Innovate UK has opened a £20 million drug and alcohol addiction healthcare innovation programme, giving organisations across the UK a chance to develop life-changing pharmaceutical, digital health and MedTech solutions. The funding aims to improve treatment outcomes, support long-term recovery, and cut preventable harm and deaths from addiction.

The Addiction Healthcare Goals (AHG) Catalysing Innovation Awards scheme runs on behalf of the Office for Life Sciences. In short, it backs addiction healthcare innovations that are ready to move beyond the lab and into real-world use.

What the Funding Covers

Projects must address illicit drug or alcohol use. They also need to fit one of three categories: pharmaceutical interventions, digital health tools, or MedTech solutions. Covered substances include opioids, cocaine, crack, cannabis, ketamine, benzodiazepines and others commonly seen in addiction services.

Moreover, innovations must be at an advanced stage. By the project end, teams must reach Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 8 or 9, meaning the solution is close to or fully ready for market. Teams must also pursue regulatory approvals through the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

The programme splits into two strands. The first covers pharmaceutical projects with eligible costs up to £10 million. The second, Contracts for Innovation, targets digital and MedTech solutions at up to £1.5 million per project. In both cases, no single business can claim more than £3 million in grant.

Who Is Eligible for Drug and Alcohol Addiction Funding

Any UK-registered business can lead a bid. However, academic institutions, charities and community interest companies cannot take the lead role. Strong applications will build collaborations across healthcare, research, industry and the third sector.

Furthermore, projects must run between 24 and 36 months. They start on 1 December 2026 and finish no later than 30 November 2029. All funded organisations must carry out work in the UK and plan to use the results here.

The Objectives Behind the Addiction Healthcare Innovation Programme

This round is not about early-stage ideas. Instead, it targets innovations that already show promise and need a final push to reach NHS and addiction healthcare settings. Teams must deliver a full market readiness analysis, set out manufacturing plans, and build a clear route to UK rollout.

Notably, co-design with people who have lived experience of addiction sits at the heart of the programme. Teams must involve service users throughout the project. This means genuine influence on design and delivery, not just token consultation.

In addition, projects must work alongside treatment providers and engage with statutory bodies to map out regulatory pathways early. Innovate UK makes clear that applications without this plan will struggle at assessment.

Altogether, the programme ties directly to wider policy goals. It aligns with the UK Government’s ten-year drugs strategy, From Harm to Hope, the 10 Year Health Plan, and the Life Sciences Sector Plan. The scale of the problem makes this investment urgent: drug-related deaths in England and Wales reached 4,907 in 2023, the highest on record. Meanwhile, alcohol-specific deaths in the UK hit 10,048 in the same year, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Key Dates for Applicants

The competition opened on 16 February 2026. However, time is limited. The deadline is 6 May 2026 at 11am. After that, shortlisted applicants receive interview invitations around 26 June 2026. Online interviews then run from 20 to 24 July 2026, and Innovate UK notifies all applicants by 7 August 2026.

Subsequently, those who receive a grant offer join a dedicated MHRA and NICE education session on 22 September 2026. This session helps funded teams handle regulatory and reimbursement processes before projects begin on 1 December 2026.

How to Apply for Addiction Healthcare Innovation Grants

Teams apply through the Innovation Funding Service (IFS). The application covers four sections: project details, application questions, finances, and project impact. Each partner must accept an invitation from the lead applicant, then enter their own costs and complete their sections.

Based on similar programmes, Innovate UK estimates a roughly 30% success rate for addiction healthcare innovation grants. Additionally, the organisation uses a portfolio approach, so it looks to fund a spread of projects across technologies, substances and funding levels. A high score alone does not guarantee an award.

For guidance or accessibility support, contact Innovate UK at support@iuk.ukri.org or call 0300 321 4357. Requests for adjustments should go in at least 15 working days before the deadline.

Supporting Resources to Strengthen Bid

A briefing recording and slides are already available online for those who want a fuller picture before applying. Beyond these, several organisations offer hands-on support to teams pursuing addiction healthcare innovation projects.

The NIHR Policy Research Unit in Addictions runs a network of over 100 people with living and lived experience. They can contribute patient and public involvement input directly to applications. Equally, Health Innovation Networks across England, NHS Scotland Innovation Hubs, Life Sciences Hub Wales, and the Drug and Alcohol Research Network in Northern Ireland all help teams find partners and tap into local expertise.

Finally, any organisation that needs help finding a project partner can reach out to Innovate UK Business Connect directly.

Source: dbrecoveryresources