Grow Your Idea: Pump Prime Funding Competition

Are you a researcher developing a medical technology at one of the Grow MedTech partner Universities? Could you benefit from pump prime funding and innovation support to de–risk and advance the development of your technology towards commercialisation and clinical application?  

Overview 

Grow MedTech is inviting applications for up to £10,000 to support the development of a commercially inspired medical technology innovation, through our Pump Prime Funding Competition. 

Successful shortlisted applicants will have the opportunity to pitch their proposal at the Grow MedTech Annual Conference on 6 December 2019 in a “Dragons’ Den” style session where a panel of experts, patient representatives and audience votes will decide which project is funded.  

Download an application form

Eligibility 

Grow MedTech supports the development of medical devices, materials and software but does not support the development and discovery of pharmaceuticals.  

Applications are invited from researcher (post-doctoral to professorial level) led teams who are based at one of the six Grow MedTech partner universities: University of Bradford, University of Huddersfield, Leeds Beckett University, University of Leeds, Sheffield Hallam University and the University of York. If you are applying as a postdoctoral researcher you will need the approval and signature of your academic supervisor. 

This call does not directly fund industry/commercial organisations. However, proposals from University partners which demonstrate evidence of an industry-defined market need and projects with industry partner contribution are encouraged.   

This award is not intended to support basic research. 

Register to attend
Growing MedTech Translation 2019

Eligible costs

✔ Research support/technical staff time (directly incurred staff costs) 

✔ Early stage prototype development 

✔ Consumables 

✔ Travel expenses if proportionate and key to the development of the technology 

✔ Regulatory pathway guidance 

✔ IP landscaping and advice on IP protection 

✔ Market, opportunity and competitor analysis 

✔ Developing technology road maps and routes to commercialisation 

✔ Patient, carer, and public consultation workshops to identify and validate the need for a project or technology 

✔ Clinical consultation workshops with clinicians and healthcare professionals to validate the need for a project or technology 

Ineligible costs 

✖ Indirect or directly allocated staff costs (i.e. tenured academic staff) will not be funded 

✖ Costs relating to staff recruitment and relocation costs  

✖ Personal license fees and home office license  

✖ Funding to provide maintenance of equipment  

✖ Capital IT equipment and office stationery costs  

✖ Support for intellectual property protection, exploitation or freedom to operate reviews. 

✖ Grow MedTech will not directly fund industry/commercial organisations 

Budget & project duration

  • Up to £10,000 
  • 6-month duration (projects must be completed by 31st December 2020) 

How to apply and assessment process 

Apply using the application form. Completed application forms should be emailed to info@growmed.tech by 4pm Friday 11 Oct 2019 for shortlisting by the Grow MedTech Technology Innovation Management team.  

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to pitch their proposal at the Grow MedTech Annual Conference on 6 December 2019 in a “Dragons’ Den” style session where a panel of experts, patient representatives and audience votes will decide which project is funded. 

Expectations 

Awardees will be expected to work closely with a Grow MedTech Technology Innovation Manager throughout the duration of their project including providing a detailed project plan, monthly updates and an end of project report. 

You may also be required to present on the project at Grow MedTech events or as a written case study. 

Important dates 

  • Competition opens: Monday 9 September 2019  
  • Submission deadline for application form: 4pm Fri 11 Oct 2019 
  • Shortlisting notification to applicants: by Friday 1 November 2019 
  • Submission deadline for pitch slides from shortlisted applicants: 4pm Monday 2 December 2019 
  • Pitching at Growing MedTech Translation Annual Conference: Friday 6 December 2019