Overview
What challenges does the Innovation Open Call aim to address?
Innovation Open Call 4 is looking for innovations that address two challenges:
- Improving productivity through managing demand or improving capacity on cancer care pathways - to support the NHS in meeting all Cancer Waiting Time standards by March 2029; and/or
- Driving the earlier detection and diagnosis of cancer (through novel screening, prompt presentation, case-finding, or diagnostic tools) - to help ensure three quarters of people diagnosed with cancer will be cancer-free, or living well with cancer after 5 years, by 2035.
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
Funding model: 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
Funding model: 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.
How to apply:
Step 1: Get Briefed
• Read the Challenge Brief for full details of the two challenges and the two funding models
• Watch the recording of the Briefing Webinar to hear from NHS England and the SBRI Healthcare team. View the presentation slides from the Webinar
• Read the Invitation to Tender for details about how applications are assessed
• Read the sample Agreement: Please check the sample agreement to make sure you agree with the terms [this will be available when the competition opens]
Step 2: Check your eligibility
• Please read the NHS Cancer Programme Innovation Open Call 4 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page
Step 3: Build your application
• Have you built the partnerships you will need to deliver your project?:
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Implementation sites in England - have you identified the sites? Is this something that the Cancer Alliances or Health Innovation Networks could help you with?
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Real‑World Implementation and Evaluation Fund only: Evaluation Partner – Do you have an independent evaluator to measure the impact of your innovation? Have a look at the ‘guide to evaluation’ document to understand what will be required
• Read and put together supporting documents:
Real‑World Implementation and Evaluation Fund
Innovation Spread Fund
• Attend support webinars:
Webinar: Support To Build Your Application, Wednesday 9 September 12.30-2pm. Register here. Get tips on completing the documents in your application, mapping impact, and evaluating the outcomes of your innovation
Step 4: Prepare to apply
• Read the example application forms:
Real World Implementation and Evaluation Fund Sample Application Form
Innovation Spread Fund Sample Application Form
• Read the applicant guidance [available in September]
Register: Make sure everyone is registered on Flexigrant [available in October]
Step 5: Submit your application
• Read the portal guidance [available in September]
Timeframe
- Application Portal Open 14th October 2026
- Application Close 1st December 2026, 1pm GMT
- Contracts expected to start no later than 30th April 2027
(these dates are tentative so are subject to change)
Contact for all enquiries: [email protected]