Funding Opportunities

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.

Product Development Awards (PDA) – April 2025 (NIHR)

Registration closes: 28 May 2025 at 1:00pm (BST)

Scope:
The NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) Programme is a translational research funding scheme aimed at medical devices, in vitro diagnostic devices and digital health technologies addressing an existing or emerging health or social care need. This is a two-stage funding opportunity. To apply for the first stage, you should submit an outline application. Funding for i4i PDAs is uncapped; typically, awards range between £0.5m-£1.5m.

SMEs based in the UK are invited to apply.

Global Business Innovation Programme: Digital Health, USA – Innovate UK Business Connect

Registration closes: 8 June 2025

Scope:
Innovate UK’s Global Business Innovation Programme offers UK-based, innovation-led SMEs the opportunity to explore international growth through a structured initiative focused on digital health. Participants will engage with potential innovation collaborators, partners, and develop your network in the UK, USA, and globally. The programme includes a 5-day innovation visit to the US, including the HLTH conference in Las Vegas and a two-day visit to Chicago. Eligible applicants must be senior decision-makers from companies with fewer than 250 employees, working in areas such as primary care, women’s health, mental and behavioural health, healthy ageing, longevity, or chronic condition management. Innovate UK will cover travel, accommodation, and conference costs, and provides tailored support throughout. A £1,000 refundable commitment fee is required upon acceptance.

Open to UK based innovation-led companies with ambitions to grow and internationalise, with fewer than 250 employees.

Hospital at home/virtual wards: service delivery, integration, evaluating impact on health and social care (NIHR)

Registration closes: 5 August 2025 at 1:00pm (BST)

Scope:
The Health and Social Care Delivery Research (HSDR) Programme is seeking to fund high-quality research on hospital at home (virtual wards) services that deliver acute care to adults and children. These services are now a key element of the Urgent and Emergency Care Recovery Plan and the Neighbourhood Health approach. The HSDR Programme seeks studies that evaluate and improve the design, delivery, equity, and integration of hospital at home services, and assess their impact on health and social care. This is a two-stage, commissioned funding call, with proposals expected to address priority research questions identified by stakeholders including the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS, local authorities, and the public.

The HSDR Programme aims to invest in the region of £6 million across a number of research studies, as a result of this opportunity.

The EIC Accelerator

Deadline for full proposal: March 12 2025 and October 1 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

Longstanding opportunities:

Nesta Impact Investment

Nesta provides funding for impactful innovations tackling major social challenges. Investments focus on improving outcomes for older people, children, and communities across the UK.

Funding: Up to £1 million.

Visit the Nesta website to find out more

The British Heart Foundation (BHF)

The BHF funds cardiovascular research at all career stages, offering grants for both short- and long-term projects, strategic initiatives, and essential research infrastructure.

Visit the British Heart Foundation website for further information

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.