The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in the UK has awarded £22m to Newcastle University, to strengthen its capacity to identify and assess emerging medicines, diagnostics, devices and digital technologies.
The five-year award, beginning in April 2026, will support the work of the NIHR Innovation Observatory, which provides strategic insights to inform national health and social care policy, shape investment priorities and accelerate the adoption of new technologies across the healthcare system. It builds on nearly a decade of NIHR funding for Newcastle University’s pioneering horizon scanning work.
“We are delighted to have been successful in this competitive funding award,” said Professor Dawn Craig, Director, NIHR Innovation Observatory. “It will further enhance our ability to turn data into rapid, actionable insights – driving smarter decisions, faster innovation adoption and deeper collaboration with industry and national partners.”
With the new funding, the Observatory will further advance its horizon scanning methods, strengthen technical infrastructure and develop foresight outputs. It will also build analytical capacity across the ecosystem, ensuring insights are shared with NHS clinicians, policy makers and industry innovators. In addition, the Observatory will expand cross-sector international collaboration, while supporting SMEs, charities and investors with timely access to intelligence on the UK innovation landscape.
Craig added: “By strengthening our analytical capabilities and fostering cross-sector partnerships, we are not only looking to improve care but also to play a role in positioning the UK as a global leader in health tech and innovation-driven growth.”
The Observatory’s current work spans a wide range of transformative technologies and national priorities. These include quantum sensing, AI, bio-engineering, child health devices, rapid genomics point-of-care testing, antimicrobial resistance monitoring, advances in 3D-printed organ regeneration and wearable devices for remote monitoring and rehabilitation.
