Contracts for Innovation: industrial human-relevant drug models

Document research last revised 2026-08-24.

Grant Name

Contracts for Innovation: Industrial Human Relevant Drug Models

Delivery Partner

National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) (Innovate UK Business Connect)

Eligible Technologies

Non-animal methods for assessing pre-clinical pharmacokinetics (PK) and cardiovascular safety of new medicines. (Innovation Funding Service)

Research Category

Phase 1 feasibility study research and development (R&D). (Innovation Funding Service)

Competition Structure

Two-phase competition. Funding is awarded only for Phase 1. Successful Phase 1 projects may be invited to apply for Phase 2. (Innovation Funding Service)

Future Phase Funding

Up to £6 million (inclusive of VAT) is expected for a potential Phase 2. Phase 2 contracts may be worth up to £1.5 million (inclusive of VAT) for up to 24 months. (Innovation Funding Service)

Research Themes

Pharmacokinetic studies; Cardiovascular safety. (Innovation Funding Service)

R&D Requirement

At least 50% of the contract value must be spent on R&D services. (Innovation Funding Service)

VAT Rules

Contracts are awarded inclusive of VAT. Applicants enter project costs excluding VAT in the Innovation Funding Service. VAT is added during the application process where applicable. VAT responsibility rests with the invoicing organisation. (Innovation Funding Service)

Intellectual Property

Suppliers retain the intellectual property generated by the project, with certain rights of use retained by the contracting authority. (Innovation Funding Service)

Route to Market Requirement

Projects must demonstrate a credible commercialisation plan and route to market. Primary outputs must be exploited in the UK. (Innovation Funding Service)

Government Targets Supported

Projects should contribute towards reducing dedicated pharmacokinetic studies using dogs or non-human primates by more than 35%, and reducing dedicated cardiovascular safety studies using dogs or non-human primates by more than 50% by 2030. (Innovation Funding Service)

Application Questions

Themes; Animal Testing; Project Summary; Public Description; Scope; Need or Challenge; Approach and Innovation; Team; Market Awareness; Outcomes and Route to Market; Costs; Project Management; Risks. (Innovation Funding Service)

Subsidy Control

Contracts for Innovation competitions procure R&D services and are not subject to subsidy control. The competition is run under the Procurement Act 2023 R&D exemption. (Innovation Funding Service)

Contract Rules

The draft contract is provided within the Innovation Funding Service. Contract terms are non-negotiable. Successful applicants receive a final contract incorporating agreed milestones. (Innovation Funding Service)

Important Notes

This is a closed Phase 1 competition. It has a funding budget of up to £2 million, with individual Phase 1 contracts of up to £200,000 inclusive of VAT. Up to 12 projects are expected to be funded. Phase 2 is a potential separate competition and is not automatically guaranteed. (Innovate UK Business Connect)

Accessibility Support

Applicants may request reasonable adjustments. Innovate UK recommends contacting the support team at least 15 working days before the closing date. (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/contracts-for-innovation-industrial-human-relevant-drug-models/

Competition Page

https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/2396/overview/d55398bb-ff62-43b9-9ee1-bf3fa4b95c5c

Expected Number of Awards

Up to 12 contracts, subject to receiving sufficient high-quality applications and available budget. (Innovate UK Business Connect)

Next Opening Date

Not yet announced

Application Structure

Applications are led by a single organisation/legal entity. Contracts are awarded to a single legal entity. Subcontractors may be used for specialist skills. (Innovate UK Business Connect)

International Participation

Yes. Organisations based in the EU, EEA and internationally can lead projects. However, the majority of project work and key deliverables must be completed by the applicant and carried out in the UK. (UK Research and Innovation)

Eligible Technology Areas

Human-relevant, non-animal approaches including advanced in vitro and in silico methods, combinatorial approaches, organ-on-chip technologies and other approaches capable of improving the accuracy, reliability and scalability of drug testing. (Innovate UK Business Connect)

Project Cost Limit

Total eligible project costs must be no more than £200,000 inclusive of VAT for Phase 1. (Innovation Funding Service)

Phase 1

Technical feasibility studies designed to establish feasibility and lay the groundwork for achieving the intended outcomes in Phase 2.

Phase 2

A potential subsequent phase could provide up to £1.5 million per project, inclusive of VAT, for prototype development and evaluation for up to 24 months. Phase 2 is subject to a separate competition and successful Phase 1 applicants would be invited to apply. (Innovation Funding Service)

Potential Phase 2 Programme Fund

Up to £6 million is expected to be allocated to a potential Phase 2. (Innovation Funding Service)

Commercialisation Requirement

Applicants must demonstrate a practical and credible route to market supported by a clear commercialisation plan and include plans for regulatory engagement where required. (Innovate UK Business Connect)

UK Exploitation Requirement

Applicants must intend to exploit the primary outputs of the projects in the UK. (Innovate UK Business Connect)

Eligible Project Themes

Projects can address pharmacokinetic studies and/or cardiovascular safety. (TBAT)

Objectives

To stimulate the development and adoption of next-generation validated non-animal pharmacokinetic and cardiovascular safety models for drug discovery and development. (Innovate UK Business Connect)

Drug Discovery Objective

To develop approaches that can improve the accuracy, reliability, applicability and scalability of non-animal methods in drug development settings.

Animal Testing Reduction Goals

The programme aims to contribute to more than a 35% reduction in dedicated PK studies using dogs or non-human primates (NHPs) and more than a 50% reduction in dedicated cardiovascular safety studies using dogs or NHPs by 2030. (Innovate UK Business Connect)

Cardiovascular Safety Focus

Projects may improve the accuracy and reliability of combinatorial in silico and in vitro cardiovascular safety assays, address unmet needs in cardiovascular safety, and support integration of alternative methods into standardised frameworks for industry R&D. (Innovate UK Business Connect)

Subcontracting

Subcontractors can be used for specialist skills and expertise. However, the majority of project work and key deliverables must be completed by the lead applicant and carried out in the UK. (Innovate UK Business Connect)

Procurement Nature

This is a procurement of R&D services, rather than a conventional grant. Successful applicants receive a contract to deliver the proposed activity. (Innovation Funding Service)

Future Procurement

Adoption or implementation of a solution developed through this competition would be subject to a separate, potentially competitive, procurement exercise. This competition does not fund the purchase of the resulting solution. (Innovation Funding Service)

Accessibility & Inclusion

Innovate UK encourages applications from people of all backgrounds and provides reasonable adjustments for applicants with disabilities or long-term conditions who face barriers to applying. (Innovation Funding Service)

Next Round / Reopening

No next opening date has been announced by Innovate UK for this competition. Do not add an estimated reopening date.

Application deadline in source document

15 April 2026, 11:00 AM UK time

Official source

Read the funding authority guidance