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Invention for Innovation

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. 

Latest funding opportunities for Invention for Innovation

All i4i funding opportunities

Upcoming i4i competitions and webinars

Latest announcements

i4i is now open to the whole UK

We're excited to announce that the NIHR i4i programme is now accepting applications from researchers and organisations based in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, in addition to applications from England. This change will be effective starting autumn 2023.  We are looking forward to receiving applications from across the UK.

NIHR 2023 Themed call on reducing compound pressures on the NHS and social care

The i4i programme is participating in the NIHR-wide themed call on reducing compound pressures, focusing on generating high-quality research evidence into the evaluation of health and care interventions and services to reduce compound pressures on the NHS and social care. More information on the call can be found in the call brief.

Joining i4i Committees

The i4i funding Committees consist of clinical, academic and commercial experts. If you would like to express your interest in becoming a member of the i4i funding Committee, please complete our expression of interest form.

i4i funding

We fund innovations that have demonstrated proof-of-concept and have a clear pathway towards adoption and commercialisation.

The i4i programme has three funding streams: Product Development Awards (PDA), Challenge Awards and Connect. PDA and Challenge Awards are run twice a year, whereas Connect is run once a year.

i4i FAST (Funding At the Speed of Translation) is a funding scheme aimed at innovators in need of a small amount of funding to answer a specific question or to fund a single piece of activity.

Further information on each funding stream, including how to apply, can be found below.

View our portfolio

If you have any queries about whether your proposal is eligible for i4i funding, please send an email with specific questions to the i4i inbox on i4i@nihr.ac.uk

Product Development Awards

i4i Product Development Awards (PDA) support collaborative research and development of medical devices, in vitro diagnostic devices and high-impact patient-focused digital health technologies for use in the NHS or social care system. The expected focus of a PDA is product development required to enable a technology for clinical use or use in social care and/or the clinical development of a laboratory-validated technology or intervention. The research proposals may address any area of unmet need. Projects must have a clear pathway towards adoption and commercialisation. 

  • Entry point: Experimental proof-of-concept or laboratory validated technology
  • Exit point: Laboratory and/or clinically validated technology
  • How much: No upper funding limit, but all costs must be fully justified
  • How long: Maximum project duration is 3 years

Applying for PDA funding

Read more about the PDA scope, requirements and funded activities in our PDA supporting information and PDA FAQs.

The i4i programme operates a two-stage application process. To help prepare your application please see the applicant guidance for PDA stage 1 and PDA stage 2

Research proposals are submitted through the Research Management System (RMS).

i4i PDA success rates

Challenge

i4i Challenge Awards support the real-world evaluation of medical devices, in vitro diagnostic devices and high-impact patient-focused digital health technologies for us in the NHS or social care system. The i4i Challenge Awards provide funding for collaborative projects with a focus on implementation research on technologies which have demonstrated safety and efficacy, and have a clear pathway towards adoption and commercialisation.

  • Entry point: Technologies which have regulatory approval or demonstrated equivalent safety and efficacy
  • Exit point: Performance of technologies evaluated in a real-world setting
  • How much: No upper funding limit, but costs must be fully justified
  • How long: Project duration is up to 3 years, extendable to 5 years with strong justification

Applying for Challenge funding

Read more about the Challenge scope, requirements and funded activities in our Challenge supporting Information. 

The i4i programme operates a two-stage application process. To prepare your application please see our Challenge Stage 1 applicant guidance and Challenge Stage 2 application guidance.

Research proposals are submitted through the Research Management System (RMS)

i4i Challenge success rates

Connect

i4i Connect is aimed at small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) developing medical devices, in vitro diagnostics and high-impact patient-focused digital health technologies for use in the NHS or social care system. The funding stream aims to help SMEs reach the next stage in the development pathway to apply for further funding, in particular for an i4i Product Development Award. i4i Connect is researcher-led and does not specify topics for research.

  • Entry pointThe minimum entry point is experimental proof-of-concept or laboratory-validated technology, however, proposals may be submitted for progressing innovations at any stage of the research and development pathway leading to implementation
  • Exit point: Reaching the next stage in the development pathway
  • How much: £50,000 - £150,000
  • How long: 6-12 month period

Applying for Connect funding

Read more about the Connect scope, requirement and funded activities in our Connect Expression of Interest supporting information for applicants, and Connect FAQs.

The i4i programme operates a two-stage application process. To help prepare your application, please see the the Connect Expression of Interest guidance for applicants (stage 1) and the Connect Business Plan guidance for applicants (stage 2)

Research proposals are submitted online through the Research Management System (RMS).

i4i Connect success rates

Our people

Our programme director

Mike Lewis is a joint Programme Director of NIHR Invention for Innovation and SBRI Healthcare programmes.

Our selection committees

i4i funding committees are multidisciplinary, comprising academic, clinical and commercial experts, as well as patient and public members.

Committee members review all Stage 1 and Stage 2 applications and make funding recommendations based on the quality of applications, with support from expert peer reviewers.

The committees recommend projects for funding to the Department of Health and Social Care, which approves which projects should be funded.

We have six committees: three for our Product Development Awards (committee A, committee B and committee C), one for our Challenge Awards, one for Connect and one for our Addiction Mission Innovation for Treatment and Recovery (AMI) Awards.

 Meeting minutes

Members of NIHR committees are required to declare any interests that conflict, or may be considered to conflict, with NIHR business, or may be perceived as influencing decisions made in the course of their work within NIHR programmes. All members are asked to complete the Register of Interest form (annually), which is intended to capture long term predictable interests that could be perceived to lead to conflicts of interest. These and other interests are judged on a case by case basis at individual meetings.

NIHR registry of interests

Contact us

We offer a wide variety of assistance during all stages of the research process. If in doubt, please get in touch.

Tel: 020 8843 8080
Email: i4i@nihr.ac.uk

NIHR
Grange House
15 Church Street
Twickenham TW1 3NL

Our operating hours are 9am to 5pm

Do you need help getting started? Contact the Research Support Service.

Do you need assistance running your study in the NHS? Contact the Study Support Service.

Programme team

Director of Innovation Programmes and Head of Intellectual Property
Mr Ben Patient

Assistant Director, Innovation Programmes
Dr Ruth Nebauer

Assistant Director, Innovations
Dr Ian Newington

Assistant Director and Head of Innovation and Enterprises
Dr Raffaella Roncone

Senior Programme Managers
Dr Andrew Barber
Dr Silvana Cossins
Dr Michelle Edye
Dr Stuart Haylock
Ms Ami Hodges
Dr Caterina Lombardo
Ms Amy Muggeridge
Ms Charmaine Mulligan
Dr Maryam Tamaddon
Mr Luis Tojo
Dr Laura Tornatore
Dr Francesca Troiani
Mr Edwin Tucker
Ms Kasia Zmarzly

Programme Managers
Ms Oluwatomi Arisa
Mr Alex Zabala Findlay
Ms Eva Garritsen
Mr Fergus Morris
Dr Danilo Villanueva Navarrete
Dr Mary Walker

Operations team

Operations Manager
Ms Rachel Wylie

Senior Research Officers
Ms Harkerat Jandu
Mrs Tanya McQueen

Research Officers
Mr Sam Howes
Ms Jasmine  Coulson
Ms Holly Holman
Ms Nicola Oginni
Ms Michal Wagman

Administrator
Ms Frances O'Farrell

Advice for i4i applicants

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