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Grow MedTech has launched a video series for researchers and academics on developing stronger innovation funding proposals.

‘From good to great: What makes a great innovation funding proposal’ features advice from the programme’s Opportunity Management Panel (OMP), a group of industry and innovation professionals and patient and public representatives that have been responsible for reviewing funding applications to Grow MedTech over the past three years.

In the videos, which are free to view, the OMP offer insights and recommendations for best practice when researchers and academics hope to develop technologies for commercialisation and patient benefit.

The videos cover some of the trickiest areas when it comes to preparing funding applications for technologies that are fit for purpose – such as the level of understanding required of the regulatory and clinical pathway, importance of commercial partners in the bid, and finding relevant patient and public involvement groups, along with more broad advice on what stands out as a strong proposal.

The videos are taken from recordings made during a question and answer panel session with the OMP at the Grow MedTech annual conference in April 2021.

Dr Sean Clarkson, Head of Strategic Operations at Yorkshire and Humber AHSN and a member of the Grow MedTech Opportunity Management Panel who has contributed to the production of these videos, said: “Grow MedTech’s videos offer clear, simple, and practical advice to academics and knowledge exchange practitioners who are involved in the development and commercialisation of medical technologies.  They are a helpful contribution to the medtech innovation community and form an important part of the package of support which innovators often need to help navigate the complex medical technology innovation landscape.”

Dr Josephine Dixon-Hardy, Director of Grow MedTech and host of the video content, said: Funding applications can be daunting, whether it is for large or small sums of money. And they can make or break a project. As we came towards the end of the Grow MedTech programme, we wanted to share some of what we’d learnt over the course of the programmes to help our community continue to develop strong proposals for their technologies. The videos should help in providing some guidance.”

To watch the videos visit the Grow MedTech website.

About Grow MedTech

Grow MedTech has been a major UK programme providing specialist support for innovation in medical technologies, involving a consortium of six universities across the Leeds and Sheffield City Regions. Our sector-specialist innovation support has helped to put these regions at the forefront of the UK’s medtech sector.

We have acted as partnership brokers, proactively connecting people from academia, industry and clinical practice to collaborate on developing new medical technologies. Our six, skilled and experienced technology innovation managers were based in our partner universities, but worked collectively as a team, connecting with academics, companies and clinicians from across the regions. Our ambition has been to involve patients at every stage of the journey.

We have provided funding for technologies from initial concepts at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2 and 3 through to proof of commercial concept at TRL 5. We have also provided support for projects at TLR 5+. More importantly, academics and companies have been able access sector-specialist expertise and advice to help them progress their technologies, create effective partnerships and leverage additional funding from other sources. We have helped projects bring together different disciplines and technologies – including digital and AI – to enable our partners to access the strongest market opportunities.

Grow MedTech was a collaboration between the Universities of Bradford, Huddersfield, Leeds Beckett, Sheffield Hallam and York, led by the University of Leeds and funded through the Research England Connecting Capability Fund. Our track record in successful innovation support has been well proven and our model and processes can be used as good practice in other sectors and regions.