Innovate UK on behalf of the Office for Life Sciences Addiction Healthcare Goals programme are investing a share of £20 million across the two competitions. These calls aim to advance development of pharmaceutical, digital and MedTech tools to improve treatment recovery and prevention of harm and deaths from drug and alcohol addictions.
Contracts for Innovation in drug and alcohol addiction healthcare
The competition supports the development of pharmaceutical, MedTech and digital treatments for drug and alcohol addiction, recovery, and harm prevention. Funding is from the Office of Life Science.
Funding is targeted for support of development of innovations with the potential to demonstrate initial efficacy and UK market fit by the end of the project through achieving:
- Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 or 7
- Establish user acceptability and fit in relevant UK settings.
- Complete business plan and clear pathway for securing relevant Intellectual Property, regulatory and certification requirements.
Projects must have a total eligible cost of between £200,000 and £1.5 million per project. Projects last up to 24 months and start on 1st October 2026 and end by 30th September 2028.
Competition deadline: 6th May 2026
Advancing Innovation in drug and alcohol addiction healthcare
This competition is to progress innovations that improve treatment outcomes, reduce harm, enhance recovery and death in drug and alcohol addiction healthcare. Funding is for pharmaceutical, MedTech and digital interventions that show real world effectiveness and progress towards UK market use.
By the end of the funded project innovations should have achieved:
- Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 8 or 9
- Necessary regulatory approvals and certification, or work already underway to get them
- Full market readiness analysis and clear plans for manufacturing and UK rollout
Projects must have a total eligible cost of between £250,000 and £10 million for MedTech, pharmaceutical or digital intervention. Projects last between 24 and 36 months and start on 1st December 2026 and end by 30th November 2029.
Competition deadline: 6th May 2026
