A new fund to support emerging food start-ups has been launched by biosciences innovation and enterprise campus AberInnovation.
The ‘legacy entrepreneurship acceleration programme’ (LEAP) will be funded by the Dick Lawes Legacy Fund and will support initiatives aiming to help aspiring entrepreneurs.
Dick Lawes was a visionary entrepreneur and left a lasting impact on the dairy industry, founding the animal nutrition business Volac; and L.E. Pritchitt & Co, now part of Lakeland Dairies. He pioneered the development of innovative animal nutrition products, which later evolved into human nutritional solutions through subsequent generations of his family.
The new LEAP programme funding will support up to eight projects in 2024-2025 in the fields of agriculture, human food and nutrition – with a particular focus on dairy sector farm-to-fork processes, and animal nutrition.
The programme is designed to provide technical development support and mentorship to selected projects, backed by a grant of between £30,000 and £50,000 per project.
National food specialist science hub, AberInnovation, located in Gogerddan, just outside Aberystwyth, is rolling out the programme that aligns to their commitment to advancing cutting-edge research and fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and the public sector across the UK.
Dr Rhian Hayward MBE, CEO of AberInnovation, said:
“As we celebrate four years of driving innovation, we are excited and feel privileged to launch the LEAP Programme, which reflects our shared commitment with the family of Dick Lawes to nurturing the next generation of innovators.
“The Dick Lawes Legacy Fund is providing crucial support to projects that have the potential to make a significant impact in the fields of agriculture, food, nutrition and life sciences.
“AberInnovation has established itself as a cornerstone for new product and services development in the biosciences, agrifood and the circular economy for start-ups and established businesses.
“The facility features state-of-the-art resources and academic backing from Aberystwyth University and beyond that beneficiaries of the fund will also benefit from.”
Jane Neville, Trustee and daughter of Dick Lawes, said:
“We are incredibly proud of my father’s achievements. He understood that the entrepreneurial journey is filled with opportunities, and I am delighted to further extend his legacy by supporting entrepreneurs through the launch of the LEAP programme. This launch also highlights the vital importance of collaboration between industry and academia, ensuring continued support for innovation through the Dick Lawes Legacy Fund. His belief and mantra ‘not if – when’, is particularly fitting for this initiative.”
Find more information about the LEAP programme via: https://aberinnovation.com/development-hub/leap
