Funding Opportunities

Take a look at the 2026 Innovation Hubs funding opportunities.

Business Interaction Vouchers, Feasibility/Proof of Concept and Flexible Mobility Awards.

Business Interactive Voucher (BIV) Funding Calls

Business Interactive Vouchers Offer

Up to 9 months & £50,000

The vouchers will help resource small, confidence-building activities between an academic partner and industry-based partner(s) that are likely to:

– Instigate an interaction
– Test the potential for a substantive interaction
– Lead to new research technology transfer projects

Feasibility/Proof of Concept (PoC) Awards

Feasibility/Proof of Concept Awards offer

Up to 12 months & £100,000

The awards will help pump-prime collaborative research projects of industrial relevance that could lead to a:

– Longer term relationship
– Route to commercial translation
– Clear potential for further funding
– New research technology transfer projects

i-NutriLife Hub

Deadline: Friday 13 November (5pm)

Business Interaction Vouchers only. Applications can be made in relation to any part of the lifecourse but our priority areas remain :

preconception;
pregnancy and early life;
perimenopausal health and well-being;
older age.

In awarding funds, we will prioritise projects lead by ECRs, projects involving SMEs, and projects with a financial contribution from industry.

Find out more

INFORM Hub

Deadline: Tuesday 22 December 2026

Funding streams available: Business Interaction Vouchers

Focus: Gut Health, Functional Foods, and the Microbiome

Project proposals should focus on developing functional foods that target the microbial community, metabolites, or functional end products.

Research Priorities & Themes:

Functional Foods in Exercise and Sports Performance
Recovery from Illness and Infection
Mental Health and Cognitive Well-being
Managing Menopause & Women’s Health

Applications must include timescales which do not extend beyond October 2027

Find out more

STAR Hub

Deadline: Friday 27 November 2026

Funding streams available: Feasibility Awards and Business Interaction Vouchers

Applications should align with one or more of the four challenge areas:

The role of polyphenols in maintaining metabolic, cognitive and mental health
Action on fibre and resistant starch
Nutritional adequacy of alternative, sustainable proteins across the lifespan
Improving the nutritional, health and sustainability profile of plant/fungi-based foods to address micronutrient deficiency

Projects must be delivered within the first nine months of 2027 (by 15 September 2027), giving a delivery window of approximately six months.

Find out more

Funding Opportunities and More

The OIRC hubs have funded over 90 projects that aim to improve diet and health.

Find out more about funding opportunities and more. Sign up to become a hub member today.

Flexible Mobility Awards

To support mobility between academia and industry; Early Career Researchers wanting to explore working in industry, or industry staff wanting to gain experience in a public research organisation.

Up to £100k per placement
Up to 9 months
Applications reviewed every 2 months