Sectors
Digital Health
The Digital Health sector is a major focus for R&D Grant Funding across both the UK and Europe.
We have been actively supporting Digital Health innovators for 20+ years. Last year alone, we successfully raised over £1.5m for our clients in healthcare delivery and patient outcomes who are developing cutting edge solutions to critical challenges.
Grant funding for Digital Health
The right type of grant means research teams, founders and innovators can leverage non-dilutive funding to scale or test new ideas in health technologies. Opportunities include, but are not limited to, optimising healthcare resource allocation, reducing patient backlogs and enhancing mental health support, and training Artificial Intelligence to improve clinical decision-making and communication.
Non-dilutive, public funding for research teams and innovation-led businesses operating in the Digital Health sector offers multiple benefits:
- R&D Grant Funding allows Digital Health innovators to retain their equity while securing necessary funding for technology development work.
- Supports early-stage and high-risk prototyping, testing and development work.
- Helps overcome the “valley of death” between prototype development and real-world adoption (a key concept from Crossing the Chasm).
- Can fund costly patient and clinician testing vital for usability and acceptance (PPIE).
- Can fund activities that are costly and risky, making startups more attractive to private investors later.
- Covers costs related to international partnerships, collaborative R&D, staff wages, and subcontractors.
- Late-stage Innovation Loans (for example) can be used to cover costs of clinical trials and regulatory compliance.
Funding in the UK
The UK government views Digital Health as a strategic priority and invests heavily into this sector through Innovate UK and UKRI Health and Life Sciences Strategy. This commitment is underscored by a planned £2.3 billion real-terms increase in the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) capital budget by 2029-30. This is backed by key policies like the 2023 MedTech Strategy, AI and Data Strategy, Data Saves Lives initiative and the MHRA Health Technology Regulatory Reform Roadmap to drive innovation and NHS transformation.
Funding in the EU
The EU Commission views Digital Health as a strategic priority. The EU focuses funding on real-world adoption of Digital Health solutions, emphasising interoperability, ethical AI, and regulatory alignment via Horizon Europe: Cluster 1, EU4Health, and the European Health Data Space (EHDS), backed by over €810 million in direct Commission funding to support these initiatives.
Success Stories
Digital Health themes for grant funding
Digital Health innovators tackling the following priority areas and challenges, can expect to benefit from R&D grant funding, innovation loans, contracts for innovation and other non-dilutive funding:
- Health Data Infrastructure & Interoperability
- Artificial Intelligence & Advanced Analytics
- Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Drug Discovery, Digital Platforms for Cancer Prevention & Accelerated Clinical Development
- Personalised & Precision Medicine, including Cancer Innovations
- Patient Empowerment, Telehealth & Digital Inclusion
- Cybersecurity & Trustworthy Health Systems
- Digital Health Workforce Development & Literacy
- Data-Driven Public Health, Prevention & Chronic Disease Management (including Cancer and aging-related diseases)
- Health Innovation Ecosystems, Ethics & Regulatory Frameworks
This is not a definitive list, and other innovative digital health solutions may also qualify for R&D grant funding.
Digital Health funding programmes and funders
Digital Health companies are eligible for R&D Grant Funding, Innovation Loans, Contracts for Innovation Procurement and other forms of non-dilutive funding.
Available funding for Digital Health innovators includes:
| Programme | Funder | Grant value | Stage | Who can apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK funding | ||||
| Thematic calls, e.g. Digital Health Technology Catalyst (DHTC) | Innovate UK | £300k–£1m+ | Development | UK businesses |
| Innovation Loans | Innovate UK | Up to £5m | Late-stage, pre-market | UK SMEs |
| Growth Catalyst | Innovate UK | Up to £2m grant + equity | Scale-up | UK SMEs with investor backing |
| SBRI Healthcare | NHS, via Health Innovation Networks | Varies | Feasibility to NHS pilot | UK and international businesses |
| Public Health Research Programme (PHR): open and commissioned calls | NIHR | £300k–£2m | Research | Researchers and partners |
| European funding | ||||
| Eurostars | EUREKA | ~€360k per partner | Collaborative R&D | SMEs in an international consortium |
| Innowwide market feasibility | EUREKA | €60k | Market feasibility | Single applicant with international subcontractors |
| EIC Pathfinder | European Innovation Council | Up to €4m | Early-stage research | Consortia, incl. UK |
| EIC Accelerator | European Innovation Council | €500k–€2.5m grant + up to €10m equity | Scale-up | SMEs (UK: grant only) |
| EIC Step-Up | European Innovation Council | Varies | Scale-up | scale-up or small mid-cap stage |
| Pillar II Cluster 1: Health collaborative calls | Horizon Europe | €1m–€20m+ | Collaborative R&D | Consortia, incl. UK |
| Other funding options are also available, including EIC Transition and NIHR i4i. Grant values are indicative and vary by call. | ||||
Winning Grant Funding for Digital Health
“I am proud to have helped Brain in Hand secure over £2 million to fund their innovative digital platform for people with autism and over £1 million for CardMedic supporting translation in clinical settings.
Advising on Digital Health grants is both rewarding and intellectually engaging – it means translating complex ideas across medicine, engineering, and tech into clear, persuasive proposals. This process enables innovators to secure crucial funding to develop impactful solutions that improve healthcare outcomes.”
Sophie Glaser-Deruelle
Digital Health Sector Expert
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