Notice

Competition brief: Biomedical Catalyst 2016 - early-stage award

Updated 7 September 2016

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This competition is no longer open. Search current funding opportunities.

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/funding-competition-biomedical-catalyst-2016/competition-brief-biomedical-catalyst-2016-early-stage-award

1. Dates and deadlines

Competition opens 4 July 2016
Briefing event for applicants 12 July 2016
Registration deadline 7 September 2016
Application deadline 14 September 2016

2. The competition scope

Across the world, we are facing increasing healthcare challenges, both physical and financial. There is a need to provide for a growing, ageing population with an increasing burden of disease. Healthcare costs are rising. The long-term sustainability of current models of provision is in doubt. The need to provide efficient and effective healthcare has never been more important. To meet these challenges, companies and academics must work together.

The aim of this competition is to test a well-developed concept and show its effectiveness in a relevant environment. It will do this through:

  • experimental evaluation (lab-scale)
  • initial demonstration using in vitro and in vivo models (not human clinical trials)
  • exploring potential production mechanisms
  • early-stage prototyping
  • product development planning
  • intellectual property protection

These ideas should be for innovative healthcare technologies and processes that will help provide:

  • disease prevention and proactive management of health and chronic conditions
  • earlier and better detection and diagnosis of disease leading to better patient outcomes
  • tailored treatments that either change the underlying disease or offer potential cures

We will support projects from any sector or discipline. Solutions may include (but are not limited to):

  • stratified healthcare (both therapy and diagnostic components)
  • regenerative medicine
  • diagnostics
  • eHealth and mHealth solutions
  • enabling medical technologies and devices

3. Projects that we won’t fund

In this competition we won’t fund projects which:

  • include human clinical trials
  • we think are too early stage - for example, basic research, generation of pure scientific and technological knowledge, the development of research ideas, hypotheses and experimental designs without application
  • we think are too close to market or are already at market - for example evaluations to inform labelling, approval of pharmaceutical/device by relevant authorities, laboratory accreditation, distribution or marketing activity, post-marketing studies and post-marketing surveillance

4. Find out if you are eligible to apply

To lead a project you must:

  • be a UK-based SME
  • carry out your project in the UK
  • work alone or in collaboration with others (businesses, research base and third sector)

If you are a university or research and technology organisation, find out more about academic-led applications.

5. Funding and project details

We have allocated up to £8 million to fund innovation projects in this competition.

You could get up to:

  • 70% of your eligible project costs if you are a small or micro business
  • 60% if you are a medium-sized business

Check if your business fits the EU definition of an SME:

We expect projects to last up to 2 years. Projects must start by 1 January 2017 and end by 1 January 2019. We expect them to range in size from total costs of £200,000 to £1.5 million, depending on the type of project.

6. How to apply

To apply:

We will not accept late submissions. Your application is confidential.

Our assessment processes changed in May 2016. External, independent experts assess the quality your application. We will then select the projects that we fund, to build a portfolio of projects that is consistent with the spend profile of available funding. This will be comprised of projects that are:

  • high quality
  • reflect a range across the scope of the Biomedical Catalyst 2016
  • reflect the potential for short, medium and long term return on investment for the company and the UK

Affinity partners (MRC and Scottish Enterprise) will consider co-funding opportunities for high-quality projects that fall within their strategic priority areas.

This means that the portfolio of projects funded may not adhere to a strict ranked sequence of the assessor score. But they will all meet or exceed the quality line which will be agreed through our independent external assessment process.

Read the general guidance for applicants before you apply. It will help your chances of submitting a successful application.

7. Background and further information

The Biomedical Catalyst supports the best life science opportunities in the UK.

Innovate UK, the Medical Research Council and Scottish Enterprise are funding this competition.

If you want help to find a project partner, contact the Knowledge Transfer Network.

If you need more information, contact the competition helpline on 0300 321 4357 or email us at support@innovateuk.gov.uk

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