SBRI Healthcare – Competition 22

Key Features

This competition is part of the SBRI programme which aims to bring novel solutions to Government departments’ issues by engaging with innovative companies that would not be reached in other ways.

Programme:     SBRI

Award:     Share of up to £100k

Opens: 24th Aug 2022

Closes: 5th Oct 2022

! This scheme is now closed

Overview

SBRI Healthcare is an NHS England & NHS Improvement initiative, supported by the Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) and managed by LGC Group. SBRI aim to promote UK economic growth whilst addressing unmet health needs and enhancing the take up of known best practice.

Scope

Climate change is a health emergency. More than 1.3 million deaths around the world each year are due to avoidable environmental causes. Air pollution contributes to one in 20 deaths in the UK and is the cause of increased cases of asthma, cancer and heart disease.

Contributing around 4% of UK emissions, the NHS is both a part of the problem and the solution. It must tackle climate change at the source if it is to deliver on its core purpose: to improve care now and for our future generations. In 2020, the NHS became the first health system in the world to commit to reaching net zero, setting two targets:

  1. Net zero by 2040 for the emissions the NHS controls directly (with an 80% reduction by 2028–2032)
  2. Net zero by 2045 for the emissions the NHS can influence (with an 80% reduction by 2036–2039.)

Since 2010, the NHS has reduced its emissions by 30%, thanks to steps taken across the workforce – but further transformation that continues to improve quality of patient care while also reducing carbon emissions is required in every setting. Developing technologies to address this complex problem and investing in innovation now will accelerate action.

This competition seeks to address the challenge of meeting the NHS’s net zero targets while supporting net zero clinical innovation and continuing to improve care for patients. This considers the systemic complexity, the supply chain and the product lifecycle associated with all innovations proposed as well as the impact that these solutions will have on carbon emissions. The ambition is to find innovative solutions that will reduce carbon emissions across four challenge areas:

a. Decarbonising surgical pathways

b.Reducing waste in surgery and critical care

c. Net zero personalised care

d. Tools to support the workforce to deliver net zero care

Applicants should assess the whole carbon footprint life cycle of their innovation, clearly articulating how they will measure impact on carbon emissions and how the innovation will meet the NHS net zero goals. Applicants should consider the baseline they need to innovate from, while considering the challenges faced by the healthcare system following COVID-19 and the changes to the Health and Care Act 2022. This competition is open to supporting the development and evaluation of technologies and solutions that align with the NHS net zero ambitions.

For further information, please see the challenge brief

Eligibility

The competition is open to single organisations (contracts are executed with individual legal entities) based in the UK or EU from the private, public, and third sectors, including companies (large corporates and small and medium enterprises), charities, universities and NHS Foundation Trusts, as long as a strong commercial strategy is provided. Organisations based outside the UK or EU with innovations in remit for this call can apply as subcontractors of a lead UK/EU based organisation or via a UK or EU subsidiary.

Collaborations are encouraged in the form of subcontracted services as appropriate.

Funding Costs

The project will be 100% funded up to the value of £100,000 (NET costs) for a maximum of 6 months.

Project costs can include:

  • Labour
  • Materials
  • Capital equipment
  • Sub-contractors
  • Travel and subsistence
  • Indirect

Please ensure the proposed project deliverables could be reasonably achieved within the proposed contract duration, and all requested costs are justified and represent fair market value.

Please note that SBRI is a pre-commercial procurement process and the resulting development contract is subject to VAT. VAT is the responsibility of the invoicing business.

Exclusions

There are a number of technologies or types of solution which may already be in development or are already available and will not be funded through this call. These are listed below:

  • Development of innovative reduced carbon inhalers (e.g. dry powder inhaler and metered-dose inhaler)
  • Travel and transport, specifically electrification of the fleet and infrastructure for charging and travel
  • Optimisation of estates and energy / water management
  • Food, catering and nutrition
  • Any technologies that negatively impact staff workloads will also be excluded

Interested in applying for this competition?

Book an appointment to speak to one of our advisors to discuss your eligibility to apply for this Grant Funding opportunity.