Innovate UK has opened applications for £20 million in grants to back medicines, medtech and digital tools aimed at reducing harm and deaths from drug and alcohol addiction. Announced on 16 February 2026 by the UK Government, the call sits within the Office for Life Sciences’ Addiction Healthcare Goals (AHG) programme and is pitched squarely at projects that can move from lab to service quickly.

The top award tier offers up to £10 million for late‑stage, high‑impact projects. To be competitive, teams will need to show real‑world effectiveness, clear UK market readiness and evidence of progress toward regulatory approval. In plain terms: this tier is for solutions that could be deployed across health and care services in the near term.

A second strand provides up to £1.5 million for earlier‑stage innovations. Funding here is designed to help promising technologies prove initial effectiveness, tighten commercial plans and build the case to move into larger trials. For founders, this looks like de‑risking the step from prototype to validated product.

Eligible areas are broad. GOV.UK cites medicines and medical devices alongside wearables, virtual‑reality therapies, treatment apps and AI‑enabled tools. Practical examples include sensors that track withdrawal risk, digital therapeutics that support recovery between appointments, and AI models that help clinicians spot relapse earlier.

Alongside grant funding, successful projects gain a dedicated education session with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). That support should help teams shape evidence packages, understand certification routes and line up what commissioners will want to see before adoption.

The social and economic case is clear. Around 15,000 people die each year in the UK due to alcohol and drugs, while the wider impact costs England an estimated £47 billion annually, according to GOV.UK. If even a small share of that burden is reduced, the return on effective technology could be substantial for both patients and the public purse.

Ministers are framing the call as a bid to save lives and reduce long‑term costs. Health Minister Dr Zubir Ahmed said new technology should complement expanded access to treatment and recovery services, arguing that effective tools can save thousands of lives and billions of pounds over time.

Science Minister Lord Vallance highlighted that backing both late‑stage and earlier‑stage projects creates a quicker path from breakthrough ideas to real‑world impact, while helping companies grow in the UK rather than taking their IP and jobs elsewhere.

Professor Anne Lingford‑Hughes, who chairs the AHG programme, said the awards are about building evidence in real services so effective tools reach people sooner. Innovate UK’s Dr Stella Peace added that getting proven solutions into clinicians’ hands faster should improve outcomes and support UK growth. Other AHG opportunities include a Research Leadership Programme with over £10 million to develop future leaders in addiction research.

Applications opened on 16 February 2026 and close on 6 May 2026. An online briefing on 19 February 2026 will walk through eligibility, scope and the application process. For founders and CFOs, the immediate to‑do list is straightforward: secure delivery partners in the NHS or community services, define measurable outcomes that can be evidenced within 12–24 months, and set out a credible plan for UK certification, approval and adoption. Full details and application guidance are available via Innovate UK Business Connect.