Biomedical Catalyst 2018 round 1: feasibility award

Key Features

SMEs can apply for a share of up to £2 million to explore and evaluate the commercial potential of a scientific idea that could solve a healthcare challenge.

Programme:     Innovate UK

Award:     Up to £2m

Opens: 26th Mar 2018

Closes: 6th Jun 2018

! This scheme is now closed

The aim of the Biomedical Catalyst is to support the development of innovative healthcare products, technologies and processes. These can include (but are not limited to):

  • disease prevention and proactive management of health and chronic conditions
  • earlier and better detection and diagnosis of disease, leading to better patient outcomes
  • tailored treatments that either change the underlying disease or offer potential cures

The aim of the feasibility award is to explore and evaluate the commercial potential of innovative scientific ideas through:

  • reviewing research evidence and identifying possible applications
  • assessing business opportunities
  • investigating intellectual property issues
  • validating initial concepts and existing pre-clinical work through experimental studies
  • identifying areas for further development

The feasibility award is designed for projects that have developed an innovative concept or carried out experimental proof of concept, but have not validated the technology.

Support is available for any sector or discipline, including (but not limited to):

  • stratified healthcare
  • advanced therapies (gene and cell therapies)
  • diagnostics
  • medical technologies and devices

To lead a project you must:

  • be a UK-based small or medium-sized enterprise (SME)
  • work on your own or with other UK SMEs or research organisations.
  • carry out your project work in the UK

For all research organisations, the maximum level of project participation is 50% of total eligible project costs. If your consortium contains more than one research organisation, they must share this allocation.

You could get funding for your eligible project costs of:

  • up to 70% if you are a small business
  • up to 60% if you are a medium-sized business

Your project’s total costs should not exceed £200,000. Projects should last between 3 and 12 months. Successful applicants will be notified of their start date by Innovate UK.

While you can include elements of industrial research, the majority of the work packages in your project must be under the research category of feasibility study.