NHS Cancer Programme Innovation Open Call 4 is accepting applications in England

The NHS Cancer Program Innovation Open Call is funded by NHS England and managed by SBRI Healthcare. Introduced in 2021, it aims to accelerate the adoption of high-quality, proven, late-stage innovations that support earlier cancer detection and diagnosis, in line with ambitions of the National Cancer Plan. Since its launch, 20 innovations have received more than £39 million in funding across three previous calls.

On October 14, 2026, NHS England launched an application window for the fourth round of the Innovation Open Call. The submission deadline is December 1, 2026.

To reflect the different stages of innovation maturity and distinct adoption barriers, the competition will support two complementary funding models.

Real World Implementation and Evaluation Fund 

• Funding is intended 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 program’s established and proven approach to generating robust service, patient, and health economic evidence to inform commissioning decisions.
• Eligible applicants include single organizations based in the UK or EU from the private, public, and third sectors that have a demonstrable partnership with an NHS organization in England and an independent evaluation partner. Additional engagement with Cancer Alliances and/or Health Innovation Networks is strongly encouraged.
• Projects will be 100% funded up to the total value of £3M (excluding VAT) over a maximum of 24 months.

Innovation Spread Fund

• Funding is intended 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 favorable 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.
• Application is open to Integrated Care Boards or Cancer Alliances (through their host legal entity) based in England as the lead applicant organization. The program will accept a maximum of one application per Cancer Alliance region.
• Projects will be funded up to the total value of £5M (excluding VAT) over the first 24 months of a maximum 36-month project.

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