UKRI Healthy Ageing Catalyst Awards
Zinc and UKRI are proud to be partnering for the fourth round of the UKRI Healthy Ageing Catalyst Awards.
This programme is not currently open for applications. Applicants who have submitted an expression of interest can find the guidance documents here.
Catalyst Awards Fourth Cohort
Since the first call for the Healthy Ageing Catalyst Awards in 2020, Zinc and UKRI have partnered to fund entrepreneurial academics who want to translate their research into impactful and scalable products, services and interventions. The Awards are part of the UKRI Healthy Ageing Challenge and the Healthy Longevity Global Grand Challenge, founded by the U.S. National Academy of Medicine. This is a worldwide movement to improve physical, mental, and social well-being for people as they age.
In 2023, Zinc will support its fourth cohort of researchers to create innovations that:
- Allow everyone to remain active, productive, independent and socially connected across generations for as long as possible;
- Narrow the gap between the experiences of the richest and the poorest.
£62,500 in funding and a dedicated programme of support
UKRI award successful applicants up to £62,500 (fEC) (80% from UKRI, 20% contribution from your host institution) and Zinc offer a comprehensive and proven programme of enterprise support, which will help you scale the impact of your research and explore different pathways to impact.
Over 9-months, you will gain access to:
- Workshops, talks and coaching sessions with our extensive ecosystem;
- Office hours with Zinc Fellows;
- 1:1 guidance from Zinc’s R&D and Accelerate teams to support the development of your innovation;
- User groups, to test your ideas and prototypes;
- Multiple opportunities to meet your peers in the Healthy Ageing industry and showcase your project as it develops throughout the programme.
We offer support before you apply via a series of workshops taking place in January 2023. Building on the success of our Prototyping Problems workshops in 2021 and 2022, these workshops with brand-new content will offer inspiration from current and previous Awards winners alongside practical advice about submitting your expression of interest.
We’re Looking for Transformative Ideas from Researchers with an Entrepreneurial Spirit
The Catalyst Discovery Series Application Process
Each stage of our collaborative application process will help you develop your ideas and build a compelling application. More information about this process is be available in our Expression of Interest Guidance Document.
Inspiration and Preparation
December and January
It is strongly recommended that you attend one of our workshops in January. These sessions will inspire and help applicants to prepare for submitting a strong expression of interest. You can view a recording of the Funding Round 3 workshop and register for our new Catalysing Innovation Workshops here (December 2022 and January 2023).
Expression of Interest Submission
January and February 2023
Submit an expression of interest via Zinc’s Workable platform. The submission period is open from 31st January 2023 and the link and all templates and guidance will be available on our dedicated resources hub.
Office Hours
April + May (Shortlisted Applicants Only)
A smaller number of shortlisted applicants are invited to attend office hours with the Zinc team and an idea development and storytelling workshop.
'Dragons Den' Pitch
May (Shortlisted Applicants Only)
The selected applicants submit a case for support and pitch their final idea to a panel of Zinc and UKRI representatives and external expert reviewers.
Final decisions
June
A decision will then be made on the cohort of Catalyst Awards holders for the 2023/24 academic year, who will undertake Zinc’s programme of support and receive up to £62,500 in funding.
Formal Submission
Once you have been selected for the Awards (and so offered UKRI funding and a place on the Zinc programme of support) you will be required to submit details of your application through the UKRI Je-S system.
Useful Documents
Letter of Support Template
We strongly recommend reaching out to your Head of Department about support for the Catalyst Awards as soon as possible. We also recommend you reach out to your tech transfer, enterprise or innovation office (and so forth) at this time, as they may provide additional support with the application process.
Head of Department Information Sheet
An additional resource for your Head of Department, exploring the support required for the Catalyst Awards. An updated version will be available soon.
Expression of Interest closes 21st February, 2023
The Expression of Interest submission period opens 31st January 2023 and closes Tuesday 21st February 2023. Learn more about our application process and access all the resources you need to submit a strong expression of interest at our dedicated web page.
