Training collaborations - invest in the researchers of the future

We work in partnership with the life sciences industry, including SMEs, to build research expertise, capacity and capability in areas of shared interest.

We co-fund research career development opportunities, such as research awards and fellowships. If your research programme requires specific expertise or skill sets, this collaborative way of working could help support your study pipeline.

What are the benefits of partnering with the NIHR?

  • Cooperative: share expertise and resources
  • Collaborative: help us to address unmet needs
  • Proactive: help build capacity to support your study pipeline

We play a pivotal role in attracting, training and supporting the best health and care researchers to tackle the complex challenges of the future. By partnering with us, you can collaborate with a highly-skilled academic research workforce with experience in translational and applied health and care research.

We can also work with you to develop opportunities for early career researchers to attract new talent, embed commercial research delivery skills and experience, and help address capability gaps.

By pooling resources in areas of mutual interest, we can share our wealth of expertise and resources to collectively upskill the current and future research workforce.

What funding opportunities are available to industry partners?

Co-funding partnership opportunities are available at doctoral and postdoctoral (advanced) level through the NIHR Fellowships Programme and the HEE/NIHR Integrated Clinical Academic (ICA) Programme.

Both programmes attract future leaders in health and social care research and provide salary funding for the researcher as well as the cost of the research project. Researchers on the Fellowship Programme have the option to spend time in the clinic, whereas those funded by the ICA programme must spend between 20 to 40% of their time in their clinical or practice role.

Training collaborations in action

Since 2020, we have:

Industry partnership aims to tackle key areas of health research

An exciting partnership between the NIHR and biopharmaceutical company Pfizer UK is aiming to support health and care research leaders of the future.

More information and contact

Discover our full range of services:

Services and support for the life sciences industry

Contact us

Fill out our contact form to request a chat with our team. We aim to reply as soon as possible and always within two business days.

Contact the Industry team

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