Current opportunities
The opportunities listed below are in order of closing date. If you are looking to apply for one of the opportunities listed below, we can assist with grant applications. Visit our grant writing page to find out more.
EIC Pre-Accelerator Programme
Deadline: 18 November 2025
Scope:
The European Innovation Council (EIC) has launched its pilot Pre-Accelerator programme, a joint initiative with the Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area (WIDERA) programme. This €20 million scheme is specifically designed to boost the innovation potential of early-stage deep-tech startups in widening countries, enhancing their business, investor, and technology readiness to secure funding from different sources. The programme targets high-potential companies with technology validated in the lab (at least TRL 4) that possess the necessary intellectual property rights and have a clear vision for their pathway to market. The programme targets mono-beneficiary SMEs or small mid-cap companies from Horizon Europe widening countries that demonstrate ambition and commitment to scale up their breakthrough technologies.
The programme offers lump sum grants ranging from €300,000 to €500,000 to support early-stage development of future technologies, covering 70% of eligible project costs over a maximum of two years. Beyond financial support, successful applicants receive extensive assistance including free access to tailored Business Acceleration Services for coaching and one-to-one services, participation in bootcamps and pitching sessions, and access to the EIC Accelerator Fast Track scheme.
Applications are currently open and TheHill is open to collaborating on grant proposals with companies whose innovations are in line with our current priorities. Please complete our company triage form as a first step.
Visit the EIC’s website to read more about this opportunity.
NIHR i4i Product Development Awards – October 2025 Call
Deadline: 3 December 2025
Scope:
Applications are open to collaborations between SMEs, clinicians, NHS organisations, and universities, with particular interest in innovations addressing workforce challenges, digital transformation, and NICE or James Lind Alliance priority areas.
For full details and guidance, visit the NIHR’s PDA page
TheHill is happy to explore collaboration with potential partners.
If you are seeking support with your application, a partner for clinical validation, or a partner to support market adoption, please contact [email protected] and [email protected]
Please submit your request to our grant writing team by 10 November.
Proposals will be evaluated based on their alignment with the needs and priorities of Oxford University Hospitals, as well as the capacity to deliver.
NIHR Programme Grants for Applied Research (PGfAR)
Eligible applicants: NHS bodies or HEIs (with partner organisations welcome)
Outline Deadline: 2 Dec 2025
Full Application Deadline: 25 Mar 2026
Decisions: Jun 2026
Scope:
This special PGfAR call supports programmes led or co-led by under-represented professional groups (e.g. nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, social care researchers, statisticians, economists, and implementation scientists). This call enables clinicians and methodological experts to lead high-impact research while partnering with startups developing digital, workforce, or care delivery solutions. Proposals should embed co-production, PPIE, and a clear pathway to adoption across the health and care system. Awards are typically £2–3.5 million over 4–6 years.
Projects must form a coherent, multi-work-package programme addressing significant challenges in health or social care. Priority themes include:
- Workforce development and wellbeing
- Technology-enabled service delivery
- New models of care
- System-level improvement and data-driven innovation
Proposals aligning with UK Health and Growth Missions or DHSC’s Area of Research Interest 3 (“Shaping and supporting the health and social care workforce of the future”) are encouraged.
To find out more, or to apply, visit the NIHR website here.
Longstanding opportunities:
Nesta Impact Investment
The British Heart Foundation (BHF)
EIC STEP Scale-Up
The EIC STEP Scale Up scheme, part of the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), provides equity-only investments of €10–30 million to startups, SMEs, and small mid-caps aiming to scale breakthrough innovations in strategic sectors like digital, deep tech, clean tech, and biotech. With a 2025 budget of €300 million, the scheme targets high-risk, high-potential companies that have already secured at least 20% of their funding round from a qualified investor. The programme supports innovations in areas such as AI and advanced biotechnologies, including critical medicines, DNA/RNA, proteins, cell engineering, gene vectors, bioinformatics, and nanobiotechnology. Successful applicants gain access to Business Acceleration Services and may receive a STEP Seal, enhancing visibility and access to further funding opportunities.
EIC Accelerator (UK based organisations are eligible)
The EIC Accelerator supports individual small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to develop and scale game-changing innovations providing substantial financial support with:
- Grant funding (non-dilutive) of up to €2.5 million for innovation development costs, including demonstration of the technology in the relevant environment, prototyping and system level demonstration, R&D and testing required to meet regulatory and standardisation requirements, intellectual property management, and marketing approval (e.g. at least TRL 5/6 to 8).
- Investments (direct equity investments or quasi-equity such as convertible loans- for EU based organisations only) of up to €15 million managed by the EIC Fund for scale up and other relevant costs.
Visit the European Innovation Council website for more information about their accelerator.
TheHill is always open to collaborations and keen to partner with other organisations as consortium member on collaborative projects, if you are interested please complete our triage form.