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		NIHR Central Commissioning Facility (CCF)

New and Emerging Applications of Technology (NEAT)
- under the Invention for Innovation (i4i) Programme umbrella

The NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) Programme is bringing new investment together with two existing, successful NIHR programmes: New and Emerging Applications of Technology (NEAT) and Health Technology Devices (HTD), to improve the identification of promising healthcare technologies and accelerate the development of new healthcare products for the 21st century.

More information about the migration of NEAT into the i4i Programme can be found on the i4i Programme page. New funding streams – i4i Future Product Development – were announced on 16 July 2008.

i4i Programme

Ongoing NEAT projects
The NEAT programme - now in its final call - delivers strategic and applied research across the medical sciences that have the potential to generate both intellectual property and cost-reducing products and interventions. Outputs have wide applicability and are capable of exploitation to enhance the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of health and social care. Dr Peter Greenaway is the Programme Director.

Aims
NEAT funds initiatives in both the life and physical sciences. The programme promotes and supports applied research into the development and exploitation of new or emerging technologies. The aim is to produce innovative health care products and interventions.

We are looking for outputs that could:

• study the way that NHS services are provided and used
• evaluate whether interventions are effective and provide value for money
• examine whether alternative means for providing healthcare would be more beneficial in terms of cost and effectiveness
• formally assess innovations and developments in healthcare
• pilot or consider the feasibility of projects requiring major grant applications.

The programme does not fund:

• assessments of fully developed products or interventions with a history of use in the NHS
• studies on products or interventions with respect to their impact on NHS service delivery and organisation
• training

Purpose
NEAT covers all areas of health and social care where new or innovative technological approaches can be developed. Projects addressing National Priorities are particularly welcome, including:

• Cancer
• Coronary heart disease and stroke
• Mental health
• Children's services
• Older people's services
• Waiting lists and times
• Modern primary care

Funding
£2 million is currently allocated to the NEAT programme each year. This funds:

• full projects with an approximate budget of £300k over a 36 month period
• feasibility studies which last 6-12 months with a budget of up to £100k

Process
Feasibility studies:
The application for a NEAT feasibility study is a single stage non-peer reviewed process. Applications will initially be judged on their fit to the scope of the programme by the programme director, a panel advisor and the secretariat. The scientific content of the applications which fit to scope are then considered by the commissioning panel and judged upon clinical need, quality of science, innovation, ability of applicants, value for money, project planning and patient involvement (where appropriate).

Project applications:
The application for a NEAT project is a two stage peer reviewed process. Outline applications are judged on their fit to the scope of the programme by the programme director, a panel advisor and the secretariat. The scientific content of the outlines which fit to scope are then considered by the commissioning panel and judged upon clinical need, quality of science, innovation, ability of applicants, value for money, project planning and patient involvement (where appropriate). An applicant with a successful outline will be asked to submit a full project application. All unsuccessful applications will receive feedback.

Selection Criteria
As a general principle, projects supported through the NEAT programme should comply with the following principles:

• show innovation and demonstrate that they can achieve their objectives as judged by prevailing professional standards
• fit into the overall scope and aim of NEAT and demonstrate an awareness of the cost effectiveness of the technologies developed
• have ethical approval if appropriate
• have relevance, impact, importance and have a potential to contribute to future health gain for patients and the general population
• reflect an awareness of the needs of users, patients and carers and should encourage co-operation between the various stakeholders
• reflect an appropriate disciplinary mix

Eligibility
NEAT funds research institutions in the academic and NHS communities. Active partnerships between clinical centres and other research providers will be encouraged. Joint funding arrangements with other funders, such as medical charities, research councils and industry, are acceptable but the arrangements for the management, dissemination and exploitation of intellectual property must have been identified and agreed before the submission of full proposals.