Funding for virtual networks of expertise in regulatory science

Innovate UK will invest up to £7.5 million, up to 2025, to support the creation of Regulatory Science and Innovation Networks across the UK

This competition aims to support the development of proposals for virtual networks of expertise in regulatory science that generate research-based evidence and insights.

Innovate UK define 'regulatory science' as the science of developing new tools and approaches that:

• enhance regulatory decision-making across product lifecycles (such as approvals, ongoing safety and performance monitoring)
• support policymaking that enables agile and proportionate regulation in response to innovation

This investment aims to give organisations the capacity to collaborate in developing new tools, data sets and approaches that lead to the development of policies that best promote innovation.

This is phase one of a two-phase competition; the second phase will cover implementation. At this discovery phase, Innovate UK will support projects to:

• build relationships
• complete background information and data gathering
• develop a proposal for the Implementation phase

Only successful applicants at this discovery phase will be invited to apply for the implementation phase.

This competition is open to collaborations only. To lead a project, your organisation must be a UK-registered:

• business of any size
• academic institution
• research and technology organisation
• charity
• not for profit

Your collaboration's total grant funding request for the discovery phase must be no more than £50,000. Your total project costs will be 100% funded.

Innovate UK will fund up to 30 initial collaborative innovation projects in this discovery phase competition.

For more information, watch a recording of Innovate UK's online briefing for potential applicants.

First published 20 December 2023