Precision medicine programme in South Africa

Key Features

UK businesses can apply for a share of £1.5 million to work with South African partners on precision medicine for non-communicable diseases and child health

Programme:     Innovate UK

Award:     Up £350k

Opens: 30th Jan 2017

Closes: 17th May 2017

! This scheme is now closed

The aim of this competition is to develop affordable gene-based diagnostic solutions and targeted treatments for one or more of the following health challenges in South Africa:

  • diabetes
  • cardiovascular disease
  • cancer
  • child mortality

Innovate UK are looking to fund collaborative projects with South African partners. Projects should develop gene-based panels that help the understanding of patient diagnosis and response to treatment. These precision medicine projects must be targeted at non-communicable diseases and at improving child health in the South African population.

Projects should consider:

  • the varied genetic makeup of the South African population
  • the public healthcare system in South Africa

Projects and their outcomes must fit with official development assistance (ODA) criteria. This aims to boost economic development and have a positive social or environmental effect on the wider South African society.

Eligibility

To apply for a Newton Fund award, you must:

  • be a UK-based business acting as lead applicant
  • have at least one eligible South African research organisation or business working together with you on the project
  • show that South Africa is the principal market for the project
  • show how your project fits within ODA criteria by having a positive social, economic and/or environmental impact on the wider South African population

Funding and project details

All projects must involve at least one UK business and one South African research organisation or business. On the UK side, the project lead must be a business. The South African leads can be either a business or a research organisation.

Project types

Projects must focus on industrial research.

For industrial research, you could get:

  • up to 70% of your eligible project costs if you are an SME

For experimental development work packages, you could get:

  • up to 45% of your eligible project costs if you are an SME

Projects are expected to last up to 36 months. and to range in size from total costs of £300,000 to £500,000 on the UK side.