i4i PDA October 26

Key Features

The NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) programme is inviting outline applications to its Product Development Awards funding opportunity.

Programme:     NIHR

Award:     No funding level

Opens: 7th Oct 2026

Closes: 2nd Dec 2026

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Grant Overview

The NIHR i4i programme supports the development of healthcare technologies that address existing or emerging health or social care need. This is a two stage funding opportunity.

Grant Scope

The NIHR will support collaborative research and development of medical devices, in vitro diagnostic devices, and high-impact patient-focused digital health technologies intended for use within the NHS or social care systems.

Projects may include activities such as:

  • Product design and prototyping
  • Laboratory and analytical testing
  • Clinical studies needed to support product development
  • Health economic analysis
  • Development of regulatory strategies and evidence

Grant Eligibility

To be eligible for this competition, you must be a UK registered higher education institution, small or medium sized enterprise, NHS or social care provider, local authority or government body or not for profit organisation. Projects are expected to last between 24 and 36 months.

Projects must be collaborative and involve at least one co-applicant from an organisation different from the lead contracting organisation. There is no maximum number of co-applicants you can have, but consortiums should remain focussed and capable of maintaining project control.

Grant Exclusions

NIHR will not fund the following projects:

  • Projects that involve animals, animal tissues or stem cells
  • Projects involving the development of pharmaceuticals or cosmetic projects
  • Projects based on Biomarker discovery
  • Projects related to early stage or fundamental research
  • Projects with minor or incremental changes to technologies in current clinical use
  • Projects involving scale-up manufacturing of the projects needed to carry out a clinical evaluation
  • Projects with implementation costs other than those associated with research
  • Projects evaluating fully developed products which have already been adopted within the NHS or social care team
  • Projects with digital health technologies falling under Tier A and Tier B of the NICE evidence standards framework for digital health technologies
  • Projects for professional training, including PhD fees
  • Projects for the development of innovation or knowledge networks and healthcare technology cooperatives with the aim to accelerate the development of innovative technology products

Funding Costs

No maximum, NIHR are encouraging ambitious projects with the potential to make a real impact

For further information on this competition, please see full details.

Full competition details