Innovate UK, the UK’s national innovation agency that supports business-led innovation in all sectors, technologies and UK regions, has recently launched its third funding competition under its Mindset Programme, offering up to GBP £3.7 million for UK-based projects developing extended reality (XR) digital therapeutic solutions for mental health.
The initiative aims to address a growing demand for mental healthcare by leveraging immersive technologies, such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR), to provide scalable, efficient, and impactful treatment options.
Key Details and Eligibility Criteria
Part of the Mindset Programme’s overall value of GBP £20 million, the competition is focused on providing XR solutions for those living with moderate and severe mental health conditions. Projects addressing mental health difficulties impacting education, employment, or daily life are strongly encouraged.
Eligible projects must:
- Have total eligible costs between GBP £200,000 and £300,000.
- Be UK-based and intend to exploit results within the UK.
- Begin by July 1, 2025, and conclude by December 31, 2026.
Organisations leading projects must be UK-registered businesses, with collaborative projects encouraged to involve other entities such as academic institutions, charities, and research organisations.
Eligible solutions submitted as part of a project must:
- Use XR technologies, including creative technologies, virtual reality, networked or augmented reality, mixed reality, haptics, holograms, immersive software, and immersive audio;
- Must have the potential to be adopted at scale in the UK’s mental healthcare ecosystem
- Be trial-ready following a 12 to 18-month R&D cycle.
Solutions that demonstrate the potential for regulatory approval, scalability, and integration into existing care pathways are highly encouraged.
Key Dates
The competition closes on January 15, 2025, at 11:00 am GMT. Following submission, invitations for interviews will be sent on February 18, 2025; panel interviews will run from March 10-21, 2025; final notifications will be issued on March 21, 2025.
Scope and Restrictions
This competition specifically excludes early-stage research, projects focused on mild conditions in the generalised wellbeing space, those not leveraging XR technologies, and projects not led by a UK registered business.
Programme Background
The Mindset Programme builds on the success of earlier competitions in 2022 and 2023, which collectively committed GBP £6.3 million to projects addressing feasibility and industrial research. This third competition aims to further the adoption and longevity of XR solutions in mental healthcare by fostering innovation and collaboration.
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Foto: Innovate UK
