Sectors
Health & Life Sciences
The Health & Life Science sector is a major focus for R&D Grant Funding across both the UK and Europe. From tackling infectious diseases and emerging health threats to advancing cancer therapies and nature-based solutions, the sector attracts strong government support.
Grant funding for Health & Life Sciences
We have been actively supporting Life Science innovators and academic research teams for 20+ years, successfully securing many millions of £s and €s funding for teams who are developing cutting edge work, from precision therapeutics and diagnostics, to biotech solutions addressing global health and environmental challenges.
This R&D grant funding for health & life science projects is accelerating high-impact solutions, turning bold ideas into real world advances in the healthcare sector.
Public Funding for Life Sciences offers multiple benefits:
- R&D Grant Funding supports the development, prototyping, and testing of high-risk, innovative Life Science projects, reducing risk in the discovery and evaluation phases by providing critical early-stage funding.
- R&D Grant Funding allows for funds to be allocated to staff salaries, subcontractors, clinical trials, regulatory approval, certification, and other R&D costs.
- The spin-out of IP in the health and life science sector from academic research teams into startup businesses is well established and supported by R&D grant funding.
- Grant Funding enables Life Science companies to secure the funding they need without giving up equity.
- Grant Funding helps cover costs associated with international partnerships and cross-border collaborative R&D.
- Serves as an independent validation of transformative healthcare and scientific innovations.
Funding in the UK
The UK is aiming to be a global leader in biotech and healthcare, investing billions through the National Life Sciences Vision. As part of its Modern Industrial Strategy, the government has committed over £22.5 billion per year by 2029/2030 to science and technology, including life sciences, with an additional £520 million allocated for the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund between 2025/2026 and 2029/2030. Funding is delivered through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), Innovate UK (IUK), Medical Research Council (MRC), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), and other bodies.
Funding in the EU
The EU is committed to investing over €10 billion of grant funding for health and life science every year through programmes like Horizon Europe and EU4Health. Key initiatives include the upcoming EU Biotech Act and a €300 million fund to support the life sciences innovation, all aimed at accelerating research, innovation, and market access across the sector.
Success Stories
Health & Life Sciences themes for grant funding
Life Sciences’ innovators tackling the following critical themes and challenges, could expect to benefit from R&D grant funding:
- Drug Discovery, Cancer Prevention & Accelerated Clinical Development
- Precision & Genomic Medicine
- Vaccine Development & Infectious Disease Preparedness
- Diagnostics, Digital Biomarkers & Early Disease Detection
- Ageing, Mental Health & Neurodegeneration
- Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) & Public Health
- Biomanufacturing, Scale-up & Regulatory Innovation
- Sustainable Biotech for Climate Mitigation, Biodiversity & Agriculture
- Conservation, Nature Restoration & Ecosystem Resilience
This is not a definitive list, and other innovative solutions within the Life Sciences sector may also qualify for R&D grant funding.
Health & Life Sciences funding programmes and funders
Life Sciences is eligible for R&D Grant Funding, Innovation Loans, Contracts for Innovation Procurement and other forms of non-dilutive funding.
Available funding for Life Science innovators includes:
| Programme | Funder | Grant value | Stage | Who can apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK funding | ||||
| Thematic calls, e.g. Biomedical Catalyst | Innovate UK | Share of up to £15m per round | Feasibility to 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 |
| Research Starter | Defra / UKRI | £28k–£56k | Early-stage research | Farmers, growers and foresters |
| Feasibility Studies | Defra / UKRI | £200k–£500k | Feasibility | UK business-led, with at least one partner |
| R&D Partnerships | Defra / UKRI | £1m–£3m (small); £3m–£5m (large) | Collaborative R&D | UK business-led consortia, including an SME |
| Farming Futures R&D | Defra / UKRI | £500k–£6m | Development | UK businesses and consortia |
| European funding | ||||
| EIC Pathfinder | European Innovation Council | Up to €4m | Early-stage research (TRL 1–4) | Consortia, incl. UK |
| EIC Transition | European Innovation Council | Up to €2.5m + €50k booster grants | Validation (TRL 4–6) | Single applicants or 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 6: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture & Environment | Horizon Europe | €6m–€20m | Challenge-led collaborative R&D | Consortia, incl. UK |
| Collaborative calls, e.g. Pillar II Cluster 1: Health | Horizon Europe | €1m–€20m+ | Collaborative R&D | Consortia, incl. UK |
| Other funding options are also available, including the Ofwat Innovation Fund and NIHR programmes. Grant values are indicative and vary by call. | ||||
Winning Grant Funding for Health & Life Sciences
“With a background in Biology (PhD), I find it incredibly exciting to work at the forefront of innovation in the Life Sciences sector.
Every day, I get to engage with innovative SMEs that are developing novel solutions to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing mankind – from global health threats and antibiotic resistance, to sustainable agriculture and ecosystem restoration. It is inspiring to see how science and technology are being harnessed to create real, transformative impact.”
Malu Avila, PhD
Life Sciences Sector Expert
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