Funding Opportunities: Healthcare/Medtech
GrantUp specialises in helping Med Tech companies secure UK innovation grant funding to accelerate the development of groundbreaking healthcare technologies. With numerous funding opportunities available, from Innovate UK to Horizon Europe, there is significant support for medical device innovations, diagnostic solutions, and digital health platforms. We’ve helped numerous clients navigate these complex funding landscapes and win millions in non-dilutive grant awards. Whether you’re an early-stage startup or an established business, we can guide you to the right funding options for your innovation.
With a proven track record of success, we understand the challenges of securing Med Tech funding and are here to maximise your chances of winning. Our team is experienced in crafting compelling applications that highlight your project’s potential to transform healthcare and deliver real patient impact. From identifying the best grant opportunities to writing winning proposals, we’ll be with you every step of the way, ensuring your innovation has the financial backing it needs to thrive in the competitive healthcare market.
Cancer Research UK Early Detection and Diagnosis Programme Award
This competition funds large research programmes focused on improving how cancer is detected and diagnosed at an earlier stage. It supports long term, ambitious projects that bring together multiple research areas to solve a central challenge in early detection, with a clear path to real world healthcare impact. Projects should go beyond basic research and show how they could improve patient outcomes or healthcare systems.
This is a strong fit if you are:
✔️ A researcher, clinician, or healthcare professional in a UK institution
✔️ Working on early cancer detection or diagnostic tools
✔️ Part of a collaborative research programme across multiple teams
✔️ An SME supporting with technology, data, or specialist expertise
Should you apply?
If you are involved in a large research programme aiming to improve how cancer is found and diagnosed earlier, and can show real impact on patients or healthcare systems, this is a strong opportunity.
Cancer Research UK Prevention and Population Programme Award
This competition funds research projects focused on improving how cancer is detected earlier and diagnosed more effectively. It supports innovative ideas that could lead to better screening, earlier treatment, and improved patient outcomes. Projects should show clear potential to move into real healthcare settings and make a difference in how cancer is identified.
This is a strong fit if you are:
✔️ A UK research organisation working on cancer detection or diagnosis
✔️ Developing new diagnostic tools, technologies, or biomarkers
✔️ Part of a collaborative project with hospitals, researchers, or industry
✔️ An SME contributing technology, expertise, or services to a research project
Should you apply?
If you are working on a new way to detect or diagnose cancer earlier, and can show clear potential to improve patient outcomes or healthcare systems, this is a strong opportunity.
Cancer Research UK Early Detection and Diagnosis Primer Award
This competition funds small, early stage research projects focused on improving how cancer is detected and diagnosed. The aim is to support initial ideas by helping teams test feasibility, generate early data, or prove that a concept could work. It is designed to build the foundation for larger future research projects with real clinical impact.
This is a strong fit if you are:
✔️ A UK research organisation exploring early stage cancer detection ideas
✔️ Testing a new concept, tool, or approach for diagnosis
✔️ Running a pilot or feasibility study to generate early data
✔️ An SME supporting with technology, data, or specialist expertise
Should you apply?
If you have an early idea that needs initial validation before scaling into a larger project, this is a strong opportunity.
DASA Conflict Wounds - From Biology to Battlefield Solution
This competition is focused on improving how we understand and treat serious wounds caused in conflict or battlefield environments. It supports projects that either build better models to study how these injuries happen and develop, or create new treatments that can be used quickly after injury in tough, resource-limited settings. The aim is to improve outcomes by enabling earlier, more effective care, even when specialist support is not available.
This is a strong fit if you are:
✔️ Developing medical or biological research tools
✔️ Working on wound care, infection control, or trauma treatment
✔️ Building solutions for use in remote or high pressure environments
✔️ Creating simple treatments that non specialists can use
Should you apply?
If you are working on new ways to understand or treat serious injuries in real world, high pressure situations, especially where early intervention is critical, this is a strong opportunity.
Cancer Research UK Childhood Cancer Therapeutic Catalyst
This competition funds research projects focused on developing new treatments for childhood cancers. The aim is to help move early therapeutic ideas forward by generating the key data needed to support further development, investment, or clinical use. Projects should focus on real treatment solutions and show a clear path towards helping patients.
This is a strong fit if you are:
✔️ A UK research organisation working on childhood cancer treatments
✔️ Developing new therapies such as drugs, biologics, or immunotherapies
✔️ Running preclinical studies to prove a treatment could work
✔️ An SME supporting with technology, drug development, or specialist expertise
Should you apply?
If you are working on a new treatment for childhood cancer and need support to generate the data required to move it closer to real world use, this is a strong opportunity.
Cancer Research UK Discovery Programme Foundation Award
This competition funds long term research programmes that help mid career researchers build independence and lead their own work in cancer research. The aim is to support strong, connected research projects that explore key questions in cancer biology and generate knowledge that can lead to future breakthroughs or larger funding.
This is a strong fit if you are:
✔️ A UK based researcher ready to lead your own cancer research programme
✔️ Working on core cancer biology or early stage scientific questions
✔️ Building a multi year research plan with several linked studies
✔️ An SME supporting with technology, data, or specialist expertise
Should you apply?
If you are ready to step into a leadership role and build a long term research programme in cancer, this is a strong opportunity.
Cancer Research UK Discovery Programme Award
This competition funds large, long term research programmes focused on understanding cancer at a deeper level. The aim is to support ambitious projects that explore how cancer works, helping generate new knowledge that could lead to future breakthroughs in treatment or prevention.
This is a strong fit if you are:
✔️ A UK based researcher leading a major cancer research programme
✔️ Working on core cancer biology or discovery research
✔️ Building a long term, multi study research plan
✔️ An SME supporting with technology, data, or specialist expertise
Should you apply?
If you are leading an ambitious research programme that aims to unlock new understanding of cancer and drive future breakthroughs, this is a strong opportunity.
NIHR i4i PDA
This opportunity supports the development of healthcare technologies that can be used in the NHS or social care. It focuses on helping teams move proven ideas closer to real world use by funding product development, testing, and real world validation. The aim is to reduce risk and make innovations more attractive to buyers, investors, and healthcare providers.
This is a strong fit if you are:
✔️ Developing a medical device, diagnostic, or digital health solution
✔️ Working on a product that already has proof it can work
✔️ Looking to test, validate, or scale a healthcare innovation
✔️ Able to collaborate with at least one other organisation
Should you apply?
If you have a healthcare solution that already shows promise and need funding to develop it further, prove its value in real settings, and move towards NHS adoption and commercial success, this is a strong opportunity.
Cancer Research UK Therapeutic Catalyst
This award supports projects that help turn new cancer treatment ideas into real therapies. The focus is on generating the key data needed to prove a treatment could work, reduce early risk, and move it closer to further funding, partnerships, or commercial development.
This is a strong fit if you are:
✔️ A UK research organisation developing new cancer treatments
✔️ Working on drug discovery, biologics, or immunotherapy
✔️ Generating early proof that a treatment approach could work
✔️ An SME supporting with drug development, platforms, or specialist expertise
Should you apply?
If you have a promising cancer treatment idea and need support to prove it works, reduce risk, and make it ready for further funding or commercial investment, this is a strong opportunity.
NIHR: Early action and prevention within Health and Social Care Services Phase 2
This funding opportunity supports high-quality applied health and social care research focused on early action, prevention, and reducing inequalities at a national level. It aims to generate evidence that improves prevention services, enhances access to community-based care, and reduces hospital admissions. Research should address preventative strategies, early diagnosis, and interventions for those at risk of long-term conditions, demonstrating clear national impact and relevance to the NHS and social care. Areas of interest include improving prevention pathways, integrating preventative approaches, using data to deliver proactive support, and evaluating innovative service models or technologies. There are no specific eligibility restrictions for applicants.
IUK: AI Champions: Frontier AI Phase 1
This opportunity supports UK SMEs developing advanced AI and machine learning solutions that could unlock major improvements or entirely new capabilities. The focus is on proving that your idea works in practice, building early evidence, and showing clear potential to scale into real products or platforms. It is part of a wider funding pathway, meaning successful projects can progress to larger funding rounds.
This is a strong fit if you are:
✔️ Building a new AI or machine learning solution with strong innovation
✔️ Working on areas like healthcare, materials, defence, or core AI systems
✔️ Looking to prove technical feasibility and performance
✔️ Planning to scale your solution into a product or platform
Should you apply?
If you are developing a cutting edge AI solution and want to validate it, demonstrate strong technical performance, and position your business for larger follow on funding and long term growth, this is a strong opportunity.
IUK:Frontier AI Discovery
This opportunity supports very early stage AI ideas, helping teams move from rough concepts to tested solutions. There are two entry points depending on how developed your idea is, either exploring the idea at a very early stage or testing whether it can actually work in practice. The goal is to help shape strong AI innovations and prepare them for further development and larger funding.
This is a strong fit if you are:
✔️ Exploring a new AI idea that is still being shaped
✔️ Testing whether an AI concept is technically possible
✔️ Building early proof that your solution can work
✔️ Looking to move from idea stage into structured development
Should you apply?
If you have an early stage AI idea and want funding to explore it, test feasibility, and build a clear path towards a more developed and scalable solution ready for future funding stages, this is a strong opportunity.
EIC Accelerator OPEN
The EIC Accelerator is a European funding programme under Horizon Europe that supports start-ups and SMEs developing innovative, game-changing products, services, or business models with the potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones. It offers grant funding of up to €2.5 million for innovation activities (TRL 6-8) and equity investments ranging from €0.5 to €10 million, with higher amounts available under the STEP ScaleUp scheme.
EU Horizon Circular bio-based Europe - Open call for proposals
This call, opening on 23 April 2026, aims to accelerate research, innovation, and market uptake of sustainable and circular bio-based solutions across Europe in line with EU Green Deal and bioeconomy priorities. It seeks high-impact, collaborative projects addressing pre-defined topics across the bio-based value chain, from mid-TRL research to large-scale industrial implementation, with clear environmental and scalability benefits. Up to €170.7 million is available in 2026 to support research and innovation actions, innovation actions, and coordination and support actions under the Horizon Europe and CBE JU framework. Eligible applicants include a wide range of European organisations, with consortia required to meet Horizon Europe eligibility rules.
DASA Autonomous Sensor Management and Sensor Counter Deception – Phase 2
The competition seeks innovative proposals that integrate autonomous sensor management with information fusion to detect and counter activities designed to deceive Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations. Proposals should demonstrate both commercial potential and technical feasibility, ideally through collaborative efforts, and provide evidence of all parties’ active involvement. Phase 2 combines the previous phase’s separate challenges into a single integrated solution, requiring demonstration in a relevant environment at Technology Readiness Level 6. Projects are expected to last at least 18 months, with funding available for up to two collaborative initiatives, and while prior participation is not required, collaboration is strongly encouraged.
EIC Pathfinder Challenge
This competition is funding early stage ideas that could create entirely new markets or change how industries work today. It focuses on three areas: new materials for small energy systems, biotech solutions to support healthy ageing, and advanced AI that can reason, learn, and plan more like humans. The goal is to turn bold research ideas into real world applications that improve everyday life, from healthcare to smart cities. Projects should be at an early stage and aim to show clear proof that the idea works, with strong potential to grow into something commercially valuable.
This is a strong fit if you are:
- Developing new materials or energy solutions
- Working on biotech, healthcare, or ageing related innovations
- Building advanced AI systems beyond current models
- A startup, SME, or research team with an early stage idea
Should you apply?
If you are working on a bold, early stage innovation with the potential to shape future markets or solve big global challenges, this is a strong opportunity.
Other grant funding opportunities
DASA Innovation Loan: FY25/26 Cycle 7
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This competition offers loan funding to help UK SMEs bring defence innovations to market. It is designed for companies with more developed technologies that are ready to scale and commercialise. The focus is on supporting businesses that can meet real defence needs while also delivering commercial value in the UK or globally.
This is a strong fit if you are:
✔️ A UK based SME with a defence related innovation
✔️ Ready to commercialise an existing product or technology
✔️ Able to take on a loan and demonstrate how you will repay it
✔️ Building a solution with clear defence and commercial use
Should you apply?
If you have a mature defence innovation and need funding to bring it to market while growing your business, this is a strong opportunity.
IUK:Energy Catalyst Round 11: Mid Stage
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This opportunity supports earlier stage clean energy projects that aim to improve access to affordable, reliable, and low carbon energy in developing countries. The focus is on building and testing innovative solutions that can lead to real world impact, especially in regions like Africa, South Asia, and Latin America.
This is a strong fit if you are:
✔️ Developing clean energy solutions at an earlier stage
✔️ Working on technologies like solar, storage, or smart energy systems
✔️ Looking to test or demonstrate your solution in international markets
✔️ Have partners in developing countries
Should you apply?
If you are developing a clean energy solution and want to test it in real world settings, build strong evidence of impact, and prepare it for future scale and commercial deployment in global markets, this is a strong opportunity.
IUK:Energy Catalyst Round 11: Early Stage
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This opportunity supports early stage ideas focused on improving access to clean, affordable, and reliable energy in developing countries. The aim is to help teams explore feasibility, test concepts, and build early evidence that a solution could work and deliver real social and environmental impact.
This is a strong fit if you are:
✔️ Exploring a new clean energy idea or concept
✔️ Working on early stage solutions like solar, storage, or clean transport
✔️ Looking to test feasibility before full development
✔️ Interested in delivering impact in developing countries
Should you apply?
If you have an early stage clean energy idea and want to test whether it works, build initial evidence, and understand its real world potential before moving into larger development or scale projects, this is a strong opportunity.
IUK:Energy catalyst round 11 late stage
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This opportunity supports projects that are ready to scale clean energy solutions in developing countries. The focus is on real world deployment, testing, and expansion of technologies that can improve access to affordable, reliable, and low carbon energy. Projects should be close to market and able to deliver clear impact at scale, both commercially and socially.
This is a strong fit if you are:
✔️ Developing clean energy solutions ready for real world deployment
✔️ Working on technologies like solar, storage, hydrogen, or clean transport
✔️ Looking to scale your solution in international markets
✔️ Have partners in developing countries
Should you apply?
If you have a near market clean energy solution and want to prove it at scale, expand into global markets, and deliver real impact in developing regions while building a strong commercial case, this is a strong opportunity.
IUK: Semiconductors and components for smart electronic platforms
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This opportunity focuses on developing advanced electronic components that can be used in smart systems for automation and autonomy. The aim is to help businesses create components that are ready to be integrated into real platforms, such as robotics, drones, or industrial systems, and support how these systems sense, make decisions, and act.
This is a strong fit if you are:
✔️ Developing hardware or components for smart or autonomous systems
✔️ Working on AI, sensors, processing, or control technologies
✔️ Building solutions for industrial, robotics, or high performance environments
✔️ Looking to make your technology ready for integration and wider use
Should you apply?
If you are creating a component that can be used in next generation smart systems and want to make it ready for real world integration, adoption by other companies, and commercial use across multiple industries, this is a strong opportunity.
IUK - UK-Germany Collaborative Innovation for Quantum Technologies 2026
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This opportunity supports UK businesses working with German partners to develop and commercialise quantum technologies. The focus is on turning advanced quantum research into real world products, systems, or services across areas like computing, sensing, and hardware. Projects should be collaborative, practical, and clearly aimed at bringing quantum solutions closer to market.
This is a strong fit if you are:
✔️ Developing quantum technologies, software, or hardware
✔️ Looking to commercialise or scale a quantum solution
✔️ Able to collaborate with a German business partner
✔️ Working on real world applications of quantum systems
Should you apply?
If you are building a quantum solution and want to speed up development, access international expertise, and move your technology closer to real commercial use, this is a strong opportunity.
IUK: Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chains: Potential High Growth SMEs
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This opportunity supports UK SMEs working on advanced manufacturing solutions that are close to market but need final development before commercialisation. The focus is on helping businesses strengthen supply chains and bring high growth innovations closer to real world use, with short, practical projects that show clear commercial potential.
This is a strong fit if you are:
✔️ A UK SME developing an advanced manufacturing solution
✔️ Working on a product that is close to market but needs final development
✔️ Looking to strengthen or innovate within supply chains
✔️ Able to deliver a short, focused project with clear outcomes
Should you apply?
If you have a manufacturing innovation with strong growth potential and need quick funding to refine it, prove its value, and move it closer to commercial launch in the UK market, this is a strong opportunity.
IUK - Secure Software for Resilient Growth
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This competition is funding projects that help make software more secure and protect businesses from cyber attacks. The goal is to support companies in building and adopting better security practices across their software supply chains, helping the UK grow safer and more resilient digital systems. Projects should focus on real solutions that improve how software is built, managed, and protected.
This is a strong fit if you are:
✔️ Building cyber security or software protection solutions
✔️ Working on tools that improve secure software development
✔️ Part of a team or partnership working on software or digital systems
✔️ Helping businesses adopt better security practices, including through engagement and training
Should you apply?
If you are developing a solution that improves software security, particularly within the software supply chain, and are aiming to help businesses reduce cyber risk while scaling in the UK market, this represents a strong opportunity.
Eureka EUROGIA CALL30
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This programme supports international projects focused on low carbon energy and sustainability. It brings together companies and research teams from different countries to develop and scale solutions that help reduce emissions, improve energy systems, and support greener industries. Projects should be collaborative and focused on real world applications that can deliver environmental and commercial impact.
This is a strong fit if you are:
✔️ Working on energy, climate, or sustainability solutions
✔️ Developing technologies like hydrogen, renewables, or smart energy systems
✔️ Have at least 2international partners from EUREKA participating countries and beyond
✔️ Building solutions with clear commercial or environmental impact
Should you apply?
If you want to grow your solution through international collaboration, access funding across multiple countries, and bring a low carbon innovation closer to market while solving real world energy challenges, this is a strong opportunity.
DASA - Rapid transfusion diagnostics: optimising safety on deployed operations
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This competition is looking for simple, portable blood testing devices that can be used in military or remote environments where labs are not available. The aim is to make blood transfusions safer by allowing fast, on-the-spot testing for blood type and infections like HIV and Hepatitis, without needing trained specialists. Your solution should be quick, easy to use, and work in tough conditions with very little equipment, using only a small blood sample. Projects should already be at a mid stage of development and can run for up to 24 months, with a focus on practical tools that can be used in real situations.
This is a strong fit if you are:
- Developing medical devices or diagnostic tools
- Working on rapid or point-of-care testing
- Building solutions for harsh or remote environments
- Creating simple tools that non-experts can use
Should you apply?
If you are building a fast and portable testing tool that can be used in real world, high pressure environments, especially in healthcare or defence, this is a strong opportunity.
IUK: Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition 7: Pre-deployment trials
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This opportunity supports projects testing clean maritime technologies before they are deployed in real world conditions. The focus is on developing and trialling solutions on land, such as in factories or dry docks, to reduce emissions in the maritime sector. Projects should show clear potential to cut carbon and prepare technologies for future use on vessels or within port infrastructure.
This is a strong fit if you are:
✔️ Developing clean maritime or shipping technologies
✔️ Working on low or zero emission fuels, energy systems, or vessel upgrades
✔️ Building smart shipping or digital solutions that improve efficiency
✔️ Already have partners including end users like ports or vessel operators
Should you apply?
If you have a maritime innovation that needs real world testing before deployment, and want to prove its impact on reducing emissions while preparing for future commercial use across vessels or ports, this is a strong opportunity.
IUK: Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition 7: Feasibility studies
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This strand focuses on early stage feasibility work for clean maritime solutions. The aim is to help teams explore whether an idea is technically and commercially viable before moving into testing or deployment. Projects are mainly desk based and should build a clear case for future real world use, especially in reducing emissions across maritime operations.
This is a strong fit if you are:
✔️ Exploring a new clean maritime concept or idea
✔️ Assessing feasibility before committing to development or testing
✔️ Working on green shipping, infrastructure, or maritime skills
✔️ Collaborating with partners like ports, operators, or industry bodies
Should you apply?
If you are at an early stage and need to validate your idea, understand costs and impact, and build a strong foundation for future trials, investment, or deployment in the maritime sector, this is a strong opportunity.
IUK: Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition 7: Deployment trials
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This funding call is focused on taking clean maritime technologies into real world use by funding full deployment trials. The aim is to help teams prove their solutions work in live operational environments, such as on vessels or within ports, and show clear impact in reducing emissions. Projects must go beyond testing and demonstrate real performance over a sustained period.
This is a strong fit if you are:
✔️ Ready to deploy a clean maritime solution in real conditions
✔️ Working on low or zero emission vessel or port technologies
✔️ Looking to prove performance through live operational trials
✔️ Partnering with end users like vessel operators or ports
Should you apply?
If you have a mature maritime solution and want to demonstrate it in real world operations, generate strong performance data, and position it for large scale commercial rollout across the industry, this is a strong opportunity.
EU Horzion - Enhancing the Security, Privacy and Robustness of AI Models and Systems (SecureAI)
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This funding topic focuses on improving the security, resilience, and trustworthiness of artificial intelligence systems, particularly those used in cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, and decision-making environments. As AI adoption grows, these systems are becoming increasingly vulnerable to adversarial attacks that manipulate inputs, poison training data, or introduce hidden vulnerabilities.
Projects should develop stronger and more trustworthy AI systems by improving their ability to withstand threats such as adversarial manipulation, data poisoning, and backdoor attacks. This includes creating new defence techniques, real-time detection systems for suspicious behaviour, and tools to identify compromised datasets.
The call aims to develop robust AI systems that can detect, resist, and recover from these threats, while also ensuring sensitive data remains protected.
EIT Urban Mobility Explained (UMX) Open Call
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The Urban Mobility Explained (UMX) Open Call, run by EIT Urban Mobility, funds the development and delivery of professional training and learning services that address urban mobility knowledge gaps and support more liveable cities. It is open to a wide range of organisations across EU Member States and Horizon Europe–associated countries, with projects eligible for up to €700,000 in funding over a maximum of 35 months. Proposals should align with the strategic objectives of the EIT Urban Mobility Academy and demonstrate impact, scalability, and financial sustainability. The call supports a broad range of training-related activities, from course development and commercialisation to scaling successful programmes and providing operational support services.