About funding and grants
Funding provides opportunities for food and drink manufacturers to address current and future business challenges through the development of innovative solutions across the business, from process innovation through to product development.
The FDF has close ties with various funding bodies across the UK. These include UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), Innovate UK, the KTN, and the research councils (i.e., BBSRC and EPSRC) as well as regional bodies such as the Greater Lincolnshire LEP.
We also have established connections with researchers within academic institutions, the catapult network and businesses who are at the forefront of the latest innovations. The FDF can connect you with the right people to drive innovation through suggesting funding routes, connect you to potential project consortia collaboration and support with funding applications.
If you are interested in a free expert consultation into your business and where resource efficiencies could be made to increase the productivity of your business, check out the Food and Drink Innovation Gateway.
Spotlight
Shaping the future of advanced manufacturing event
Date: 19/03/2026
Innovate UK is developing programmes to support the government’s Industrial Strategy and Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan, with a focus on the six frontier industries. To help shape this work, we want to hear directly from industry about where the highest growth potential lies.
Initial funding has already been made available through the £5 million Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Innovation Feasibility Studies competition. Building on this, Innovate UK is developing further funding calls and exploring how to narrow the scope to target areas with the greatest growth potential, aligned with the UK’s existing capabilities.
Sign up here.
Funding and Grants grid
For members, the FDF tracks open and upcoming grant opportunities for food and drink manufacturing businesses throughout the UK. This grid includes more detail than available on the website, and can be downloaded for quick reference and internal discussion.
Download funding and grants grid
Find business support in Scotland & Wales
The findbusinesssupport.gov.scot website provides an overview of all public sector grants and funding available in Scotland. Businesses can filter the support by location, topic and sector.
The tradeandinvest.wales website links to various potential business funding sources as well as regional support throughout Wales.
Additional resources
UKRI Guidance for Applicants (A UK Research and Innovation guide to successfully applying for R&D funding.
Innovate UK: Helping Innovative Businesses Succeed (This document explains Innovate UK’s role in supporting businesses to innovate)
The Lambert Toolkit (A toolkit for universities and companies that wish to undertake collaborative research projects with each other.)
KTN Innovation Canvas (A tool designed by the Knowledge Transfer Network to help businesses address their innovation challenges.)
