Interested in applying for the Northern Ireland Life and Health Sciences Launchpad?
About the Northern Ireland Life and Health Sciences Launchpad
The Northern Ireland life and health sciences Launchpad is a £7.5 million fund which Innovate UK has ringfenced for life and health sciences projects in Northern Ireland.
The aim of the Launchpad is to accelerate life and health science innovation projects led by businesses, with the impact generating economic growth in the life sciences innovation cluster centred in Northern Ireland.
The Northern Ireland Life and Health Sciences Launchpad is promoted by Invest NI working with Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland (HIRANI), the Department for the Economy, the Northern Ireland Office and other local partners.
Innovate UK distributes the funding through a competitive call process.
The application window opens on Monday 20 October and closes at 11:00am on Wednesday 26 November 2025.
How can my business benefit from the Northern Ireland Life and Health Sciences Launchpad?
Successful companies could receive funding to develop innovation projects between £25k and £100k. The funding will support outstanding innovation projects led by businesses growing their innovation activities in the life and health sciences cluster in Northern Ireland.
Who can apply for the Northern Ireland Life and Health Sciences Launchpad?
The Northern Ireland Life and Health Sciences Launchpad is open to all businesses in Northern Ireland in the life and health sciences sector that meet the eligibility criteria.
To apply for assistance companies must:
- Be a UK registered micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME)
- Be growing their innovation activities in the life and health sciences innovation cluster in Northern Ireland
- Have a demonstrable ambition for business growth
What projects are eligible for the Northern Ireland Life and Health Sciences Launchpad?
Under the Northern Ireland Life and Health Sciences Launchpad, companies can apply for funding for projects focusing on a range of subjects including:
- Diagnostics, therapeutics and biomarkers
- Data, digital and medical devices
- Innovations in health service delivery
- Artificial intelligence, machine learning, quantum
- Advanced therapies, novel formulation or delivery
- Regulation or ethics
- Supporting innovation in skills development
This list is not exhaustive.
Project summary
Project type | Funding request | Project length | Start date | End date |
Single company projects | £25,000 - £100,000 | 6 – 12 months | From 1 April 2026 | By 31 March 2027 |
Innovate UK National Launchpad competition briefing
An online briefing event will be held on Thursday 23 October at 13:00.
Briefing slides will be available to download here after the event.
Information sessions
We are hosting regional clinics in Derry~Londonderry and Belfast on Tuesday 28 October. These sessions are designed to:
- Explore your project idea in detail
- Provide tailored guidance on eligibility and scope
- Help shape strong applications aligned with the Launchpad objectives
Whether you're at concept stage or refining a proposal, we encourage you to book a slot to discuss your plans with our advisory team.
Register for the Derry~Londonderry clinic click here
Register for the Belfast clinic here.
Invest NI’s Bid Review Service offers expert support to Northern Ireland businesses applying for Innovate UK funding. The service provides detailed feedback on draft applications to help improve their quality and boost competitiveness. To find out more, contact bidreviewservice@investni.com.
How to apply?
Interested companies must complete their application online on the Innovate UK Innovation Funding Service Platform