Innovators across the UK are being invited to bid for £20 million of government funding to develop new medicines, medical technologies and digital tools aimed at tackling drug and alcohol addiction. The investment seeks to reduce the thousands of deaths caused by substance misuse each year, while supporting recovery and improving treatment outcomes for people affected by addiction.
The funding, delivered through Innovate UK, forms part of the Addiction Healthcare Goals programme, led by the Office for Life Sciences. The programme aims to accelerate the development and deployment of new technologies capable of transforming addiction care and reducing long‑term harm.
Drug and alcohol addiction continues to place a profound strain on communities and public services. Around 15,000 people die every year in the UK as a result of alcohol and drug misuse, while hundreds of thousands more live with health, social and economic consequences. In England alone, substance misuse is estimated to cost £47 billion annually.
The AHG Catalysing Innovation Awards will provide crucial support to innovators working on pioneering solutions including:
- New medicines
- Medical devices and wearables
- Virtual reality therapies
- Addiction treatment apps
- AI‑enabled tools for personalised care
These technologies have the potential to significantly improve recovery outcomes, prevent relapse, and reduce overdose deaths.
Applications open today, with late‑stage, high‑impact projects able to apply for awards of up to £10 million. These projects must demonstrate real‑world effectiveness, readiness for the UK market, and clear progress towards regulatory approval.
This strand is aimed at innovations close to deployment that could deliver rapid impact within health and care services.
A second strand of funding will support earlier‑stage technologies, offering awards of up to £1.5 million. This will help promising new solutions to demonstrate initial effectiveness, strengthen their business plans, and move towards further development and eventual deployment.
The dual‑track approach aims to support both groundbreaking early concepts and innovations already nearing adoption.
Successful applicants will also gain exclusive access to specialised education sessions delivered by the:
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
These sessions will help innovators navigate evidence requirements, regulation and the pathway to certification and rollout, ensuring the most promising technologies reach patients safely and efficiently.
Dr Zubir Ahmed, Health Minister, said:
“Addiction ruins lives and we need to look at any way we can help ease the suffering – and aid the recovery - of hundreds of thousands of people.
“Embracing new technology will help supplement all the work this government is already doing including expanding access to vital drugs and providing billions in funding for drug and alcohol prevention treatment and recovery.
“Finding new ways to combat the scourge of addiction could save thousands of lives and billions of pounds.”
The funding represents a significant step forward in the UK’s ambition to harness innovation to reduce harm, improve recovery rates and save lives. By supporting cutting‑edge technologies and accelerating safe adoption, the programme aims to bring transformative new treatments and tools to the front line of addiction care.
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