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Agri-Food Quest Project Proposal
Agri-Food Quest invites its members to put proposals forward for its first call before 19th
January 2016. This first project call is limited to projects less than £150,000 in total cost and/
or less than 2 years in duration. For projects outside these criteria, please contact Agri-Food
Quest Manager, Stephane Durand to discuss the opportunity.
For criteria details, please refer to Annex 1.
Agri-Food Quest Reference Number:
To be updated by Agri-Food Quest Administration
1. Project details
Project title
Project summary (max 250
words)
Project details including
existing knowledge,
uniqueness of the proposed
solution(s) (max 1000
words)
What is the problem or
opportunity which the
project aims to address?
(max 250 words)
Which theme(s) does this
project align within the
Research Strategy (Cf Annex
2) – Please describe how
(max 250 words)
Project deliverables and
duration
Please attach individual organisation project plan with milestones in an annex.
Issued : 20th October 2015
funded by
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2. Participating organisations
2.1 Industrial (minimum 3 company members)
Company Names
Registered Addresses
Contact names and
position in the company
Contact telephone and
email
1
2
3
4
5
2.2 Research Organisation(s)
Research Organisation
Entity undertaking the
research (School, Research
cluster, Division)
Name of principal
investigator
Contact telephone
and email
1
2
3
2.3 Key staff with responsibility for project management
Note: a Minimum of one project manager (Project Investigator) from a research
organisation and one company champion is required for the project.
Name
Issued : 20th October 2015
Position
Organisation
Contact details
funded by
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3. Project costs
Please detail below the total project costs. Individual company and research costs to be detailed separately.
3.1 Total Research Organisation costs (Research organisations)
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Total
Labour
Overheads
Consultancy
Sub-Contract
Materials
Other (IP/Travel)
Total
3.2 Total Research Expenditure (Industry)
Year 1
Year 2
Staff Costs
Owner / MD
Senior Manager
Manager
Senior Technician
Technician
Administration
Finance / Legal
Year 3
Total
Total Staff Costs
Non Staff Costs
Equipment
Consultancy
Sub-Contracting
Licenses
Consumables /
Materials
Flights and
Accommodation
Other
Total non-staff
costs
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Total
Please attach individual organisation project costs in an annex.
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4. Scientific Quality and benefit to the Research Organisation(s).
Research to be conducted under Agri-Food Quest must be sound research, originating from a
scientifically excellent programme. The level of innovation and the benefit the research organisation
should be stated. Please provide details below. (max 500 words)
5. Commercial Potential / Exploitation
The commercial potential of the idea including: potential benefits to customers, market need (size of
market, geographic spread and potential value, nature of competition, any gaps in knowledge),
impact to Northern Ireland economy (environment, labour market, inward foreign investment,
export…). Please provide objective evidence to support. When appropriate a Net Present Value
calculation will be submitted. (max 500 words)
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6. Added Value:
The application must describe how Agri-Food Quest funding will enhance the prospect of
commercialisation and/or increase the value of the technology. There must be evidence to indicate
that the project is cost effective and that funding is likely to increase the prospect of significantly
greater exploitation (Max 500 words)
7. Intellectual Property.
The default position is that any IP will be owned by the Research Organisation(s). Please note any
background IP or issues. Please include any foreground agreement that has been agreed (which part
IP will be taken by which organisation incl. exclusivity…) (Max 500 words)
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8. Project risks.
Please outline the risks associated with this project and how they are to be mitigated
Application signed by an authorised signatory of each organisation party to this application:Name
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Position
Organisation
Signed
Date
funded by
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Annex 1 : Success Criteria (For Reference Only)
Successful proposals will have the following characteristics
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
3+ member companies
Project linked to one of the 5 research themes (cf Annex 2 for detail)
The collaboration partners provide the right skills to create a solution
The problem or the opportunity is clearly identified
Cost is within the call max cost of £150,000 / project
Project is less than 2 years in duration.
For projects likely to be larger in cost or duration, please contact Agri-Food Quest Manager to discuss
the opportunity.
The project proposal is forwarded to the Agri-Food Quest Manager before 12pm 19 th January 2016.
The impact to NI economy is clearly identified.
Commercialisation plan is well thought through.
IP management has been identified and agreed among collaborators
Risks are clearly evaluated.
The scientific approach is sound.
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Annex 2 : Agri-Food Quest Research Themes (For Reference Only)
STRATEGIC R&D THEME 1
HYGIENE & SHELF-LIFE EXTENSION
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Non-thermal technologies for improved hygiene during processing or packing
Novel interventions for product/produce sanitisation
Bio-preservation
Modified atmospheric packaging & packaging materials for extended shelf-life
Novel methods to prevent browning
Advanced packaging materials
SMART packaging
STRATEGIC THEME 2
INNOVATIVE PROCESSING & PACKAGING
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Controlling environmental pollution and odours
Rapid, in-line micro-particle measurements
Nano-particles for nutrient protection during processing & delivery
Advanced heating & cooling technologies
In-line measurements
Advanced microwave technologies
Low-temperature extrusion methods
STRATEGIC R&D THEME 3
INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS & CONCEPTS
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Animal feed additives to promote intestinal integrity & feed conversion efficiency
Functional feeds and foods
Methods for ensuring/protecting provenance
Methods to improve the health benefits of food
Modern convenience foods for export markets
STRATEGIC R&D THEME 4
SAFETY & TRACEABILITY
 Emerging risks - assessments, baseline studies and identification of critical control
points
 Methods for food authenticity
 Rapid detection methods for feed bio-security and food safety (chemical, viral,
microbial)
 “Dry” sanitisation technologies
 Acrylamide issues in cooked/baked products
 Full traceability from farm-to-fork
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STRATEGIC R&D THEME 5
BI-PRODUCTS & SUSTAINABILITY
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Creating value from bi-products
Waste mapping
Nitrate and phosphate reduction
Extraction of bioactive ingredient from food production waste / bi-products
Issued : 20th October 2015
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