Agtech Accelerator and Innovate UK announce global agtech partnership
Today, the Agtech Accelerator is excited to announce a partnership with Innovate UK to accelerate the cultivation of agtech innovation on a global scale. Innovate UK, the UK’s national innovation agency and part of UK Research and Innovation, drives productivity and economic growth by supporting businesses to develop and realize the potential of new ideas. Through this partnership, Innovate UK will recruit and enable up to five innovative UK companies to take part in the accelerator’s yearly cohort.
“Providing safe, nutritious food for a growing global population requires a global response,” said Tina Beaudry-Mellor, Chief Economic Growth Officer, Economic Development Regina. “Partnerships like this greatly enhance the impact of the Agtech Accelerator and further establish Regina, and Saskatchewan, as a key centre of innovation in the global food sector. We’re thrilled to welcome Innovate UK onboard, and we look forward to growing new opportunities together.”
“Innovate UK is really pleased to be working with the Agtech Accelerator as part of its Global Incubator Programme helping UK businesses to build partnerships and collaborations and to explore the opportunities offered by the Canadian and North American market,” said David Golding, Head of Global Innovation Partnerships, Innovate UK. “It is a really exciting opportunity and we look forward to working and building the partnership with Agtech Accelerator and furthering the relationships between Canada and the UK”.
Bringing an international partner and companies to the Agtech Accelerator will bring new perspectives and ideas to the industry, and further solidify Saskatchewan as a global agtech hub.
“We are uniquely positioned here in Saskatchewan to lead the world with new and innovative agricultural technologies,” said Jeremy Harrison, Minister responsible for Innovation Saskatchewan. “This partnership further exemplifies our excellent global reputation, and shows tremendous opportunity to build mutually beneficial economic relationships with the UK.”
“We’re hyper-focused on growing globally successful agtech companies and establishing a global agtech hub here in Saskatchewan,” said Jordan McFarlen, Business Incubator Manager, Cultivator powered by Conexus. “Curating international partnerships and opportunities is key to the success of this initiative. Partnering with a first-class organization such as Innovate UK provides a win-win scenario for both Canadian and UK founders as well as each respective ecosystem.”
Launched earlier this year and founded by Cultivator powered by Conexus (Cultivator), Economic Development Regina (EDR) and Emmertech (a new agtech focused venture capital fund), the Agtech Accelerator will provide the resources, programming and funding agtech companies need to help them scale their companies. The Agtech Accelerator is venture-capital-backed, meaning each Canadian company selected to participate in the yearly cohort will receive an equity investment at intake – a first for an accelerator in Saskatchewan and Canada.
The Agtech Accelerator will run one cohort each year, taking place from March to May, in which companies will go through programming and be connected to mentors, investors, service providers, and training needed to build a globally successful agtech venture. At the end of three months, founders will pitch their company at Demo Day as an opportunity to gain insightful feedback from industry experts and to win additional funding to help fuel their growth.
To learn more about the Agtech Accelerator, click here.
To learn more about Innovate UK, visit www.ukri.org/councils/innovate-uk/.