The Technology Strategy Board is to invest up to £7m in collaborative R&D to develop, enhance or improve automation systems and equipment, including the use of robotics – driving significant improvements in complex manufacturing processes, including those of food. Additional funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) of up to £1m may be available for projects that contain a significant, high-quality academic research component and demonstrate added value by building on or being complementary to existing research programmes and portfolios.

Of the total £8m available, £2m will be specifically allocated to automation in the food sector.

Proposals must be collaborative and business-led and include a potential end-user. We expect to fund mainly industrial research projects in which a business partner will generally attract up to 50% public funding for their project costs (60% for SMEs). Projects should last from one to three years, with total project costs in the range of £500k to £2m, although we will consider projects outside this range.

This competition is a two-stage process, which opens on 21 January 2013. Expressions of interest (EOI) must be submitted by noon on 6 March 2013.

A briefing day for potential applicants will be held in London on 24 January 2013.