Funding for research and development of healthcare innovations
Secure funding and accelerate your health innovation
Innovate UK has opened applications for the Biomedical Catalyst 2025 competitions, offering UK-registered small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) the chance to share up to £25 million to develop innovative health and life sciences solutions.
Two streams of this research and development (R&D) competition are now live:
- for small R&D projects – with grants up to £500,000
- for large R&D projects – with grants over £500,000
Both are designed to help businesses accelerate new technologies that improve health outcomes, transform healthcare delivery, and strengthen the UK's life sciences sector.
The Biomedical Catalyst programme, part of UK Research and Innovation, supports early-stage innovation through to pre-market development. Projects can focus on a wide range of areas, including:
- disease prevention and management of chronic conditions
- earlier and better diagnosis of disease
- tailored and personalised treatments and therapeutics
- digital health technologies and data-driven healthcare
- consumer-focused self-care
- medical technologies, devices, and robotics
Eligible businesses can apply individually or in collaboration with others. All proposals must show a clear route to commercialisation and demonstrate potential to improve the competitiveness and productivity of UK SMEs.
Funding covers industrial research and experimental development such as prototyping, clinical evaluation, regulatory planning, product design and intellectual property protection. This list is not exhaustive.
Applications for both streams close at 11am on Wednesday 10 December 2025.
Potential applicants can join an online briefing event at 10am on Wednesday 12 November 2025 to find out more.
First published 11 November 2025