Overview

The NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) programme is accepting applications to their new researcher and clinician-led THRIVE (Translate Healthcare Research through InnoVation and Entrepreneurship) funding and training opportunity.

Scope

THRIVE aims to accelerate the translation of healthcare innovations tackling health inequalities from bench to bed, speed up patient benefit and concurrently expand the entrepreneurial mindset of researchers and clinicians.

Through the programme the innovators will explore the market for their innovation and identify potential routes for commercialising (spin-out vs licensing) or sustaining their innovation (Intrapreneurship).

The programme supports innovations that can reduce health inequalities and meet needs in underserved communities.

Eligibility

THRIVE is aimed at academic and clinical entrepreneurs with innovations at prototype development level (Technology Readiness Level (TRL 3)) and above to ensure that the product is advanced enough to test the market need and build a commercialisation strategy and benefit from the training by applying the ideas and frameworks to an innovation ready for translation.

Applications from underserved communities and geographies as well as under-represented innovators are encouraged.

Who they fund

The lead applicant must be a UK based academic or clinical entrepreneur with an innovation at prototype development level (Technology Readiness Level (TRL 3)) and above tackling health inequalities. The lead applicant could be an individual developing the innovation alone or have co-applicants from the team.

There is no requirement to have formed a collaboration prior to application. Specialist services or expertise may be brought into the team through consultancy or sub-contract arrangements with appropriate justification.

They cover 100% of the eligible research costs within the budget limits with no requirement for matched funding. The lead applicant’s organisation will receive funding payments and will be required to distribute them to co-applicants/contractors where applicable.

Applications from underserved communities and geographies as well as under-represented innovators are encouraged.