Deadline Date: November 26, 2025
Innovate UK, in collaboration with Invest Northern Ireland, has launched the “Launchpad: Life and Health Sciences, Northern Ireland – Round 3 MFA” competition to support outstanding innovation projects that enhance business-led innovation activities within the life and health sciences cluster in Northern Ireland.
Focus Areas: Diagnostics, therapeutics and biomarkers including multi-omics, medical imaging, liquid biopsy, biomarker or genetic testing, and diagnostic or therapeutic development; Data, digital and medical devices including point-of-care testing, wearable or ambient sensors, clinical trials decision support, augmented reality, and digital health; Innovations in healthcare service delivery including health service productivity, integrated care platforms, and remote rehabilitation; and enabling areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, quantum, advanced therapies, novel formulation or delivery, regulation or ethics, and supporting innovation in skills development.
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, together with Invest Northern Ireland, is investing up to £1.2 million in innovation projects aimed at strengthening the life and health sciences cluster in Northern Ireland. The funding comes under Innovate UK’s Launchpad programme, which aligns with the UK Government’s broader goals for local economic growth. This initiative also supports the Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland (HIRANI), serving as the cluster management organisation.
The competition seeks applications from UK-registered small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that demonstrate ambition for business growth and commitment to expanding their innovation activities within Northern Ireland. Eligible projects must request grant funding between £25,000 and £100,000, last between six and twelve months, and be carried out entirely in the UK. All projects must start after 1 April 2026 and end by 31 March 2027.
Funding will be awarded as Minimal Financial Assistance (MFA), allowing up to 100% of eligible project costs within the £100,000 maximum grant limit. Innovate UK expects applicants to clearly describe how their projects contribute to growing innovation activities in the Northern Ireland cluster during and after completion, including collaboration with HIRANI and other innovation-active organisations.
Innovate UK will adopt a portfolio approach to ensure diversity in funded projects, prioritizing those that create greater innovation value within Northern Ireland, demonstrate deeper engagement with the cluster, and align closely with the competition’s themes. Projects that have previously benefited from funding in earlier MFA rounds for this Launchpad may be deprioritized to ensure new applicants also benefit.
Applicants must comply with UK subsidy control rules and ensure their projects do not involve primary production in agriculture, fisheries, or aquaculture, nor depend on export performance or domestic input usage. The competition reinforces Innovate UK’s commitment to supporting high-quality, sustainable innovation that drives local economic growth while advancing life and health sciences across the UK.
For more information, visit GOV.UK.
