UK SMEs Tap into Saudi Arabia’s Agri Tech Opportunity via Innovate UK’s GBIP
As agri tech innovation reshapes modern farming across the globe, Innovate UK is inviting UK-based small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to compete for a coveted spot in its Global Business Innovation Programme (GBIP): Agri Tech, Saudi Arabia. Registration opened on 16th June 2025 and closes on 27th July 2025, offering up to 15 ambitious businesses an exceptional opportunity to accelerate their international expansion.
Who Should Apply?
Eligibility is open to UK-based, innovation-led companies with fewer than 250 employees. Each application must be led by a senior decision-maker, such as a CEO or founder, who is prepared to fully commit to all three phases of the programme.
Importantly, participants must attend a two-day UK-based ‘Get ready’ workshop, a week-long innovation visit to Saudi Arabia, and a follow-up ‘Exploit the opportunity’ workshop post-visit. Businesses who previously participated in a GBIP for the same market/sector must demonstrate measurable impact from prior rounds and outline how this particular programme offers fresh value.
Programme Timeline & Structure
Innovate UK has structured the programme within a 9–12 month window, starting with preparatory activity and culminating in strategy planning:
• Get ready workshop: 15th–16th September 2025 (tbc)
• On-site innovation visit, including a stop at the Saudi Agriculture Conference in Riyadh: 17th-24th October 2025
• Exploit the opportunity workshop: 13 January 2026 (tbc).
Additionally, a global insight and briefing webinar is scheduled for 3rd July 2025, providing potential applicants with essential guidance on eligibility, evaluation, and the Saudi agri tech ecosystem.
What’s Funded?
Innovate UK will cover flights, accommodation, in-market travel, and conference fees for one senior representative per company. While most costs are covered, a refundable commitment fee of £1,000 is required upon acceptance, refunded upon completion of all programme phases and deliverables.
Why Saudi Arabia?
Under its Vision 2030 plan, Saudi Arabia is rapidly modernising its economy, with agriculture and food security now taking centre stage. Despite the harsh desert environment and scarce freshwater resources, agriculture contributes around 4.3% to KSA’s non oil GDP, employing over 350,000 people.
Recent UK–KSA developments, notably the March 2024 science and technology MoU, have set the stage for enhanced R&D collaboration, aligned with critical needs in food, water, clean energy. The KSA government is investing in:
• Controlled-environment agriculture (CEA)
• Precision breeding and agriculture
• Precision livestock technologies
• Aquaculture
• Food waste valorisation and circular economy solutions.
These focal areas constitute the thematic pillars for the GBIP cohort.
Scope & Focus Areas
Innovate UK is seeking innovative solutions across several cutting-edge categories:
• Aquaculture: including health diagnostics and AI-enhanced feeding systems
• CEA & precision agriculture: robotics, sensor networks, drip irrigation, integrated pest management
• Livestock tech: health monitoring, fertility management in dairy and poultry
• Circular-economy systems: turning agricultural or food waste into high-value products.
These diverse themes reflect the breadth of KSA’s ambitions and provide rich potential for UK SMEs to add value.
What Participants Gain
Accepted businesses can expect to unlock multifaceted benefits through the GBIP:
1. Market knowledge & SME profiling: DNAs from in-market visits and networking.
2. High-level introductions: tailored connections to government, R&D, and industry leaders.
3. Partnership opportunities: enabling joint R&D projects and bi-lateral funding calls.
4. Value proposition refinement: through expert coaching and peer exchange.
5. Pipeline building: with incubation support via a dedicated Innovation and Growth Specialist.
Combine these with direct exposure at the Saudi Agriculture Conference, and participants are well-positioned to forge lasting commercial and research partnerships.
