Global Incubator Programme – Agri-Tech, New Zealand 2026: cohort 1

Innovate UK seeks innovative Agri-Tech companies to participate in an acceleration programme to support growth by exploring the potential of the New Zealand market.

Innovate UK will fund and organise group flights, group accommodation and group airport transfer fees for successful applicants, who will also benefit from an intensive 9 to 12 months, three phased programme and bespoke support from an Innovation & Growth Specialist throughout.

Note: This opportunity is fully funded support and not monetary funding.

Innovate UK is inviting ambitious companies to participate in the Global Incubator Programme. The Global Incubator Programme will include 2X two week-long visits to New Zealand in June and October 2026. Each business is supported by an Innovate UK Business Growth Innovation & Growth Specialist to help maximise the potential of being part of the programme and beyond. This initiative will be delivered physically and will include virtual activities.

They welcome applications from Agri-Tech technologies improving productivity, sustainability and resilience.

Targeted agricultural sectors

• Horticulture: viticulture, fruit production, vegetable crops and protected cropping
• Livestock: including beef, sheep & dairy systems, monitoring and management, including animal wellbeing technology to proactively detect/avoid/treat health issues and improve diet/nutrition. Technologies to manage enteric methane and nitrous oxide production.
• Arable: precision crop management and soil health technologies

To apply, you must:

• Be a UK-based innovation-led company with ambitions to grow and internationalise
• Be a company with fewer than 250 employees
• Have a focus on Agri-Tech

Key focus areas (including but not limited to)

• Controlled environment farming
• Robotics & Automation
• Advanced Sensors & AI Systems
• Engineering Biology for agriculture

For full information and to apply, visit UKRI website.