Notice

Competition brief: Biomedical Catalyst 2017 round 2 late stage award

Updated 17 May 2017

This notice was withdrawn on 21 September 2017

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

1. Dates and deadlines

Competition opens	Thursday 30 March 2017
Briefing event for applicants	Tuesday 4 April 2017
Registration deadline	Midday on Wednesday 31 May 2017
Application deadline	Midday on Wednesday 7 June 2017

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 that has 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.

Biomedical Catalyst awards fund innovative solutions to healthcare challenges. The aim of the late stage award is to test a well-developed concept and show its effectiveness in a relevant environment. It could do this through:

• initial human proof-of-concept studies
• demonstration of clinical utility and effectiveness
• demonstration of safety and efficacy (including phase I and II clinical trials)
• developing production mechanisms
• prototyping
• market testing
• intellectual property protection

These solutions should be innovative healthcare technologies, products or processes that will help provide one or more of the following:

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

We will support projects from any sector or discipline, including but not limited to:

• stratified healthcare (both therapy and diagnostic components)
• advanced therapies (cell and gene therapy)
• diagnostics
• digital health
• enabling medical technologies and devices

The work required will depend on the maturity and intended application of the technology you are developing. All projects are expected to build on prior credible research on your technology, product prototype or process. This prior research is likely to have included a demonstration or validation in an appropriate model system.

Examples of projects we might support

Drug development projects providing clinical demonstration of safety and efficacy. This would include initial drug safety test (phase I) through to human proof of concept (phase II). In most cases, the funding offered through this scheme would be insufficient to conduct a phase III trial. Phase III trials would be considered ‘experimental development’ and would be funded at a lower percentage rate (as outlined in the guidance for applicants).

Diagnostic, medical device or other analytical technology projects, which include first tests in a clinical setting or in humans if appropriate. Testing could be at the point of care, other operational or clinical environment, and can include the home or community. The project might investigate product safety and effectiveness, and move through to validation of final product design and production of the final prototype. In some cases, we may support early adoption studies involving European Conformity (CE) marked devices. However, such studies would be considered ‘experimental development’ and would be funded at a lower percentage rate (as outlined in the guidance for applicants).

3. Projects that we won’t fund

In this competition we won’t fund projects that:

• we think are too early stage, for example:
  • basic research
  • generation of pure scientific and technological knowledge
  • development of research ideas, hypotheses and experimental designs without application
• are not supported by sufficiently validated prior research on your technology, product prototype or process, including demonstration in an appropriate model system
• are too close to market or are already at market, such as:
  • evaluations to inform labelling
  • approval of pharmaceuticals by relevant authorities
  • laboratory accreditation
  • distribution or marketing activity
  • post-marketing studies
  • post-marketing surveillance

4. Find out if you are eligible to apply

To lead a project you must:

• be a UK-based small or medium-sized enterprise (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 £12 million to fund innovation projects in this competition.

For industrial research you could get:

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

For experimental development projects that are nearer to market, you could get:

• up to 45% of your eligible project costs if you are a micro or small business
• up to 35% if you are a medium-sized business

Find out if your business fits the EU definition of an SME.

We expect projects to last from 12 to 36 months. Projects must start by 1 February 2018 and end by 1 February 2021. We expect total project costs to range in size from £250,000 to £4 million.

6. How to apply

To apply:

• register online
• read the guidance for applicants for this competition
• watch the webinar briefing for potential applicants
• complete and upload your online application on our secure server

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

External, independent experts assess the quality of your application. We will then select the projects that we fund, to build a portfolio of projects that:

• are high quality
• reflect a range across the scope of the Biomedical Catalyst

Affinity partners will consider co-funding opportunities for high-quality projects that fall within their strategic priority areas.

Innovate UK reserves the right to maximise the funding available across high-quality projects.

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 innovative solutions to healthcare challenges.

Innovate UK, the Medical Research Council and Scottish Enterprise fund Biomedical Catalyst awards.

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.