Contracts for Innovation: Improving health outcomes for women and girls across Wales

Any organisation can submit an application, although it is expected that opportunities presented by SBRI / Contracts for Innovation will be particularly attractive for SMEs. SBRI is aimed at organisations working on the development of an innovative process, material, device, product or service. Successful applications will be those whose technology best addresses the specific needs identified, with the potential to make a measurable improvement to currently available products, processes materials, devices or services. Development contracts will be awarded only to individual organisations. However, organisations may also wish to demonstrate that successful collaboration will enhance their overall development.

Universities and registered charities may also apply, however they must demonstrate a route to market, i.e.the application must include a plan to commercialise the results.

Work may be subcontracted but this is the responsibility of the main contractor. Funding for collaborator costs should be included as a subcontractor cost in the project applications. Projects can include more than one subcontractor; however, the involvement and role of each organisation should be clearly specified and the commitment evidenced, ideally with named individuals stated in the application.

Applications are invited to include a named health, public or third sector collaborator within Wales who has committed to their involvement in the project, evidenced by a signed letter of support. However, innovations will be evaluated on merit, and we will endeavour to facilitate partnerships for those who do not have any existing relationships;

Multi-sector applications will be welcomed – in particular, applications that demonstrate significant benefits for NHS, Primary, Secondary & Third Sector organisations;

Academic partners are also welcomed, particularly in relation to independent evaluation and meeting any required technical/scientific testing.

Your proposed project should start on 13 October 2025 and be complete by 27 February 2026; final report submission deadline is 13 March 2026.

We recognise that some individuals who need access to women’s healthcare do not identify themselves as women or girls, and we are clear that all services must be appropriate and sensitive to individual needs. We use the terms ‘girls’, ‘woman’ and ‘women’s health’ with the understanding that some trans men and non-binary people recorded female at birth are included and may also require access to these services. The development of any projects should take this into account.

The key focus will be on real-world trials of emerging and near-to-market innovations within Wales which will demonstrate efficacy, sustainability of service, affordability and scalability of solutions that can be delivered at pace where financial viability will be key. We are not seeking research projects such as early feasibility studies or evidence generation studies aimed at developing the product/solution further.

Any digital solutions developed during this challenge will be required to meet NHS Wales Digital and Cyber Security standards. In addition, they will need to be compatible with the NHS Wales app and the Women’s Health Website which is under development. Any patient facing solutions will be required to meet the Welsh language standards as part of this challenge and demonstrate potential for multi-lingual functionality.

Prior to the award of contract, successful applications will be required to evidence that they have obtained relevant certification/approvals and are suitably positioned to proceed upon project commencement, this includes relevant regulatory approval (e.g., CE marking, MHRA, Clinical Trials, etc.) to ensure prompt and safe delivery of real-world testing.

We are looking to fund evidence formed innovation projects that have the potential to deliver measurable improvements in Women and Girls Health which may include but are not limited to:

• Prevention as well as treatment.
• Innovative screening to encourage greater engagement.
• Better outcomes.
• Reduction in health inequalities.
• Providing enhancements in accessing required services.
• Ensuring women and girls voices are heard.
• Personalised tools to enable women and girls to make informed choices to manage their own health.
• Improving access to health care professionals and targeted information that may be required.

If project applications are seeking to build upon previous real word trials/small-scale testing, applications must clearly articulate the next phase and how this funding will help accelerate this work, outlining any previous adoption barriers and demonstrating how these will be addressed. We are seeking rigorous evaluations and adoption readiness reports that support the required evidence base for service development and potential scale-up across Wales, which may also be valid in other health care contexts.

Phase 2: Real-world Demonstration – Supporting broader demonstration projects of successful emerging and near-to-market solutions across a variety of locations/demographics, providing evidence of the potential for spread and scale across Wales on a place-based approach, considering local assets, existing services and local un-met needs.

Please note any adoption and implementation of a solution from this competition could be subject of a separate, possibly competitive, procurement exercise. This competition does not cover the long- term purchase of any solution, although we may choose to extend this project by investigating and exploring innovative procurement routes as part of this challenge.

Project costs should be identified for the innovation solution provider and for staffing resource requirements of the health, third or public sector collaborator. This should be specified within the challenge application with clear roles stated – ideally with named individuals for each role.

Your application must:

• Demonstrate a clear plan for commercialisation and a route to market for affordable, developed solutions;
• Explain the potential positive contribution to the goals of Women’s Health Plan for Wales;
• Deliver against the aims set out in A Healthier Wales Plan;
• Consider, and address where necessary, equality, diversity and inclusion aspects across your project, your sector(s) and society;
• Address how any potentially negative outcomes would be managed;
• Ensure personal safety is paramount and any risks clearly articulated with robust mitigation in place;
• Include a full independent evaluation following project completion – this should include a benefits, social and economic analysis.
• Demonstrate evidence to support a NHS Business case (e.g., procurement business cases to support transition into business-as-usual via standard commissioning routes, inclusion for national commissioning initiatives, inclusion on procurement frameworks, etc.)
• Demonstrate the ability to meet Welsh Language standards, and ideally demonstrate the potential for multi-lingual capability to improve accessibility.

We are not looking to fund projects that:

• Propose early innovations that have not yet sought regulatory approval (e.g., CE marking, MHRA, Clinical Trials, etc.).
• Are purely focussed on feasibility – we are seeking real-world practical demonstration (not academic/research papers).
• Cannot evidence engagement with potential future customers to understand needs.
• Fail to address how any potentially negative outcomes would be managed.
• Cannot evidence how a proposal will generate positive economic or societal impact.
• Fail to consider affordability & practicality of widespread implementation including capital, infrastructure and future operating costs.
• Integration to any national systems during this SBRI trial will be out scope but will need to be developed and compatible with Health Board systems, NHS Wales App and Womens Health Website for any future procurement (post project).
• Cannot meet Welsh language standards or demonstrate potential for multi-lingual functionality.
• Cannot demonstrate that accessibility and equity are core considerations throughout solution development and demonstration

The aim of the funding is to generate real-world evidence to support rapid local or regional roll out of the innovation. Awarded proposals are expected to demonstrate some of the following exit points upon project completion:

• Implementation effectiveness demonstrated and a defined implementation guide produced where appropriate.
• Evidence of health and financial impact: health economics analysis (i.e., cost benefit analysis, budget impact model).
• Innovation independently evaluated to demonstrate its impact in real-world settings.
• Environmental and sustainability assessment and impact.
• Equality and Health Inequalities impact assessment.
• Partnership developed for implementation in multiple sites.
• NHS Business case (e.g., procurement business cases to support transition into business-as-usual via standard commissioning routes, inclusion on procurement frameworks, etc).
• Defined commissioning or procurement approach.
• Other relevant evidence to ensure local adoption following project completion, and plans for further spread and adoption (e.g., scaling-up plan and strategic plan towards adoption and spread, marketing tools development).
• Company scaling plan (e.g., staff, money, supply, etc).

This challenge is open to applications that deliver a Phase 2 real-world demonstration project. Current funding of up to £900,000 is available to support a portfolio of projects – which may be subject to change, dependent upon the number/quality of submissions received. We are seeking a broad range of projects, from rapid or low-cost demonstrations to large scale demonstrators. All costs must be clearly justified and value for money demonstrated with willingness for appropriate contributions from the provider to help deliver the project. We reserve the right to consider an increased budget for exceptional applications if the scale of the delivery across Wales warrants it.

Projects will be selected on a portfolio approach to ensure activity and evidence is gathered on a broad demographic basis across Wales. The funder also reserves the right to apply a ‘portfolio’ approach to ensure funds are allocated across a broad range of strategic and geographic areas. This may mean that a proposal that scores less than yours may be successful. The portfolio can be spread across a range of:

• Scope areas.
• Project durations.
• Project costs, including demonstrating value for money.
• Locations.

We are looking for bidders to put forward applications that demonstrate a high level of commitment and willingness to work in partnership with our health and care organisations and key stakeholders as we identify potentially scalable innovations for the benefit of citizens in Wales. In return, the project team will receive support on a regular basis from a dedicated Stakeholder Group working closely over the project time period to understand the key barriers and enablers, embedded in activities relating to innovation adoption at national level, and support provided for outlining the implications for national scale up.

A briefing event was held on 21 August: a recording should be available soon.

For any enquiries about this competition e-mail: SBRI.COE@wales.nhs.uk

If you would like help to find a collaboration partner or subcontractor, contact Innovate UK Business Connect’s Health team.