FAQs

Contracts for Innovation is a research and innovation mechanism to support the development of solutions to public sector challenges at any stage, from early feasibility (Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2) to late-stage demonstrators (TRL 8) where no commercially available solution exists. Solutions are developed with the aim (where future budgets permit) of being procured and implemented, improving the organisations efficiency and/or effectiveness. The public sector organisation with the challenge provides the funding.

Unfortunately, not, Contracts for Innovation is focused on research and development and innovation.  There must be no commercially available solution on the market to meet your needs, businesses with market available solutions can apply but the solution must require significant changes/innovations to suit your needs.

Contracts for Innovation can be run in as many phases as required and can support

• early-stage feasibility studies
• prototype development
• late-stage demonstrator projects

This enables challenge owners to down select the most promising solutions at each phase for further research and development (R&D) investment where desired. Each phase must involve at least two funded suppliers and fund at least 50% R&D activity.

Yes, registered charities are equally eligible to enter via their trading company limited by guarantee. All organisations must demonstrate a route to market.

Universities may apply; however, they must demonstrate a route to market, i.e. The application must include a plan to commercialise the results.

Yes, but contracts must be awarded to legal entities.

Any organisation can submit an application, although it is expected that opportunities presented by Contracts for Innovation will be particularly attractive for SMEs. The challenges are aimed at organisations working on the development of an innovative process, material, device, product or service. Successful applications will be those whose technology best addresses the specific needs identified, with the potential to make a measurable improvement to currently available products, processes materials, devices or services. Development contracts will be awarded only to individual organisations. However, organisations may also wish to demonstrate that successful collaboration will enhance their overall development. Work may be subcontracted but this is the responsibility of the main contractor.

Business will get 100% of the funding.

There are many benefits to the process for you and for us. You get a unique opportunity to work with NHS experts to build your solution around our challenge/problem. We get the opportunity to work with you to build something that can potentially meet our needs. We will thoroughly evaluate the solutions at the end, those suitable will potentially be given the opportunity to then go through to a full procurement (but this is not a guarantee).