Healthy ageing challenge: designed for ageing

UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £14.4 million for service-led innovations to support healthy ageing

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Innovate UK are investing up to £14.4 million in innovation projects through a Designed for Ageing Healthy Ageing Challenge. The challenge will deliver a clear game-changing service-led innovation to help people as they age, positively, actively, independently and with dignity.

To be eligible, projects must focus on one or more of the following service-led innovations that:

• enables self-care and new models of care for independent living
• encourages sustaining physical activity for people aged 50 and over, including for instance, active travel
• improves mental health
• addresses the 'common complaints' of ageing, for example, incontinence, pain, mobility, hearing and eyesight

The competition aims to:

• address the under-provision of products and services which support people as they age to remain active, independent and socially connected
• support business-led, near-to-market innovations that have the potential to scale
• enforce good people-centred design principles
• encourage applications from businesses across the UK, by working with devolved government administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

To enforce the aim of good people-centred design principles, your project will be subject to a 'design stage gate review' at the six-month point. Your project must pass the 'design stage gate review' to continue to receive funding.

This competition is open to single applicants and collaborations. To lead a project your organisation must be a UK registered business.

Find out more about the Healthy Ageing Challenge - Designed for Ageing.

The deadline for applications is 17 November 2021, 11:00am.

First published 1 October 2021