traditional safety processes often overlook. By analyzing supplier data and food supply chain information, LiberEat enables companies to automatically detect and alert their quality assurance teams about potential risks. This proactive approach helps prevent consumer harm and fatalities while also mitigating significant costs associated with regulatory compliance, legal issues, and reputational damage.

OCEANIUM

Grant in 2022
Oceanium is a manufacturer that specializes in developing innovative, all-natural food and nutraceutical products, as well as sustainable materials derived from sustainably-sourced seaweed. The company is committed to enhancing both human health and environmental sustainability through its technical biorefinery process, which maximizes the value extracted from seaweed. This process results in a diverse range of products, including food ingredients and natural bioactive components for health and cosmetic applications. Additionally, Oceanium plays a vital role in supporting the seaweed farming industry in the Western Hemisphere, creating job opportunities in rural coastal communities and contributing to systemic changes in the food system.

Better Nature

Grant in 2022
Better Nature Ltd. is a UK-based company specializing in the production of organic plant-based protein products. Founded in 2018 and located in Chesterfield, the company primarily offers a range of tempeh products, including tempeh mince, tempeh rashers, smoked tempeh, and lupin tempeh. These products are designed to provide nutrition for vegan diets, leveraging the benefits of tempeh, which is created through the fermentation of cooked soybeans. This process yields a protein-rich, gluten-free food that is also high in prebiotics and fiber. Better Nature distributes its offerings through an online platform, making its products accessible to a wide audience.

Datalase

Grant in 2021
Datalase Ltd., based in Widnes, United Kingdom, is a leading provider of materials for laser coding and marking of products and packaging. The company specializes in developing innovative materials that can be incorporated into inks, coatings, and varnishes, enabling high-speed, in-line digital printing of variable information with lasers. This technology allows for late-stage customization on outercases, products, and primary packaging across various markets, including pharmaceuticals, FMCG, food and beverage, electronics, cosmetics, and tobacco. Datalase's solutions are used to print date and lot codes, 2-D data matrix codes, barcodes, images, and graphics. The company operates through a partner network in Europe, the United States, and Asia, and has strategic partnerships with SATO and PARC. Originally incorporated in 1987 as Sherwood Technology Ltd., the company changed its name to Datalase Ltd. in January 2006.

Aramune

Grant in 2021
Aramune Technologies is a biotechnology company focused on developing plant-derived feed materials that serve as sustainable alternatives to antimicrobial agents used in animal feeds. Their technology involves isolating natural compounds from plants, which are then mixed with standard animal feeds to promote growth and prevent infections without harming the environment. This approach aims to benefit both farmers and consumers by enabling disease prevention in livestock while minimizing environmental impact.

Mimica

Grant in 2020
Mimica is a developer of innovative temperature-sensitive indicator tags designed for perishable products, including food and pharmaceuticals. Its flagship product, Bump by Mimica, features a patented bio-responsive label or cap that becomes bumpy when the contents are no longer safe for consumption, providing a clear and tactile indication of freshness based on actual temperature conditions. This technology is calibrated for different food types, aiming to meet the specific needs of food suppliers. By accurately reflecting the spoilage timeline of products, Mimica's solutions are projected to significantly reduce food waste—by 50% in retail settings and 60% in households—thus contributing to a more sustainable food system. The company anticipates that its innovations could prevent up to 13.6 million tonnes of food waste from European households annually, particularly in key categories such as juice, milk, and meat, addressing a critical issue in global food waste management.

Nandi Proteins

Grant in 2016
Nandi Proteins Limited is a UK-based company, established in 2000 and spun out of Heriot Watt University in 2001. Formerly known as Nandi Biotechnology Limited, the company specializes in developing innovative technologies to enhance the functional properties of proteins used in food manufacturing and nutrition. Nandi Proteins focuses on improving common proteins such as whey, egg, and soy through patented processes that utilize controlled heat, time, and temperature. The company's goal is to lead the market in denatured protein technology, offering value-added protein products and pursuing strategic licensing agreements with industry partners. By leveraging its expertise, Nandi Proteins aims to deliver significant growth and provide manufacturers with the ability to enhance the physical characteristics and health benefits of food and beverage products while also enabling the cost-effective extraction of valuable components.

G2O Water Technologies

Grant in 2015
G2O’s graphene-based coatings technology provides efficient and cost-effective solutions to a broad range of filtration applications and can be used in conjunction with existing filtration membranes and systems. The technology has the potential to be used across multiple markets including the treatment of produced water in the oil & gas industry for oil and water separation, industrial and processed wastewater treatment, processing and wastewater treatment in the food, beverage, and dairy industries, domestic water filters, and desalination.
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