February 2021 funding landscape: Latest funding, awards and grants

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Scope of Call:

Medical devices and in vitro diagnostics.

Aim: Translational R&D of medical devices for NHS use, addressing any disease or health area where there is a clear unmet clinical need.

Funding: Grant: 100%; 80% (HEI).

Eligibility: Lead: SME, NHS Trust, HEI. Must include NHS Trust or NHS service provider. At least two organisations involved.

Dates:

PDA 22 –  opens 14 April 2021, closes: 9 June 2021

Challenge Awards Call 12 – opens 14 April 2021, closes 10 June 2021

Key Considerations

•Projects can be led by an SME, an HEI or NHS provider.

•Minimum of two organisations must be involved.

•At least one collaborator from NHS.

•Research proposals may address any disease or healthcare area.

•Technologies must already have demonstrated safety & efficacy.

•Proof of concept must exist already.

•Two-stage application process.

•Lead applicants must be based in England

•Project durations: 24 months (min.) and 36 months (max).

General Recommendations

•This competition is for projects that have already demonstrated proof of concept. Early stage research is not fundable.

•Any existing medical device for which further prototyping and development is needed can be funded

•Of particular interest is techniques or technologies from a different industry sector applied to the healthcare setting.

•A plan for adoption into the NHS is necessary, therefore partnering with an NHS trust or provider is essential.

•A commercial strategy showing how the product or technique will be taken to market is needed, that shows appreciation of the regulatory pathways for healthcare products.

NBIC Theme (PDME) Alignment: This topic is of relevance to all NBIC themes, P, D, M & E.

Sectors and Market Alignment

•Targeted at the healthcare sector specifically.

•R&D of medical devices and in vitro diagnostic devices.

•The target user is the NHS in the first instance; commercialisation partner could be a provider of services or product to the NHS.

•Target application must be somewhere that a clear clinical need has been identified, and where benefits over current practice can be shown.

•Project must present a significant innovation with the potential to change clinical practice, and show clear commercialisation strategy.

•Patient and public involvement (PPI) needs to be shown.

NBIC Specific Recommendations

Relationship to PDME: 

•P: protection of surfaces, cleaning and re-use of clinical instruments.

•D: sensing of microbial contaminants, in vitro detection and identification of pathogens.

•M: decontamination of surfaces, applying preventative surfaces to reduce cross-contamination.

•E: laboratory cultures for identifying or developing anti-microbial agents, development of screening processes using bio-film based instrumentation.

Key Collaborators

•NHS providers and clinicians.

•Suppliers of services or laboratory equipment to clinical settings.

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Scope of Call:

Part of the SSPP, Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Programme Smart & sustainable plastic packaging for consumer products.

Deliver cleaner growth across supply chains.

Aim: Deliver dramatic reduction in plastic waste entering the environment by 2025.

Available funding: total £16m: Project costs: £1m to £12m; Grant: 25% (large); 35% (med.); 45% (small).

Eligibility: Lead: Business; collaborative. 

Dates: Open: February 2021

Key Considerations

•SSPP Challenge aims to establish the UK as a leading innovator.

•Projects must make plastics packaging supply chain more circular; deliver the targets of the UK Plastics Pact; embed life cycle thinking and end of life in packaging design and decisions.

•Show reduced environmental impact, e.g., reduced emissions, increased/improved recyclability.

Particular interest in:

•Minimised plastic packaging

•Refill at scale

•Sustainable solutions for film

•Food grade recycled PP/PE

•Behavioural change for less waste

•Address Plastics Pact target for unnecessary or single use plastic packaging

General Recommendations

•Projects must demonstrate how objectives of the plastics pact are supported, and delivers systemic change.

•Clearly explain reductions in UK plastic packaging system’s overall environmental impact.

•Demonstrate contributing to meeting the SSPP Challenge objectives.

•Utilise innovation in design, technology, processes, business models, supply chains or data for plastic packaging.

•This is large scale demonstrations of capability, which must be demonstrably ambitious.

NBIC Theme (PDME) Alignment

•Aligns with all themes: Prevent, Detect, Manage, Engineer.

•Aligns with NBIC’s activities: Interdisciplinary research and sectorial challenge; Improved Customer Products.

Sectors and Market Alignment: Any practical innovative solutions to help reduce plastic waste and the harm plastics have on the environment, including recycling, reuse, tracking, etc.

Collaboration: Ideal for an NBIC member company (SME or large) to collaborate with other NBIC organisations and NBIC University researchers.

Other: Demonstration at commercial scale will be necessary.

NBIC Specific Recommendations

Relationship to PDME: 

•Prevent: bio-degradability; reuse & refill.

•Detect: marking & tracking of packaging to improve supply chain circularity or sustainability.

•Manage: New business models to reduce plastic going to landfill; behaviour change to use less packaging, increase recycling; reduce dependency on plastics.

•Engineer: Incorporate biofilms into packaging; develop food grade plastic packaging that may be recycled etc..

Possible application of Biofilms: As above plus low carbon, non fossil polymers for packaging.

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Scope of Call:

Part of the SSPP, Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Programme Smart & sustainable plastic packaging for consumer products.

Deliver cleaner growth across supply chains.

Aim: Deliver dramatic reduction in plastic waste entering the environment by 2025.

Available funding: total £48m: Project costs: £200k to £4m; Grant: 50% (large); 60% (med.); 70% (small).

Eligibility: Lead: Business, collaboration allowed, research organisations max of 50% total eligible costs

Dates: Open: March 2021

Key Considerations

•SSPP Challenge aims to establish the UK as a leading innovator.

•Projects must make plastics packaging supply chain more circular; deliver the targets of the UK Plastics Pact; embed life cycle thinking and end of life in packaging design and decisions.

•Must explain how the UK’s plastic packaging system’s overall environmental impact is reduced.

Particular interest in:

•Minimised plastic packaging

•Refill at scale

•Sustainable solutions for film

•Food grade recycled PP/PE

•Behavioural change for less waste

•Address Plastics Pact target for unnecessary or single use plastic packaging

General Recommendations

•These are business-led research projects, but must show clear target of their research in respect of the considerations.

•Clearly explain reductions in UK plastic packaging system’s overall environmental impact.

•Demonstrate contributing to meeting one or more of the UK Plastic Pact targets.

•The project can be a mix of industrial research and experimental development. The scale of the project would reflect this mix.

•Note that experimental development components of a bid carry lower recovery rates.

NBIC Theme (PDME) Alignment

•Aligns with all themes: Prevent, Detect, Manage, Engineer.

•Aligns with NBIC’s activities: Interdisciplinary research and sectorial challenge; Improved Customer Products.

Sectors and Market Alignment: Any practical innovative solutions to help reduce plastic waste and the harm plastics have on the environment, including recycling, reuse, tracking, etc.

Collaboration: Ideal for an NBIC member company to collaborate with one or more of the NBIC University research teams.

Other: Demonstration of value for money will be expected.

NBIC Specific Recommendations

Relationship to PDME: 

•Prevent: bio-degradability; reuse & refill.

•Detect: marking & tracking of packaging to improve supply chain circularity or sustainability.

•Manage: New business models to reduce plastic going to landfill; behaviour change to use less packaging, increase recycling; reduce dependency on plastics.

•Engineer: Incorporate biofilms into packaging; develop food grade plastic packaging that may be recycled etc..

Possible application of Biofilms: As above plus low carbon, non fossil polymers for packaging.

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Scope of Call

•Innovation grants to facilitate interactions between Med Tech SMEs and Knowledge Providers during product development. For example, help to develop or test new or improved products, processes and services.

•Applications assessed on novelty of innovation, clinical need, value for money, strength of team.

Available funding: Up to £7,500 grant (50% of total project cost).

Dates:

Open call, next deadline 9 April 2021

Key Considerations

•SME applies for and justifies knowledge collaboration.

•Simple application process with regular awards committee reviews.

Typical projects include:

•Help to develop or test new or improved products, processes and services.

•Access to information and expertise on care pathways and workflows.

•Tapping into clinical and scientific expertise.

General Recommendations

•Health stakeholders should be involved in any bid, such as patient groups, clinicians or NHS organisations.

•Teaming with an NHS Trust or medical device manufacturer would be beneficial.

•University medical departments are also regarded as a knowledge provider.

NBIC Theme (PDME) Alignment: Could apply to all NBIC themes, drawing on expertise supportive of SMEs.

Collaboration: UK SME led, collaboration with university (or NHS/medical organisation).

•Links with, e.g., the Southampton medical school would be helpful.

•Could form part of an existing relationship between NBIC and health SME, or help to establish new relationship.

•Any MedTech SME needing expertise to support development or testing can access NBIC as a knowledge provider.

NBIC Specific Recommendations

Relationship to PDME: The grants facilitate interaction between SMEs and knowledge providers on any aspect of healthcare, therefore any aspect of PDME could come into play.

Possible application of Biofilms: Fund covers any aspect of health and medical technology, and so any of the many health applications of biofilms already in development through NBIC are relevant. Fund could support an existing link between an SME industry partner and NBIC research institution.

Key Collaborators

•UK SMEs associated with NBIC.

•RTOs or health trusts as knowledge providers.

•Universities / Research Institutes from NBIC.

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Scope of Call: Within the health sector, the pandemic preparedness topic looks for innovative research into technological means of preparing for and fighting new emerging viral infectious diseases.

Funding: Grants of €100k – 500k per year for up to three years, with the option of an extension. Collaborations between institutions allowed.

Dates: Next call was expected to be published in Jan 2021, but delayed.

Key Considerations

•Collaboration is not mandated, although teaming with a healthcare provider would add credibility.

•Bringing existing technology from a different sector into this domain e.g. for biocides or on-chip (in-vitro) diagnostics would be of interest.

•Bio-electronics are also mentioned as being of interest.

General Recommendations

•Knowledge, competence, access to facilities and innovative ideas will support a bid.

•Connection to, or collaboration with, a clinical or healthcare provider will add credibility and knowledge of the user.

•Innovative thinking, bringing technologies applied to non-health sectors into the health domain will be of interest.

•Time to an outcome seems important, especially during the current situation, therefore existing approaches that can be repurposed to the health domain will be of interest here.

NBIC Theme (PDME) Alignment

•Aligns with all NBIC themes, esp. Prevent and Detect, and applies specifically to the improved health sectorial challenge.

•Research within an NBIC partner institution relevant to vaccine or drug delivery platforms, pathogen control, PPE improvement could be proposed.

Sectors and market alignment: Involvement can create connections between NBIC research and commercial partners.

NBIC Specific Recommendations

Relationship to PDME: 

•Prevent: Any application of biofilms that supports identification or categorisation of future health threats.

•Detect: any platform using biofilms for screening or diagnostics of infections.

•Manage: testing, vector control and delivery systems for emerging health threats.

•Engineer: applications of biofilms in PPE or drug production.

Possible application of Biofilms: Appear to be many relevant biofilm applications at PoC level already underway that are relevant and could form the basis of a bid.

Key Collaborators: These are research proposals seeking tech solutions towards pandemic preparedness, therefore led by an NBIC research team supported by access to relevant industry partners through NBIC.

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Scope of Call:

•KTN running iX challenge on behalf of Artemis technologies for novel solutions to predict and detect bio-fouling on a passenger ferry hydrofoil.

•Selected finalists will be given opportunity to present to Artemis Technologies.

•Support from KTN and relevant catapults available to successful applicants.

Sectors and Market Alignment:

•Key areas : Maritime and environmental Dates: Deadline for applications: 12 Feb 2021

Key Considerations:

•This is an opportunity to propose existing bio-fouling solutions from other sectors for detection, prevention or removal of bio-fouling.

•Proposals addressing just one of detection, prevention or removal will be considered.

•The target of this challenge is to support a new carbon-zero hydrofoil design.

•Development proposals will be considered if built on existing competencies.

•IP is retained by the solution provider(s)

Collaboration:

•Proposal could be a collaboration of businesses with the right mix of skills

•Organisations bidding must be UK based

General Recommendations:

•This call closes in February, therefore there is a short window of opportunity.

•An existing product or proposed product in development that addresses one or more of the aspects of reducing or removing biofouling in a maritime environment would be relevant.

•If successful in the initial round this challenge gives the opportunity for a small organisation to raise its profile in what could be a profitable future area..

•Note that a simple registration to KTNiX is necessary to access details of this and other innovation Exchange competitions.

NBIC Theme (PDME) Alignment:

•Aligns with all NBIC themes, Prevent, Detect, Manage and Engineer.

•Novel detection devices for detecting biofilm build up.

•Management of biofilm build-up in an environmentally sensitive way.

Sectors and Market Alignment:

•Key areas are Maritime and manufacturing.

•Specific technical limitations and demands will be placed by operation in a maritime environment on a fast moving, immersed hydrofoil.

•Successful development could lead to other opportunities in the maritime space, or could allow for translation from another current maritime application.

NBIC Specific Recommendations:

•Relationship to PDME

oPrevent: Protection or removal of biofouling in marine environment.

oDetect: Detection of build up of biofouling, leading to initiation of de-fouling process.

oManage: Opportunity to apply an environmentally sensitive biofouling removal process, ideally operating whilst the vessel remains in service.

oEngineer: Creation of a process whereby the accretion of bio-fouling is detected, removed and further build up managed, with monitoring for the vessel operators.

Key Collaborators

oMarine institute.

oMarine environmental experts.

MORE INFORMATION 

•New UKRI council funding HEIs for research and KE.

•UK Research Partnership Investment Fund, and HEIF (Higher Education Innovation Fund).

New Funding Finder website

Funding changes:

•Recurrent grant finding for the academic year 2020 – 2021 (£ m):

•Accelerated QR 0

•National Productivity Investment Fund (NPIF, allocated as QR) 107

•Recurrent knowledge exchange (HEIF) 230

•National facilities and initiatives 40

•Others are unchanged from 2019 – 2020.

Fund review:

UK Research Partnership Initiative Fund (UKRPIF):

•Capital funding to research centres and universities; only half the projects allocated.

•Fund not currently open; open dates will be published on the UKRI website.

Research England Development (RED) Fund (see opposite):

•£27 m p.a. for projects that aid development & interaction of the UK’s HE and KE activities in line with Government and UKRI priorities.

Research Capital Investment Fund:

•For research groups to maintain or improve physical premises or infrastructure.

•Is allocated annually to HEIs – awards normally announced July

International Investment Initiative (I3) Fund:

•Supports existing international collaborations.

•Closed for submissions in 2019; no future rounds are in place as yet.

Connecting Capability Fund (CCF):

•Supports partnerships between HE, businesses and investors & some Catapults.

•Only open for follow-on funding for existing CCF wave 1 projects at present.

Museum, Galleries and Collections Fund:

•University museums, galleries and collections; Ongoing for existing recipients.

Global Challenges Research Fund:

•Research that addresses challenges faced by developing countries.

•Accessible to HEIs that submitted QR GCRF (ODA compliant) strategies.

Expanding Excellence in England (E3) Fund

•Strategic expansion of research units already deemed excellent.

•Specifically about supporting improvements in UK research capability in line with the Industrial Strategy and Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF).

Relevant to NBIC – But currently not open; future round not yet confirmed.

•Thirteen current projects across diverse areas, from linguistics to space, from plastics to music, from fine print to diabetes, etc..

•Total funds allocated ~£76.1 m

•Average project size ~£5.8 m

More information.

Research England Development (RED) Fund

•Ongoing application & approval process. Next Panel date: tbc

•Expectation that applications are prepared in collaboration with RE.

•Possible for industry to partner with an HEI to apply an advanced research technology.

•Eight current projects: ~£22.7 m; avg ~£3 m (excluding low value outlier).

•Straight-forward application process; alignment to the fund’s key priorities should be evident.

•Non-competitive fund; apply any time.

•Relevant to all NBIC themes as long as a net public benefit will be delivered; collaboration is welcomed. Find out more. 

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Knowledge transfer partnerships (KTP): 2020 to 2021, round 6

•Standard KTP scheme. Comprehensive application process.

•12 – 36 month projects.

•Technology and Management KTPs possible.

•Opens: 8 Feb 2021; closes: 04 April 2021.

Find out more.

African agriculture knowledge transfer partnerships (KTP): 2020 to 2021, round 5: £2 m.

•Similar to above KTP, except another knowledge base and a business partner registered in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya or S. Africa to be included.

•Enhanced application form/process – more questions.

•Registration closes 14 April 2021

Find out more.

SBRI – Improving Hip Fracture Outcomes using Data, Phase 1 : SBRI are contracts, not grants. Innovate UK contracts with one contractor.

•Phase 1 of 2 phase competition (typical for SBRI competitions).

•Single applicant, but subcontracting allowed.

•At least 50% of project must be R&D.

•Target is improved outcomes for hip fracture patients.

•Feasibility study up to £15 k (inc. VAT) in first phase. Success in phase 1 allows for invitation to future phase(s).

•Phase 2 up to £57 k (inc. VAT), 9-month projects.

•Phase 1 – up to 3 month projects.

•Opens 1st February, closes 31st March 2021 (11:00); expected project start date: 2 June 2021.

Find out more.

SBRI – Improving Multimorbidity Acute Care Using Data Analytics, Phase 1 : SBRI are contracts, not grants. Innovate UK contracts with one contractor.

•Phase 1 of 2 phase competition (typical for SBRI competitions).

•Single applicant, but subcontracting allowed.

•At least 50% of project must be R&D.

•Target is improved decision making for multi-morbidity patients.

•Feasibility study up to £10 k (inc. VAT) in first phase. Success in phase 1 allows for invitation to future phase(s).

•Phase 2 up to £55k (inc. VAT), 9-month projects.

•Phase 1 – up to 3 month projects.

•Opened 18th January, closes 3rd March 2021 (11:00).

Find out more. 

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NERC Highlight

•Research addressing environmental challenges.

•Challenges relevant to NBIC – environmental barriers to the spread of zoonotic pathogens and environmental basis for the prevention of zoonotic pathogen emergence.

•Funding up to £4 m over / up to 4 years.

•Competition opened 30 November 2020, closes 25 March 2021 https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/nerc-highlight-topics/

EPSRC: Asthma health technology

•For development of technologies for diagnosis, monitoring and management tools for asthma.

•Potential for detectors of asthma inducing pollutants etc.

•Up to £750 k grant funding.

•Opened 20 October 2020, closes 11 February 2021. Find out more. 

EPSRC: Manufacturing the future

•Support for engineering and physical sciences research looking at key challenges facing manufacturing in the UK.

•Includes chemistry and materials.

•Up to £2 m.

•Open now, no closing date. Find out more. 

MRC: Infections and immunity programme

•Typically grants of £1M or more for up to 5 years.

•Grants within an academic institution.

•Some relevance to NBIC through prevention and control of infectious disease, in collaboration with other university departments.

•Next round opens 9th May 2021. Find out more. 

UKRI-SBE lead agency opportunity

•Collaborations between UK and US researchers in any discipline including biotech.

•Submission of EoI to NSF and UKRI for consideration.

•Maximum award £1 m, currently open, no closing date. Find out more. 

EPSRC: Discipline-hopping in ICT

•Relevant for researchers with non-ICT expertise looking to learn ICT research skills and apply them in their home discipline.

•3-4 month support of salary and T&S at 80% FEC.

•Now open, no closing date. Find out more. 

•EPSRC: Healthcare technologies new challenges, Network Plus [now closed, no date published for next round]

•Aimed at researchers addressing technologies to improve healthcare treatment, environments and healthcare systems.

•Covers salaries, T&S, workshops and admin.

•Possible relevance to NBIC researchers

•Opened 02 November 2020, closes 13 Jan 2021. Find out more. 

SBRI: Greenhouse Gas removal technology: Global Health Innovative Technology Fund

•Closes 05 February 2021.

•Design study into development of innovative greenhouse gas removals or technologies. Find out more.

Horizon Europe

•The UK has now signed up to become an associate country to the Horizon Europe Programme, allowing UK scientists, researches and businesses to access funding on equivalent terms as organisation in other EU countries.

•Horizon Europe is a seven year programme (2021-2027) with €53.8 bn to spend on Global Challenges in health, culture, creativity, digital, climate and food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and environment.

•The availability of this funding is very relevant to NBIC business partners and academic groups.

•More information will be made available when the work programme is adopted by the European Commission in April 2021. Find out more. 

KTN iX Challenge: other challenges and calls published periodically on their website.

Clean Growth Fund (for those seeking equity investment)

•The Clean Growth Fund (CGF) invests in the most promising and ambitious companies to provide commercialisation expertise and access to markets.

•Looking for any company with a clear and significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gases.

•Provides business support to sectors: power, buildings, transport, industry and waste.

•First round investment £500 k – £3 m. Find out more. 

NIHR (National Institute for Health Research) i4i Product Development Awards – Connect 5 Stage 1

•Aimed at SMEs developing medical devices, in vitro diagnostics and Tier 3a digital health technologies.

•Connect is researcher-led and does not specify topics for research.

•Lead applicant must be SME based in England, 6-12 month project, £50 k – £150 k value, opens 17 August 2021

•Projects must demonstrate evidence of proof-of-concept. Find out more here and here. 

Horticultural Quality and Food Loss network [this call has now closed, but the network may still be of interest]

•A new network looking to tackle food waste and improve quality in horticulture and agriculture.

•Funding opportunities to members for feasibility studies etc..

•Links academia and industry.

•May have some relevance to NBIC where biofilms are relevant in horticulture/agriculture.

•Registration closes 15 Jan 2021. Find out more.