Department announces £7.5m boost to precision medicine sector

Northern Ireland’s precision medicine sector has been chosen to receive £7.5 million Launchpad funding.

Northern Ireland’s precision medicine sector cluster has been chosen to receive £7.5 million Innovate UK Launchpad funding.

The Launchpad programme is funded by Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). It is designed to build on innovation clusters around the UK that have significant growth potential and to deliver jobs, growth, and higher productivity, supporting the Government’s levelling-up agenda. 

This Launchpad will provide welcome innovation funding, support, and networking opportunities to help Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Northern Ireland’s growing life and health science sector to innovate, grow and scale their businesses in projects focused on precision medicine.

Kerry Curran, Director of GB & EU Trade in the Department for the Economy said:

“The Department is delighted with the announcement of Innovate UK Launchpad funding for Northern Ireland’s trial blazing precision medicine sector.

”Life and Health Science, including our highly innovative precision medicine cluster, is an area the Department is also prioritising through its 10X Economy Vision, and this Launchpad represents a further endorsement of the world-leading growth potential of precision medicine, and indeed life and health science, in Northern Ireland. The Department looks forward to working with partners across the life and health science ecosystem to maximise the benefits and harness the growth potential of this opportunity.”

Under the programme, Northern Ireland based SMEs can apply for competitive grant funding, starting from £15,000, with up to £1 million for projects that provide exceptional impact to the region.  Businesses must be active or growing their work activities in the areas of precision medicine including diagnostics, med-tech, digital or therapeutics, centred in Northern Ireland. 

The competition opens on 30 October, with an application link to be available after this date at the following webpage: Launchpads - Innovate UK KTN (ktn-uk.org). SMEs are invited to sign up for a competition briefing event on 10 November (2:00 - 4:30 pm) at the Waterfoot Hotel in Derry-Londonderry. To sign up and find out more, visit: Launchpad Information and Networking Session Tickets, Fri 10 Nov 2023 at 14:00 | Eventbrite

Notes to editors: 

1. Photo caption: Northern Ireland’s precision medicine sector cluster has been chosen to receive £7.5 million Innovate UK Launchpad funding. This funding will provide welcome innovation funding, support, and networking opportunities to help Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Northern Ireland’s growing life and health science sector to innovate, grow and scale their businesses in projects focused on precision medicine. Pictured are Kerry Curran, Director of GB & EU Trade in the Department for the Economy, Brendan McGuigan, Head of Life Sciences at Invest NI, Joann Rhodes CEO of Health Innovation Research Alliance.
2. The Northern Ireland precision medicine Launchpad bid was developed jointly by HIRANI, InvestNI and all eleven local councils along with Innovate UK and has been tailored to the region’s needs and circumstances.
3. DfE is presently conducting a public consultation on plans for technologies and clusters, include life and health science, as part of its 10X Economy Vision. Consultation documents can be accessed on the Department’s website at Approach to 10x technologies and clusters consultation
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