2026 NIHR Incubator Competition

Following an open competition, we will designate a maximum of 5 Incubators in areas or disciplines where there is a need to build research capacity and develop research careers, and that align with the strategic theme.

Incubators awarded as part of this funding round will be required to work across England and Wales, and are encouraged to work across all four nations. Institutions in both England and Wales will be able to host Incubators.

What are Incubators?

Incubators are made up of members of the research community who are embedded in and have forged careers in the area of interest. They focus on a particular area or discipline and provide an opportunity to delve into the complex issues and barriers that exist in capacity building.

The funding we provide for Incubators enables communities to bring together key stakeholders to suggest and implement solutions to building research capacity and developing research careers in a sustainable and meaningful way. Incubators also provide an opportunity to stimulate cross-NIHR working to build research capacity in a particular area or discipline. They should focus on the full range of research careers from research delivery to academic, building research capacity in terms of attracting and retaining people in the area of interest.

A list of the 15 Incubators currently being funded, along with their end dates, can be found on the NIHR website.  You can also find this information in the ‘Current Incubators’ section on this page. Please do not propose an Incubator in an area or discipline in which we currently have an NIHR-supported Incubator beyond 31 December 2026.

The key objectives of the Incubators are to:

• bring together key stakeholders to identify gaps and the need to build research capacity, and to develop and deliver solutions
• stimulate cross-NIHR and Health and Care Research Wales working to build research capacity in a particular area or discipline
• support under-represented groups in which research capacity is particularly low
• attract individuals into health and care research within the Incubator specific area or theme
• provide additional training and support to increase applications and success rates for NIHR and Health and Care Research Wales funding

Devolved nations

We welcome individuals based in England and Wales to apply and, if successful, host an Incubator that aligns with the theme of the round (please see the ‘Strategic theme’ section of this funding opportunity). All Incubators awarded as part of this round should focus on building research capacity in England and Wales. This should include having representation from Wales on the Steering Group. Incubators are encouraged to work across all four nations.

Incubator ways of working

Incubators are bespoke, and as such each will have individual priorities and will progress at their own rate. We expect Incubators to set their own objectives and performance indicators relevant to their field or discipline.

Incubators should:

• bring together a community from across England and Wales, and where possible, from all four nations, led by a steering group, to explore the challenges experienced by those working in research in the area of interest
• work proactively with the NIHR, Health and Care Research Wales,  and our partners to increase awareness of, and exposure to, research in the relevant areas, and to build solutions rather than to become a lobbying group. This may include:
  • NIHR Infrastructure
  • Health and Care Research Wales Infrastructure
  • Health and Care Research Wales  Health and Care Research Wales Faculty
  • NIHR Research Support Service (RSS)
  • where applicable, the 3 NIHR Schools (School for Primary Care Research (SPCR), the School for Public Health Research (SPHR), and the School for Social Care Research (SSCR))
  • NHS
  • local authorities and associated third sector care organisations
• be field-led, as the individual nature of challenges in different fields means that solutions must be developed and delivered by the community
• be bespoke to the needs and aims of its community, as the nature and scale of the challenges in different fields vary significantly
• focus on building research capacity across the full range of research careers from research delivery to academic
• stimulate cross-NIHR and Health and Care Research Wales working to build research capacity in a particular area or discipline
• embed equality, diversity and inclusion in the design and delivery of all processes and activities, including the formation of the Steering Group and recruitment of the project manager or admin support post.

Incubator roles and responsibilities

The Incubator Lead(s) and steering group members should:

• participate in regular incubator steering group meetings, led by the Chair
• provide expert knowledge on the Incubator area, identify issues and provide constructive solutions
• produce a terms of reference and activity plan for the Incubator
• attend relevant events and ad hoc meetings linked to the activities identified in the work plan

The project manager or admin support should:

• set up Incubator steering group meetings, as agreed in the terms of reference, and provide secretariat support
• arrange relevant Incubator events and ad-hoc meetings linked to the activities identified in the work plan including:
  • internal and external communications
  • management of web presence as appropriate
  • supporting co-production of training materials
• project manage the activities within the Incubator plans, including:
  • financial management
  • performance tracking
• coordinate the timely submission of annual reports and provide updates to the NIHR including case studies and feedback on impact of activities

Eligibility

New groups participating in the competition are welcome to apply. Current and previous Incubators that have completed, or are nearing the end of their first term, are eligible to apply for a second term, but must still align with the theme for this competition. We allow a maximum of 2 terms per Incubator.

Your application must:

• be within our remit
• address an area or discipline where there is a need to build research capacity and develop research careers. We will not accept applications that have only a regional/local focus
• align with strategic aims to transition care from hospital to community, and promote research within the community and in wider care settings

Applicants and members of the proposed Incubator steering group can be based in any of the devolved nations. However, the Incubator contracting organisation must:

• be a Higher Education Institution (HEI) or a provider of health and/or social care services based in England or Wales.
• be the employing organisation of a member of the proposed Incubator steering group
• ensure that appropriate sub-contracts are put in place for any element of the Incubator award that is to be paid to another organisation

Please do not propose an Incubator in an area or discipline that already has an NIHR-supported Incubator running beyond 31 December 2026. A list of current Incubators and their end dates is provided below.

Current NIHR Incubators

Our current Incubators are:

• Acquired Brain Injury and Social Care Network, ends 30 June 2028
• AI and Digital Healthcare Incubator, ends 31 December 2026
• Applied Health and Care Research Methodology Incubator, ends 31 December 2026
• Clinical Education Incubator, ends 31 December 2026
• Community Rehabilitation Incubator, ends 31 December 2026
• Diagnostic and Therapeutic Radiographers Incubator, ends 31 December 2026
• Emergency Care Incubator, ends 31 December 2026
• General Paediatrics, ends 30 June 2028
• Knowledge Mobilisation for Research Inclusion, ends 30 June 2028
• Mental Health Social Care Incubator, ends 31 December 2026
• Oral Health Research: Informing Policy across the UK, ends 30 June 2028
• Paediatric Critical Care Incubator, ends 31 December 2026
• Palliative and End of Life Care, ends 30 June 2028
• Pharmacy Professionals Incubator, ends 31 December 2026
• Race Equity and Diversity in Careers Incubator, ends 31 December 2026

Funding available

Funding for an Incubator award will be provided through an agreement between the Incubator contracting organisation and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

During the 3-year award period, each Incubator will receive:

• £30,000 each year for a project manager or an administrator to support the day-to-day work of the Incubator
• £12,500 engagement funding each year for events, web, engagement and outreach activities. An annual forecast will need to be approved by NIHR in year 2 and 3.
• £12,500 seed funding each year subject to approval at the application stage for year 1, and confirmation of approval for years 2 and 3.
• ability to add a short, static description of the Incubator on NIHR webpages
• 2 invitations each year for doctoral students from the Incubator community to attend the NIHR Doctoral Training Camp
• a direct link to 1 of our senior programme managers, who will be involved in the Incubator’s steering group and the development of its objectives
• 1 meeting per year with the NIHR Academy Dean and Associate Dean
• approximately 6 invitations per year for Incubator Leads to themed meetings on cross-cutting topics – these meetings will be held virtually

The funding for the Incubator project manager and admin support post is subject to the post being filled. You should aim to recruit to this post during the 6-month set-up phase.

Note that you will be required to provide details of your expected activities for year 1 of your engagement and seed funding in the application, and an outline of what you expect to use these funds for in years 2 and 3, which can be expanded upon later in the Incubator contract period.

Funding for an Incubator award is inclusive of VAT and will be paid at 100% (pro rata). The funding does not cover Full Economic Costs. It must be spent within the designated financial year, as it cannot be carried forward to future years.

Incubator engagement fund