From good to great: What makes a great innovation funding proposal

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Funding applications can be daunting, whether it is for large or small sums of money. And they can make or break a project. Our Opportunity Management Panel answer questions on what takes an innovation funding proposal from good to great.

These are bite-sized, digestible chapters, taken as live recordings from our annual conference, ‘Collaborating for a competitive future’ held on 28-29 April 2021.

1. Introducing our Opportunity Management Panel members:

To view the full transcripts, visit our fully accessible webpage.

2. What stands out as a strong funding proposal?

3. What makes a good funding proposal in the eyes of a lay audience or public/patient reviewer?

4. What is your advice to research groups struggling to find a relevant patient involvement group?

5. What tips and pointers would you give to researchers that are not familiar with the regulatory pathway?

6. How much of an understanding of the clinical pathway for technologies is required for proposals?

7. When do commercial partners become important in a proposal?

To view the full transcripts, visit our fully accessible webpage.

Call for project definitions: Technology (proof of concept) and clinical evidence projects

Comments Off on Call for project definitions: Technology (proof of concept) and clinical evidence projects

Medical Technologies in the Leeds City Region: Driving economic growth, improving health and care – Strength in Places Fund

In July 2018, an expression of interest led by Professor John Fisher was submitted on Medical Technologies in the Leeds City Region: Driving economic growth, improving health and care to UK Research & Innovation’s Strength in Places Fund.  The expression of interest has been awarded early stage funding to develop a full proposal – to be submitted to UK Research and Innovation by 18 September 2019. 

If successful, the programme will attract £18M UKRI funding into the region.  Funding will be available for technology proof of concept projects and clinical evidence projects. 

We are now inviting ideas to define the first 50% of projects to be funded.

All projects must be based on:

*30% micro and small companies, 50% medium and large companies (in-kind and direct cash)

Deadline: 17:00 on 21 June 2019

Eligibility: SIPF is a place-based fund. All partners must be based in the Leeds City Region.


Technology (proof of concept) projects

Indicative amount: £100k – £400k per project (including match)


(Pre-CE mark) clinical evidence projects

Up to £1M per project (including match)


If we are successful, SIPF funding will be available at 80% FEC – with 20% contribution from university or public health partner.

Projects can be industry or academic-led.  Industry-led projects should demonstrate a clear product develop strategy supporting company growth.  Academic-led projects should demonstrate underpinning discovery science attracting substantial grant funding.  Collaboration between academics and industry is essential.

Note: While we strongly encourage industry-led projects for both Technology (proof of concept) and Clinical Evidence, companies cannot be awarded funding as part of this programme. For Technology (proof of concept) projects, funds will flow directly to university partners. For Clinical Evidence projects, funds will flow directly to clinical partners.


How to submit a project definition

Deadline: 17:00 on 21 June 2019

You will need to complete and submit the relevant expression of interest form.  IMPORTANT: do not disclose commercially sensitive information at this stage.

Download the POC application form

Download clinical evidence application form

Completed forms should be submitted to: hello@translate-medtech.ac.uk

If you would like to discuss your project prior to submitting an expression of interest, contact: G.Howling@leeds.ac.uk


What happens next?

All expressions of interest will be reviewed to assess whether they fit within the scope of the programme. We will work with companies and academics submitting the most promising expressions of interest to develop full project proposals ahead of the final Strength in Places Fund announcement. These projects will be funded if we are successful in our Strength in Places Fund bid.

If successful, we expect the programme to start in April 2020.

Vacancy: Technology Innovation Officer in Medical Technologies

Comments Off on Vacancy: Technology Innovation Officer in Medical Technologies

Do you have a proven track record of progressing research in medical technologies towards clinical and commercial application? Do you have excellent project management skills? Are you keen to help drive forward the University’s ambitious plans for growth in this area?

The Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering has significant capabilities that support the development of new medical technologies and these are united under a single gateway – Medical Technologies at the University of Leeds.

Medical Technologies encompasses a portfolio of research and innovation programmes and projects: the Medical Technologies Innovation and Knowledge CentreMeDe Innovation (EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Medical Devices); Grow MedTech and Translate, hosted by the Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering at Leeds. The programmes and their underpinning research have grown and sustained a critical mass of medical technologies research and innovation excellence. As a key member of this team, you will contribute towards shaping the strategic research direction of Medical Technologies to maximise research impact and external income.

Holding (or shortly to be awarded) both a PhD and a Bachelors or Masters degree in a medical technologies- relevant discipline, you will have experience of innovation and translating medical technologies research towards a commercial product.  Working with the Medical Technologies Innovation Team and reporting to the Senior Technology Innovation Manager, you will work with academics from the University of Leeds and universities across the UK to help shape the translation of their research into commercial products that will benefit patients.

To explore the post further, visit the University of Leeds recruitment page.

We are hiring: Business Development Executive (Health & Digital Medical Technologies)

Comments Off on We are hiring: Business Development Executive (Health & Digital Medical Technologies)

We are recruiting a Business Development Executive to join our Business Development Team at Leeds Beckett University.  This role will focus on support of the Grow MedTech partnership which is a collaborative initiative involving 6 Yorkshire Universities and has been created to enhance productivity and economic growth in the UK medtech sector, addressing the evolving health needs of the population.

Candidates should have experience in supporting the commercial development of collaborative project development preferably in either a clinical bioscience or digital setting. A working knowledge of IP protection and exploitation and a demonstrable ability to support in coordinating collaborative project development and funding applications are also required.  A clear record of successful project management and delivery in collaborative programmes is essential.

In this exciting new role, based at Leeds Beckett University, you will work closely with academics, the NHS, medical technology companies and the team of Technology Innovation Managers across a wide university partnership to assist new opportunities to progress to the commercial market.

Opportunities are expected to arise from the areas of key medical technology which include implantable devices, imaging and diagnostics, rehabilitation and assistive technology, surgical and medical equipment, wound-care and infection control, digital health, ICT and E-health and evaluative and enabling technologies.

The post will be positioned within the Business Development Team within the Research & Enterprise Service.

Closing date: 3 December 2018 (Midnight)

Interviews will take place in early January 2019.

To arrange an informal discussion about this post, please contact Dr Julian Sorrell at j.a.sorrell@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

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