Biomedical Catalyst

Biomedical Catalyst is sponsored by Innovate UK (part of UK Research & Innovation). Innovate UK's flagship grant funding mechanism supports small and medium-sized businesses in testing and developing innovative health and care solutions across life sciences, including therapeutics, medical devices, and digital health.

It aims to transform innovative ideas into commercially viable businesses by providing grants for feasibility studies, industry-led R&D, and investor partnerships.

Biomedical Catalyst – UKRI Area of investment and support Area of investment and support: Biomedical Catalyst This is Innovate UK’s flagship grant funding mechanism helping small and medium-sized businesses test and develop innovative health and care solutions across life sciences, including therapeutics, medical devices, and digital health. The Biomedical Catalyst transforms innovative ideas into commercially viable businesses.

£140 million (over current spending review period) This is an ongoing scheme with multiple funding opportunity rounds The scope and what we're doing The Biomedical Catalyst supports small and medium-sized businesses, of all stages, to: get their project to market quicker de-risk their early stage innovations and projects, and lower risk for investors bring in private capital alongside grants for projects Biomedical Catalyst will fund a variety of projects across different markets, technologies, strands and themes, including: medicines and pharmaceuticals digital health technology Why we invest in this area Our vision is to build a network of innovative, commercially viable life science businesses that transform healthcare and patients’ lives, and drive business growth.

Opportunities, support and resources available By awarding grants to UK-based businesses at varying stages of development, we enable them to develop innovative healthcare solutions, secure investment and speed up bringing new products to market.

Grants include: Accelerator – Feasibility: opportunity to gain financial support for market and technology feasibility studies Industry-led R&D: transformational grant funding for industry-led innovation projects Investor Partnerships: de-risking innovative technologies by aligning public grant and private enterprise investment We recognise that grant funding alone is not enough, and projects need to be supported as an ecosystem to be able to easily access the partners needed on their innovation journey.

Partners include: Innovation support from Innovate UK Innovate UK Business Connect Innovate UK Business Connect connects innovators with new partners and new opportunities beyond their existing thinking, accelerating ambitious ideas into real-world solutions. If you want help to find a project partner or would like someone to review your application before submission, contact Innovate UK Business Connect .

Innovate UK Business Connect’s health page has information on opportunities, including the Biomedical Catalyst. Innovate UK Business Growth Innovate UK Business Growth offers bespoke advice and support to help grow and scale innovative businesses.

If you’re looking for intensive support with your growth strategy, including exploiting innovation, securing funding and finance, or entering new markets, please contact Innovate UK Business Growth .

Past projects, outcomes and impact Here are some of the many companies supported by the Biomedical Catalyst: Making it easier to capture real-world data in neuroscience studies Learning from nature to identify new antibody-like proteins to treat complex autoimmune diseases A remote monitoring service for cancer patients that restores quality of life Game-changing AI software that helps surgeons be even more precise during brain surgery Screening technology that seeks out new targets to drug the “undruggable” Last updated: 20 June 2025 This is the website for UKRI: our seven research councils, Research England and Innovate UK.

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