NHS Cancer Programme – Innovation Open Call 4

What funding is available?

To address different stages of innovation maturity, and distinct barriers to adoption, the competition will support two complementary funding models:

Funding Model 1

Real‑World Implementation and Evaluation Fund

• Eligibility: Application is open to single organisations based in the UK or EU from the private, public and third sectors, that have a demonstratable partnership with an NHS organisation in England and an independent evaluation partner. Additional engagement with Cancer Alliances and/or Health Innovation Networks is strongly encouraged.
• Amount: Projects will be 100% funded up to the total value of £3M (excluding VAT) over a maximum of 24 months
• Aim: Funding to support the real world deployment and independent evaluation of market ready innovations across multiple NHS sites, in England. This model represents a continuation of the programme’s established and proven approach to generating robust service, patient, and health economic evidence to inform commissioning decisions.

Funding Model 2

Innovation Spread Fund

• Eligibility: Application is open to Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) or Cancer Alliances (through their host legal entity) based in England as the lead applicant organisation. The programme will accept a maximum of one application per Cancer Alliance region.
• Amount: Projects will be funded up to the total value of £5M (excluding VAT) over the first 24 months of a maximum 36 month project.
• Aim: Funding to support the spread and embedding of mature innovations across multiple sites within at least one Cancer Alliance that have already independently measured and demonstrated positive patient outcomes and a favourable cost benefit or cost effectiveness profile across multiple sites in England. This model is designed to “fund the change as well as the tech”, which is often crucial to enable the effective adoption and spread of proven innovations. This will be through an outcomes-based, matched funding agreement with Integrated Care Boards.