Funding for small businesses in health in east of England

Funding opportunity

The East of England is launching a Small Business Research Initiative (SRBI) in the health sector to help industry bring in new technologies that support the region’s health priorities. This competition is open to all companies, including those not currently engaged in the health sector.

The new SBRI, led by the UK government’s Technology Strategy Board, is an across-government programme for the procurement of technology development projects, including the demonstration and evaluation of new technologies.  The National Health Service (NHS) East of England and the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), together with the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) and the European Regional Development Fund are jointly funding this pilot SBRI competition.

Companies are invited to submit ideas in three priority areas:

• Managing chronic disease through remote monitoring

• Patient Safety - improving health outcomes

• Keeping children active

In addition, all applications need to demonstrate that they contribute to carbon reduction. This could be through reduction in energy, travel, waste, water or building design.

Developments will be 100 per cent funded, and suppliers for each project will be selected by an open competition process.  The competition is run in two phases.  Several projects, of up to 6 months and £100,000, will be funded in Phase 1 feasibility. Successful projects will then be funded for Phase 2, up to 2 years and between £250,000-£750,000 in prototype development.  Businesses will retain the intellectual property generated from the project, with certain rights of use retained by the NHS.  

For more information, visit http://www.hee.org.uk/images/stories/sbri_nhs_eoe.