Key Features
UK registered SMEs can apply for grant funding for projects that grow their innovation activities in the health technology cluster in West Yorkshire, alongside private investment from selected investor partners.
Programme: Innovate UK
Award: Share of up to £2 million
Opens: 4th Nov 2024
Closes: 11th Dec 2024
Innovate UK, as part of UK Research and Innovation, will work with West Yorkshire Combined Authority to invest up to £2 million in health technology innovation projects.
The projects will be led by ambitious UK registered micro, small or medium sized businesses (SMEs) who will use the funding to grow their innovation activities in the health technology cluster in West Yorkshire, both during and after the project.
This funding is from Innovate UK’s Launchpad programme which supports the UK government’s goals for local economic growth. This Launchpad is also supporting Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber as the local cluster management organisation.
This competition brings together:
The aim of this competition is to provide support for your research and development and access to the capital investment that you need to develop and commercialise your innovations and grow your business.
You must have gained a level of traction with one of Innovate UK’s investor partners. We will contact them to confirm they are likely to make an offer of investment if you have a successful application to Innovate UK.
Your proposal must have a clear route to market, a clear link to innovation and evidence that you can create a team to deliver your proposal.
You must demonstrate that if your project is funded, it will:
Your project must help to grow your innovation activities in the health technology cluster in West Yorkshire, both during and after your project.
This could be demonstrated by:
Your application may be considered ineligible if you do not describe clearly how your main project activities and work packages meet the scope of this competition. This includes the main project activities of any subcontractors. If you do not describe how your activities in the cluster will continue after your project then you are unlikely to be offered funding in this competition.
Your project must focus on human health technology innovation. You can address any human health challenges that include, but are not limited to:
Portfolio approach
Following the independent assessment, all applications scoring over 70% will be reviewed by a panel including Innovate UK and our local partners for this Launchpad. The panel will review the applications in line with the portfolio criteria, which will inform Innovate UK’s decision on the funding awards offered.
Innovate UK want to fund a variety of projects across different criteria. Innovate UK call this a portfolio approach.
Innovate UK reserve the right to prioritise projects that demonstrate:
Your project can focus on one or more of the following:
This list is not exhaustive. Where you can show your proposal fits within the scope of this competition you can focus on other themes.
You must have confirmation from your investor partner that you can apply for this competition.
The eligibility criteria for your project depends on your research category.
For feasibility study projects:
For industrial research projects:
For experimental development projects:
For all projects, your project must:
Total project costs, detailed within your application, must not exceed the maximum project costs for your research category. If your total project costs do exceed the maximum, then your application will be made ineligible.
Your project will only be allowed to start once the aligned investment has been confirmed.
Projects must always start on the first of the month, even if this is a non-working day. You must not start your project until your Grant Offer Letter has been approved by Innovate UK. Any delays within Project Setup may mean we need to delay your project start date.
You must only include eligible project costs in your application. See our overview of eligible project costs. For specific guidance, see the eligibility section in this competition.
Your organisation
This competition is open to single applicants only.
To apply your business must:
Innovation and ideas can come from anyone and anywhere. We want to see investments unlocked for the diverse and extraordinary talent in the UK.
Innovate UK encourage innovation involving communities that are typically under-represented, including:
Subcontractors
Subcontractors are allowed in this competition.
Subcontractors can be from anywhere in the UK and you must select them through your usual procurement process.
All subcontractor costs must be justified and appropriate to the total eligible project costs.
Number of applications
An SME can only submit one application into this round of the competition. Any subsequent applications will be ineligible and will not be forwarded for assessment.
Sanctions
This competition will not fund you, or provide any financial benefit to any individual or entities directly or indirectly involved with you, which would expose Innovate UK or any direct or indirect beneficiary of funding from Innovate UK to UK Sanctions. For example, through any procurement, commercial, business development or supply chain activity with any entity as lead, partner or subcontractor related to these countries, administrations and terrorist groups.
Use of animals in research and innovation
Innovate UK expects and supports the provision and safeguarding of welfare standards for animals used in research and innovation, according to best practice and up to date guidance.
Any projects selected for funding which involve animals will be asked to provide additional information on welfare and ethical considerations, as well as compliance with any relevant legislation as part of the project start-up process. This information will be reviewed before an award is made.
You can use a previously submitted application to apply for this competition.
Innovate UK are not funding projects that are:
Innovate UK cannot fund projects that are:
Up to £2 million of grant funding from Innovate UK is available in this competition.
The total funding available for this Launchpad competition can change. The funders have the right to:
You will receive Innovate UK grant funding only if you also receive a minimum level of aligned investment, led or catalysed by your investor partner. The minimum level of investment depends on your project’s research category.
Feasibility studies and industrial research projects
For feasibility studies and industrial research projects, Innovate UK will fund:
The aligned investment must always be at least equal to your grant funding request.
Experimental development projects
For experimental development projects Innovate UK will fund:
The aligned investment must always be at least twice as much as your grant funding request.
Book an appointment to speak to one of our advisors to discuss your eligibility to apply for this Grant Funding opportunity.