New Yorkshire-based food robotics facility

The Doncaster-based centre will drive further improvements in the UK's food and drink sector.

Funded by Yorkshire Forward and three Regional Development Agencies, the centre will work with robotics experts from the University of Salford to improve the efficiency of food and drink production through increased automation.

Yorkshire Forward, along with its partners is offering food and drink processing companies access to new innovations.

Simon Hill

Executive Director of business development

Yorkshire Forward

Originally developed from the Innovation Technology Centre in Rotherham, the new facility will offer automation services.

Simon Hill, executive director of business development at Yorkshire Forward, said: "In creating [CenFRA], Yorkshire Forward, along with its partners is offering food and drink processing companies access to new innovations to enable them to make informed choices when moving their businesses forward.

As Europe's first such facility, CenFRA will bridge the gap between industry and academia, encourage more investment in automation, conduct technology audits for firms and will provide the sector with a dedicated research facility.