19th January 2015
Innovate UK: Biomedical Catalyst – Early stage awards. Deadline 28/01/15
Round 8 of the Biomedical Catalyst competition.
This Technology Strategy Board and Medical Research Council programme offers funding to innovative small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) and researchers to develop solutions to healthcare challenges.
Registration for round 8 will close at noon on Wednesday, 21 January 2015, and the deadline for submissions will be noon on Wednesday, 28 January 2015.
Support phone number: 0300 321 4357
This joint Innovate UK and Medical Research Council programme offers funding to innovative small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) and researchers looking to work either individually or in collaboration to develop solutions to healthcare challenges.
The Biomedical Catalyst will accept innovative ideas from any sector or discipline that demonstrate the potential to provide significant positive healthcare and economic impact.
Three categories of grant are available:
- feasibility award
- early-stage award
- late-stage award.
Any UK SME commercial business or academic undertaking research and development, either individually or in collaboration, may apply; applications are accepted on a rolling basis for assessment by independent experts.
Early Stage awards
This grant is to evaluate the technical feasibility of an idea and establish proof of concept in a model system, through:
- experimental evaluation (lab-scale)
- initial demonstration using in vitro and
- in vivo models (not human trials)
- exploration of potential production mechanisms
- early-stage prototyping
- product development planning
- intellectual property protection*.
Key features of early-stage award:
Business-led applications:
- Duration – up to three years
- Maximum grant – £2.4m**
- Funding proportion – SMEs up to 60% of eligible project costs
Academic-led applications:
- Duration – up to three years
- Maximum grant – £3m
- Funding proportion – awarded at RCUK fEC rules