Contracts for Innovation Indust

Appendices Allowed: Technical appendix PDF up to two A4 pages. Project plan or Gantt chart PDF up to two A4 pages. Optional cost appendix spreadsheet PDF.

Application Platform: Innovation Funding Service

Application Sections: Project details. Application questions. Finances. Project Impact.

Assessment Process: Reviewed by three independent assessors. All scores count toward funding decision. Portfolio approach applied.

Collaboration Rules: Applicant may use subcontractors for specialist skills. Majority of work and key deliverables must be completed by the applicant.

Contract Rules: Draft contract terms are non negotiable. Project must not start before contract approval. Failure to complete project setup within 30 days may result in withdrawal.

Decision Risks: High volume of applications expected. Maximum of 12 contracts expected. Portfolio approach may limit awards. Outstanding payments to Innovate UK may influence decision.

Delivery Partner: National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research

Eligible Expenses: Eligible project costs up to £200,000 inclusive of VAT. Overheads permitted. Costs must reflect fair market value and exclude profit.

Eligible Scope: Development of new or improved non animal approaches for PK and cardiovascular safety studies. Must support reduction targets in animal use by 2030. Must demonstrate feasibility and groundwork for Phase 2.

Future Phase Funding: Up to £6,000,000 inclusive of VAT expected for Phase 2. Phase 2 contracts up to £1,500,000 inclusive of VAT.

Government Targets Alignment: Must contribute to reduction of more than 35 percent of dedicated PK studies using dogs or NHPs and more than 50 percent reduction in cardiovascular safety studies using dogs or NHPs by 2030.

Important Notes: Competition subject to sufficient high quality applications. Funding allocations may be adjusted. Funding may be withdrawn under exceptional circumstances. Adoption of solution subject to separate procurement exercise.

Ineligible Projects: Projects not original. Projects generating novel in vivo data during Phase 1. Projects focused solely on refinement of in vivo models. Projects not intending UK exploitation. Projects duplicating existing government funded initiatives.

Ineligible R&D Activities: Quantity production. Commercial supply to recover R&D costs. Incremental adaptations of existing products.

Intellectual Property: Applicant retains foreground and background IP. Must grant certain royalty free licences to the funder.

Payment Structure: Monthly payments in arrears against completed milestones. No advance payments. Invoices must be submitted within 30 days of each monitoring period.

Phase Structure: Two phase competition. Contracts awarded only for Phase 1. Only successful Phase 1 applicants invited to apply for Phase 2.

Project Duration: Six to nine months

Project End Date: Must end by 31 March 2027

Project Start Date: Must start by 1 July 2026

R&D Requirement: At least 50 percent of contract value must be directly attributed to R&D services.

Renewal Rules: Only Phase 1 successful applicants may apply to Phase 2. Phase 2 funding not guaranteed.

Research Category: Phase 1 technical feasibility study

Route to Market Requirement: Must demonstrate credible commercialisation plan and route to market. Must intend to exploit outputs in the UK.

Specific Themes: Pharmacokinetic studies. Cardiovascular safety.

Subsidy Control: Not subject to subsidy control. Procurement under the Procurement Act 2023 R&D exemption.

Total Fund Available: Up to £2,000,000 inclusive of VAT for Phase 1

VAT Rules: VAT status must be declared. Total eligible project costs inclusive of VAT must not exceed £200,000. VAT is responsibility of invoicing business.