Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, will work with Invest Northern Ireland to invest up to £1.2 million in innovation projects. This is subject to a sufficient number of high quality applications being received.
This funding is from Innovate UK’s Launchpad programme which supports the UK Government’s goals for local economic growth. This Launchpad is also supporting Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland (HIRANI) as the local cluster management organisation.
The aim of this competition is to support outstanding innovation projects led by businesses. Your business must use the funding to grow your innovation activities in the life and health sciences cluster in Northern Ireland, both during and after your project.
Our experience is that we have been able to fund 50% of the high quality proposals submitted in similar Launchpad competitions.
Grant funding in this competition is awarded as Minimal Financial Assistance (MFA). This allows public bodies to award up to £315,000 to an enterprise in a three year rolling financial period. You must demonstrate when applying that the grant will not take your business over this limit.
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Your business must:
- be a UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprise (SME)
- be growing your innovation activities in the life and health sciences cluster in Northern Ireland
- have a demonstrable ambition for business growth
Subcontractors are allowed but must be UK-based.
A business can lead on only one application for this competition.
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Your project must:
- have a grant funding request between £25,000 and £100,000
- last between 6 and 12 months
- carry out all of its project work in the UK
- intend to exploit the results from or in the UK
- not start before 1 April 2026
- end by 31 March 2027
Any funded organisation needs to carry out their project work in the UK and must intend to exploit the project results from or in the UK.
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The aim of this competition is to support outstanding innovation projects led by businesses.
Your project must focus on innovation in life and health sciences.
Your project must contribute to growing your innovation activities in the cluster in Northern Ireland, both during and after your project.
Your ongoing contribution could, for example, be demonstrated by:
- your local innovation activities
- the value that your innovation activities create in the cluster
- an increase in related innovation activity by your supply chain partners or subcontractors in the cluster
- your engagement with other innovation active organisations in the cluster, such as with Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland (HIRANI), this Launchpad’s cluster management organisation
Your application may be considered ineligible if you do not describe clearly how your main project activities and work packages meet the scope of this competition. This includes the main project activities of any subcontractors. If you do not describe how your innovation activities in the cluster will continue after your project, then you are unlikely to be offered funding in this competition.
The geographical requirement is set to align this competition to the UK Government’s goals for local economic growth.
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Your project can focus on one or more of the following:
Diagnostics, therapeutics and biomarkers
- multi-omics
- medical imaging
- liquid biopsy
- biomarker or genetic testing
- diagnostic or therapeutic development
Data, digital and medical devices
- point-of-care testing
- wearable or ambient sensors
- clinical trials decision support
- augmented reality
- digital health
Innovations in healthcare service delivery
- health service productivity
- integrated care platforms
- remote rehabilitation
Your project can also consider the following enabling areas:
- artificial intelligence, machine learning, quantum
- advanced therapies, novel formulation or delivery
- regulation or ethics
- supporting innovation in skills development
These lists are not exhaustive.
Where you can show your proposal fits within the scope of this Launchpad competition you can focus on other themes.
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An online briefing event will be held on Thursday 23 October at 1.30pm: register for a webinar place.
Briefing slides will be available to download after the event.
If you want help to find a project partner or subcontractor, contact Innovate UK Business Connect or the Invest NI business support team.
Innovate UK's application and funding process
If you need more information about how to apply, please read our funding support pages. For additional support, reach out to our team of innovation experts who are ready to help you navigate the application process and maximise your chances of success.
For more information
Accessibility and Inclusion
Innovate UK welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to making our application process accessible to everyone. This includes making reasonable adjustments, for people who have a disability or a long-term condition and face barriers applying to us.