Introduction
The ambition of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research.
NIHR Incubators aim to address areas/disciplines where there is a need to build research capacity on a national level. The initiative offers the opportunity to delve into the complex issues and barriers that exist in capacity building in a particular area by the community who are embedded in and who have forged careers in these areas. The funding enables a community to bring together key stakeholders to suggest and implement solutions to building research capacity and research careers in a sustainable and meaningful way. NIHR Incubators play an important role in attracting, training and supporting researchers to tackle the complex health and care challenges of the future within their specific area/discipline. Their focus is on building academic research capacity with consideration to a broad spectrum of research careers.
Incubators run for a 3 year period, during which they are badged as ‘NIHR-Supported Incubators’ and receive annual funding and support.
2022 NIHR Incubator Competition - Highlight Notices
For the 2022 NIHR Incubator Competition, we asked applicants to consider planning for and proposing Incubators in any relevant area for NIHR, being particularly mindful of NIHR’s strategy; ‘Best Research for Best Health the Next Chapter'. We particularly encouraged applications for Incubators in the following two areas:
- Support for researchers from minoritised ethnic backgrounds
- Support for research careers in pharmacy
2022 NIHR Incubator Competition - Overview and Key Facts
The 2022 NIHR Incubator Competition launched on 18th October 2022 and closed to applications on 15th December 2022.
Applications were received from individuals representing a range of areas/disciplines, including applications focused on the two highlight notices for this round. Data on geography, number of applications by strategic theme and number of applications by area/discipline are detailed in Annex A.
The total number of applications received for this round was 35, of which 31 were deemed to be ‘in scope’.
In scope applications were assessed by two members of the NIHR Incubator Selection Committee and a Public Contributor who completed lay assessments for each application assigned to them. The NIHR Incubator Selection Committee met on 1st March 2023 to discuss the applications and to make recommendations for funding.
During the funding recommendation meeting, the NIHR Incubator Selection Committee agreed that 10 top-ranked applications were fundable and recommended that all 10 were awarded; the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) approved this recommendation.
2022 NIHR Incubator Competition – Selection Committee observations
The selection committee co-chairs and members were pleased with the standard of applications received for the 2022 NIHR Incubator Competition. A number of common themes emerged during the assessment of applications and a brief summary of these observations is detailed below.
Observations and recommendations for NIHR
The Selection Committee suggested that to avoid overlap in the areas covered by Incubators, that the NIHR should connect potential applicants where possible to see if they can combine their efforts into a stronger application. This is especially relevant to this scheme given that one of the aims of the Incubator initiative is to get communities working together to strengthen their approach to building capacity. For the 2024 competition, NIHR has created a contact list of potential applicants in order to try to connect individuals who may be considering applying in similar areas.
The selection committee recommended including a patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) section in the application form for applicants to summarise their plans for PPIE during the award period. For the 2024 competition, the NIHR has included a PPIE section within the application form. The whole application will continue to be assessed by public contributors, but the PPIE section serves as a focus for the potential Incubator’s approach to PPIE.
Areas for applicant consideration
The area/discipline:
- Applications must represent an area/discipline where there is a need to build research capacity on a national level or must align with the highlight notice(s) outlined in the applicant guidance notes.
- Applicants are asked to look at existing Incubators and ensure that the area/discipline and work they are proposing does not overlap with the current Incubators.
- Proposals must clearly identify the target professions/groups for which the proposal aims to address research capacity issues. Applicants must provide direct evidence to support the proposal and the need for capacity to be built in this area.
- Where the area/discipline being proposed is broad and representative of a large number of specialties and professions, applicants are advised to focus on the specific areas where there is a greater need to build research capacity.
- Consideration should be given to whether the work being proposed is already being carried out by other groups and if so, justification should be provided as to how the Incubator will complement this. Applicants should also state clearly whether these groups have been consulted as part of the proposal.
Planning and delivery:
- Applicants are advised to set clear and detailed aims and objectives that should focus on addressing the research capacity problems and gaps for the area/discipline.
- Applicants are advised to provide a detailed plan including timelines for the proposed actions and a clear plan for delivery. Activities must align with and directly address the overall aims and objectives outlined in the application, and should be achievable within the award period.
Key Stakeholders:
- Key stakeholders should be geographically representative and extend beyond pre-existing relationships, consideration should be given to how affected communities, committees and organisations will inform the proposal and it should be made clear in the application how and at which point they have been/will be engaged and consulted.
- The proposal should clearly state how the Incubator will continue to engage with the key stakeholders identified and consulted as part of the application process, and how these individuals/groups will contribute and complement the work of the Incubator during and after the award period.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
- Applicants are advised to ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) is addressed in the formation of the Steering Group, and are asked to outline how EDI will inform the objectives of the proposed Incubator in terms of reaching and engaging with early career researchers and underserved groups from within the proposed area/discipline.
Patient, Public Involvement and Engagement:
- A concrete plan for patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) should be outlined in the application form, as well as any plans for Public Contributor representation on the proposed Incubator Steering Group.
Legacy Planning:
- Applicants are asked to consider how they plan to continue the work of the Incubator beyond the award period and include in the application a clear legacy plan.
Annex A - 2022 NIHR Incubator Competition Applications and Awards Summary
Incubator applications and success rates by highlight notice
| Area/Discipline | Applied | Fundable | Approved for Funding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support for research careers in pharmacy | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| Support for researchers from minoritised ethnic backgrounds | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Total | 8 | 5 | 2 |
Incubator applications and success rates by area/discipline
| Area/Discipline | Applied | Approved for Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Adolescent Health and Well-Being | 1 | 0 |
| Bladder Cancer | 1 | 0 |
| Clinical Education | 1 | 1 |
| Community Rehabilitation | 1 | 1 |
| Community-based alcohol and drug care services | 1 | 0 |
| Digital Health | 1 | 0 |
| Digital Health - Regulatory Science | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency Care | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency General Surgery Research | 1 | 0 |
| Healthcare Science | 1 | 0 |
| Histopathology | 1 | 0 |
| Knowledge Mobilisation | 1 | |
| Mental Health Social Care | 1 | 1 |
| Methodology Applied Health and Care | 1 | 1 |
| Methodology new approach | 1 | 0 |
| Minoritised Ethnic Groups | 3 | 1 |
| Nutrition and Behaviour | 1 | 0 |
| Occupational Health | 1 | 0 |
| Optometry/Clinical Eye Care | 1 | 0 |
| Paediatric Critical Care | 1 | 1 |
| Pharmacy | 5 | 1 |
| Prison and Forensic Mental Health Research | 1 | 0 |
| Public Health and Community Nursing | 1 | 0 |
| Radiology | 2 | 1 |
| Research in Local Government | 1 | 0 |
| Surgical Technology | 1 | 0 |
| Under Represented Professions and Professionals (AHPs) | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 35 | 10 |
Incubator applications by geographical spread (based on Incubator Host Organisation location)
| Region | Applied | Approved for Funding |
|---|---|---|
| London | 12 | 3 |
| East of England | 1 | 0 |
| North East England | 3 | 2 |
| North West England | 2 | 1 |
| South East England | 1 | 0 |
| South West England | 2 | 1 |
| East Midlands | 5 | 1 |
| West Midlands | 5 | 2 |
| Yorkshire and Humber | 4 | 0 |
| Total | 35 | 10 |