Invention for Innovation (i4i) funds translational research, aiming to accelerate the take-up and use of proven new treatments and devices by the NHS. The programme supports projects through prototype and commercial development until a device or technology is ready for clinical testing. Early-stage projects are expected to deliver a basic prototype, underpinned by appropriate supporting scientific evidence which justifies its development. Late-stage projects are further down the R&D pathway, having established technical feasibility, identified the market opportunity and devised an appropriate intellectual property and commercialisation strategy.

Who it's for:
Collaboration is likely to embrace industry, academia and NHS clinicians. The involvement of patients or their representatives is desirable.

Funding:
The stream is divided into parts to match the innovation process as closely as possible

• Feasibility study: up to £100k for one year
• Applied research project: £150k-£250k for up to three years
• Commercial viability study: up to £100k and 70% funding for one year
• Collaborative applied research project £100k-£300k and 50% funding for three years
  

Process:
Applying to i4i is generally a single stage process and does not involve an independent peer review process. Applications will be judged initially if they are in the scope of the programme then given to the full Programme advisory Committee  for consideration.

Time-line:
One of the aims of i4i is to enable projects to begin as quickly as possible once approved. The time from submission deadline to outcome is between 3 and 4 months.

Criteria:
Applications will be judged on the following criteria:

• Strong evidence of clinical or healthcare need with high relevance to the NHS
• Must be innovation and a potential to generate and exploit intellectual property
• A clear and accessible route to market and identifiable capacity to develop applications and exploit them
• Project team and project plan need to be appropriate for the scale and complexity of the project

i4i Website