Interested in applying for the Northern Ireland Life and Health Sciences Launchpad?
About the Northern Ireland Life and Health Sciences Launchpad
The Northern Ireland life and health sciences Launchpad is a £7.5 million fund which Innovate UK has ringfenced for life and health sciences projects in Northern Ireland.
The aim of the Launchpad is to accelerate life and health science innovation projects led by businesses, with the impact generating economic growth in the life sciences innovation cluster centred in Northern Ireland.
The Northern Ireland Life and Health Sciences Launchpad is promoted by Invest NI working with Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland (HIRANI), the Department for the Economy, the Northern Ireland Office and other local partners.
Innovate UK distributes the funding through a competitive call process.
The next application window for the next Northern Ireland Life and Health Sciences Launchpad is open from Monday 4 November to Wednesday 11 December 2024.
How can my business benefit from the Northern Ireland Life and Health Sciences Launchpad?
Successful companies could receive funding to develop innovation projects under two categories:
- Smaller-scale financial assistance for a single company (between £25k and £100k) or
- Larger-scale collaborative research and development projects (between £150k and £1m) as part of a consortium.
The funding will support outstanding innovation projects led by businesses growing their innovation activities in the life and health sciences cluster in Northern Ireland.
Who can apply for the Northern Ireland Life and Health Sciences Launchpad?
The Northern Ireland Life and Health Sciences Launchpad is open to all businesses in Northern Ireland in the life and health sciences sector that meet the eligibility criteria.
Collaborative research and development projects must comprise a minimum of two companies, with the lead applicant being a Northern Ireland based business.
To apply for smaller scale financial assistance, or to lead a larger-scale collaborative research & development project, companies must:
- Be a UK registered micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME)
- Be growing their innovation activities in the life and health sciences innovation cluster in Northern Ireland
- Have a demonstrable ambition for business growth
What projects are eligible for the Northern Ireland Life and Health Sciences Launchpad?
Under the Northern Ireland Life and Health Sciences Launchpad, companies can apply for funding for projects focusing on a range of subjects including:
- Diagnostics, therapeutics and biomarkers
- Data, digital and medical devices
- Innovations in healthcare service delivery
- Regulation or ethics
- Innovation in skills development.
Businesses can also apply for projects that will enable the following technologies:
- Artificial intelligence, machine learning, quantum
- Advanced therapies, novel formulation or delivery.
Project summary
|
|
Funding request |
Project length |
Start date |
End date |
|
Single company projects |
£25,000 - £100,000 |
6 – 12 months |
From 1 April 2025 |
By 30 June 2026 |
|
Collaborative projects |
£150,000 - £1m |
6 – 18 months |
From 1 May 2025 |
By 31 December 2026 |
Innovate UK National Launchpad competition briefing
The briefing slides for the Innovate UK National Launchpad competition are available now through the competition listings.
An additional live briefing and Q&A session will be held on Thursday 14 November at 13:00 to share more about the current application window.
Register now for the Innovate UK Launchpad competition briefing.
Information sessions
We will host two regional clinics on Friday 15 November to help local businesses define their ideas and develop proposals.
If your business is considering applying for the Northern Ireland Life and Health Sciences Launchpad, please book your place below to discuss your application with us.
How to apply?
Are you interested in applying for the Northern Ireland Life and Health Sciences Launchpad?
Businesses who are interested must complete an application online through the Innovate UK Innovation Funding Service Platform.