Helping SMEs evaluate their medtech: apply for funding

25 Sep 2019 03:01 PM

Businesses can apply for a share of £1.5 million to prepare for, or run, studies that collect data to back their innovative medical technologies.

The life sciences is a key sector of the UK economy made up of 5,000 companies with a turnover of £70 billion and employing 235,000.

It is developing the medicines, devices and digital technologies that improve patients’ lives.

Most companies in the sector are small and find it difficult to provide the real-world evidence needed if the NHS is to adopt their innovations.

The Office for Life Sciences, working with Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, has up to £1.5 million to support evaluation of innovative medical devices, diagnostics and regulated digital technology in real-world clinical settings.

Studies should target NHS priorities

Projects can win support for work to plan and prepare for a study, or for running a study, to collect data on clinical performance and cost-effectiveness.

They must be in line with at least one NHS priority area such as those outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan and show how they could give patients access to innovative new technologies.

Priority will be given to projects in the fields of:

• ageing well
• cancer
• digital transformation
• learning disabilities and autism
• mental health
• personalised care
• prevention
• primary care
• starting well
• stroke
• workforce

Find out more about applying for Innovate UK funding.

Competition information

• the competition opens on 30 September 2019, and the deadline for applications is at midday on 11 December 2019
• projects must be led by an SME
• we expect projects to range in size, with up to £100,000 to plan and prepare a study, or up to £500,000 to run a study and collect clinical performance and cost-effectiveness data

Find out more about this competition and apply.