Advancing Innovation in Drug and Alcohol Addiction Healthcare
Innovate UK. (UK Research and Innovation) · United Kingdom. Project work must be carried out in the UK and project results must be exploited from or in the UK. (Innovation Funding Service)
Grant funding for collaborative UK projects to advance pharmaceutical, digital and MedTech solutions that improve treatment outcomes, recovery, and prevention of harm and deaths linked to drug and alcohol addiction. Delivered under the Office for Life Sciences (OLS) Addiction Healthcare Goals (AHG) programme through Innovate UK. (UK Research and Innovation)
Summary
Deadline
6 May 2026
Updated
16 Oct 2026
Grant funding for collaborative UK projects to advance pharmaceutical, digital and MedTech solutions that improve treatment outcomes, recovery, and prevention of harm and deaths linked to drug and alcohol addiction. Delivered under the Office for Life Sciences (OLS) Addiction Healthcare Goals (AHG) programme through Innovate UK. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligibility
Applicant types
See eligibility requirements
Industries
Pharmaceuticals, MedTech and Digital Health. (Innovation Funding Service)
Match funding
Applicants must provide match funding for eligible project costs not covered by the grant. (Innovation Funding Service)
Eligible applicants
Lead applicant must be a UK registered business of any size. Collaborators may include UK registered businesses, academic institutions, charities, not-for-profit organisations, public sector organisations (including NHS bodies and Local Authorities) and research and technology organisations (RTOs). Academic institutions and RTOs cannot lead. (Innovation Funding Service)
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
Grant funding request is limited to £3,000,000 per business per project. (Innovation Funding Service)+
Total fund available
Share of £20,000,000 across two Addiction Healthcare Goals competitions. (Innovation Funding Service)
Funding intensity
Up to 70% for micro and small organisations, 60% for medium organisations and 50% for large organisations. Research organisations undertaking non-economic activity may receive up to 100% of eligible costs, while academic institutions receive 80% Full Economic Cost (FEC). (Innovation Funding Service)
Payment type
Not specified
Eligible scope
Projects must progress innovative pharmaceutical, digital or MedTech interventions that improve treatment outcomes, enhance recovery, and reduce harm and deaths from illicit drug or alcohol addiction. By project completion innovations should achieve TRL 8 or 9, demonstrate market readiness and have regulatory approval or a clear pathway towards approval. (Innovation Funding Service)
Eligible expenses
- Eligible project costs under Innovate UK rules, including labour, overheads, materials, subcontracting, equipment, travel where justified and regulatory approval costs (including MHRA and NICE where applicable). (Innovation Funding Service)
Ineligible costs
Not specified
Application and risks
Application platform
Innovation Funding Service (IFS). (Innovation Funding Service)
Competitiveness
Innovate UK estimates an approximate 30% success rate based on similar competitions. (Innovation Funding Service)
Decision timeline
Applicants notified by 28 August 2026. (Innovation Funding Service)
Assessment process
Five independent assessors review eligible applications. Shortlisted applicants are invited to interview. Final funding decisions follow Innovate UK's portfolio approach. (Innovation Funding Service)
Application sections
- Project Details, Application Questions, Finances and Project Impact. (Innovation Funding Service)
Application components
Not specified
Required documents
- Permitted appendices include project plan (Gantt chart), project summary appendix, financial appendix, spend profile template and risk register where requested. (Innovation Funding Service)
Appendices
Not specified
Assessment criteria
Not specified
Decision risks
Funding decisions follow Innovate UK's portfolio approach. High-scoring projects may not be funded due to portfolio balance. Outstanding financial obligations or previous grant compliance issues may affect funding decisions. (Innovation Funding Service)
Timeline and partners
Opening date
16 Feb 2026
Project duration
24 to 36 months. (Innovation Funding Service)
Project start
1 Dec 2026
Project end
30 Nov 2029
Co-funders
- Office for Life Sciences (OLS). (Innovation Funding Service)
Collaboration rules
- Collaboration is mandatory. Projects must include at least one UK registered business and one additional UK registered collaborating organisation requesting funding. No single partner may account for more than 70% of total eligible project costs. (Innovation Funding Service)
Consortium requirements
Not specified
Additional guidance
Document research last revised 2026-07-30.
Grant Name
Advancing Innovation in Drug and Alcohol Addiction Healthcare
Minimum Award
Total eligible project costs must normally be at least £250,000. For MedTech and digital projects costs are normally between £250,000 and £7 million; for pharmaceutical projects £250,000 to £10 million. Justified exceptions may be considered. (Innovation Funding Service)
Application Limit
A business may lead one application and collaborate in any number of additional applications. (Innovation Funding Service)
Research Category
Industrial research only. (Innovation Funding Service)
Substances in Scope
Illicit drugs (including cocaine and methamphetamine), cannabis, GHB, ketamine, benzodiazepines and alcohol addiction. (Innovation Funding Service)
Subcontracting
Allowed where justified. Lower cost alone is not considered sufficient justification. (Innovation Funding Service)
Subsidy Scheme
Awarded under the Research, Development and Innovation Streamlined Subsidy Scheme under the Subsidy Control Act 2022. The award is not part of Minimal Financial Assistance or de minimis allowance. (Innovation Funding Service)
Sanctions Rule
Funding will not be awarded where it would breach UK sanctions. (Innovation Funding Service)
Animal Research Rule
Projects involving animal research must comply with UKRI animal welfare guidance and relevant legislation. (Innovation Funding Service)
Interview Stage
Interviews are scheduled between 20 July and 24 July 2026. (Innovation Funding Service)
Key Requirements
Projects must engage people with lived experience where appropriate, demonstrate a credible regulatory pathway, commercialisation strategy, market readiness, UK adoption plan, and alignment with the Addiction Healthcare Goals programme objectives. (Innovation Funding Service)
Important Notes
Applicants may apply to only one Addiction Healthcare Goals funding strand with the same project. Projects must not start before the Grant Offer Letter is approved. Funding is subject to receipt of sufficient high-quality applications. (Innovation Funding Service)
Contact Email
support@iuk.ukri.org. (Innovation Funding Service)
Contact Telephone
0300 321 4357. (Innovation Funding Service)
Official Grant Page
https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/advancing-innovation-in-drug-and-alcohol-addiction-healthcare/ (UK Research and Innovation)
Competition Page
https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/2394/overview/33b56af8-353f-46ac-bb66-a0928731c0fc (Innovation Funding Service)
Application deadline in source document
6 May 2026 at 11:00am UK time. (UK Research and Innovation)
Official source
Quick facts
- Status
- Closed
- Deadline
- 6 May 2026
- Funding amount
- Grant funding request is limited to £3,000,000 per business per project. (Innovation Funding Service)+
- Funding band
- Not specified
- Funding type
- Grant. (UK Research and Innovation)
- Payment type
- Not specified
- Audience
- See eligibility requirements
- Industry
- Pharmaceuticals, MedTech and Digital Health. (Innovation Funding Service)
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Published
- 12 Feb 2026