Tell me about the NIC’s Competitions?

The NIC spends a great deal of effort working with NHS clinical staff to identify need. On the NIC website, clinical needs are presented, discussed and voted on by clinicians who then rank each need by its importance and potential for change. Needs that are identified as important and likely to change are directed immediately to the Collaboration section of this website to enable innovators to take-up and run swiftly with their ideas. It is recognised that some needs are important, yet are not likely to be solved easily. For these needs, the NIC runs Competitions.

Our Competitions are conducted online, and are designed to ensure an open, fair and transparent process. The best ideas result in a contract to create a solution for the NHS.

The key features of our competitions include:

• Competition for ideas and new technologies
• Development Awards – win a pre-commercial procurement contract
• Fast-track, simplified process
• Suitable for SMEs
• Public sector organisation acts as lead customer
• Should result in a commercial product/service
• Intellectual property retained by company

 

How can I join a Competition?

You can start right now. Just go to the Competition section and find what interests you.

The NIC will decide whether or not to award a contract based solely on the answers that you provide on the online application form, and any follow-up meetings that the NIC may have with you. Please answer each question carefully. The closing date for receipt of your completed form is noted on the description for each National Challenge. When the NIC receives your application, it will be reviewed by a team of assessors. You will receive an email response from the NIC within 10 working days of receipt.

The NIC will provide up to £20,000 in Phase 1 to help you develop your innovation. The actual amount that the NIC may award to you will be based on the specific needs of your innovation and this amount will be decided through open, fair and transparent negotiation with you. Following completion of Phase 1, further funding opportunities may be available from the NIC to support further Phase 2 development.

What are the basic elements of a contract?

The NIC uses a phased project structure - projects are selected for Phase 2 on the basis of their Phase 1 performance

• Phase 1: Proof-of-concept (up to 6 months, maximum value of £20,000). Contract milestones to include:
  • PID (Project Implementation Document)
  • Functional Specification report
  • Technical Specification report
  • Initial Prototype
• Phase 2: Development (up to 2 years, maximum value £80,000). Contract milestones to include:
  • PID
  • Business Plan
  • Refinement of Prototype
  • Up to 100% funding under commissioned contract
  • The commissioned work will be based on standard contract terms from the NHS Institute
  • Intellectual Property rests with contractor (with certain rights of use for the Institute)

Our competitions are based on SBRI principles. To learn more about SBRI, see www.innovateuk.org

In addition to SBRI, the NIC runs other types of EU Pre-Commercial Procurement competitions, each of which is consistent with EU Competition Law,  including Auctions, Classic Procurement, and Negotiated Procedures.