Innovation in health and life sciences round 1

The aim of this competition is to stimulate innovation in Health and Life Sciences (H&LS). Projects must cover at least one of the following Innovate UK priority areas:

• increase yield, quality and sustainability in agriculture and food production
• improve precision medicine, advanced therapies, preclinical technologies
• advance biosciences in healthcare and agriculture and food production

Proposals should indicate how projects will enable a step change in competitiveness and productivity for at least one UK SME involved in the project.

Applications from the following themes are encouraged:

Increasing agricultural productivity – Including advanced and precision engineering and fighting agro-chemical and antimicrobial resistance

Improved food quality and sustainability – Including authenticity and traceability and enhanced nutritional value

Precision medicine – Including companion diagnostics and antimicrobial resistance

Advanced therapies – Including preclinical testing and advanced therapies and preparation and execution of early clinical trials

Biosciences – Including synthetic biology and computational systems biology

For more information on specific competition themes, click here.

Eligibility

To lead a project, you must:

• be a UK-based business
• be a business of any size
• involve at least one SME
• carry out your project in the UK
• propose an innovation project that lasts between 6 months and 3 years

If project costs are less than £100,000, an SME can work on the project alone or with partners.

If project costs are £100,000 or more, the project must include at least 2 grant-claiming partners working together.

Funding and project details

Innovate UK have allocated up to £15 million to fund innovation projects.

• £5 million available for projects lasting up to 1 year
• £5 million for projects lasting up to 2 years and
• £5 million for projects up to 3 years.

Projects may focus on technical feasibility, industrial research or experimental development.

All projects must involve at least one SME and a business must lead the project.

Stream 1

Project costs of up to £100,000 for up to 12 months.

• If you are an SME
•  expect your eligible project costs to be up to £100,000
• you may run the project on your own or work with other businesses or research organisations

Stream 2

Project costs of over £100,000 or over 12 months.

• If you expect your eligible project costs to be more than £100,000
• you must work with other organisations
• At least one of these must be an SME

Projects are expected to last from 6 months to 3 years and to range in size from total costs of £50,000 to £2 million.

Project types

For technical feasibility studies and industrial research, you could get:

• up to 70% of your eligible project costs if you are a micro/small business
• up to 60% if you are a medium-sized business
• up to 50% if you are a large business

For experimental development projects which are nearer to market, you could get:

• up to 45% of your eligible project costs if you are a micro/small business
• up to 35% if you are a medium-sized business
• up to 25% if you are a large business