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.
NIHR i4i FAST
Deadline: 2 October 2025
Scope:
The NIHR i4i FAST funding call supports the development of technology-assisted workforce solutions aimed at preventing the progression of chronic conditions to multi-morbidity in community, home, and care settings. This one-stage commissioned opportunity is aligned with the Department of Health and Social Care’s Area of Research Interest 3 and targets three critical healthcare transitions: hospital to community, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention. Projects must be at least at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 and address a specific evidence gap in clinical validation, health economics, or health inequalities. Funding awards range from £50,000 to £100,000 for projects lasting 6 to 12 months.
Eligible applicants include UK-based SMEs, NHS or social care providers, higher education institutions, and not-for-profit organisations. Proposals must demonstrate deployment readiness and include partnerships with community or social care providers. Technologies must be tested in relevant environments and show potential to reduce workforce burden while improving patient outcomes. Out-of-scope projects include those focused solely on treating existing multi-morbidity, hospital-only technologies, wellness apps, and innovations below TRL 5.
A launch webinar and Q&A session are scheduled for 10 and 16 September 2025.
Visit the NIHR website for more information.
The EIC Accelerator
Deadline for full proposal: 1 October 2025
Scope:
Part of the European Innovation Council, offers funding and support to high-potential startups and SMEs to develop and scale up groundbreaking innovations. Eligible companies can receive up to €2.5 million in grants and up to €15 million in equity investments.
Visit the European Innovation Council website to find out more about this opportunity
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.
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.