Government launches major funding call for AI, wearables and digital tools to cut deaths and strengthen recovery
Applications now open under the Addiction Healthcare Goals programme, with grants of up to £10 million available
Innovators across the UK are being invited to apply for a share of £20 million in government funding to develop cutting-edge medicines, medical devices and digital tools designed to reduce harm and death from drug and alcohol addiction.
Announced by the Department of Health and Social Care, the grants form part of the government’s Addiction Healthcare Goals (AHG) programme and will be delivered through Innovate UK.z
The funding will support technologies ranging from wearable monitoring devices and virtual-reality therapies to treatment apps and artificial-intelligence-enabled tools – with a strong focus on real-world deployment within health and care services.
Around 15,000 people die each year in the UK due to alcohol and drugs, while the wider societal impact of addiction is estimated to cost England £47 billion annually.
“Addiction ruins lives”
Health Minister Dr Zubir Ahmed MP 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 programme – known as the AHG Catalysing Innovation Awards – is led by the Office for Life Sciences and aims to accelerate the translation of promising innovations into clinical and community settings.
From breakthrough ideas to real-world impact on addiction
Science Minister Lord Vallance said:
“Cutting-edge medicines and technologies could save thousands of lives lost to alcohol and drug addiction while improving outcomes for hundreds of thousands more.
Backing both late-stage technologies and earlier-stage innovations means we are creating a clear and rapid route from breakthrough ideas to real-world impact.
This is about using the UK’s scientific excellence to prevent avoidable deaths and support recovery, while helping innovative companies to grow and thrive in the UK at the same time.”
Professor Anne Lingford-Hughes, Chair of Addiction Healthcare Goals, added:
“Too many lives are still cut short by drug and alcohol addictions, and healthcare innovations are urgently needed to address the immense personal, mental and physical health and societal impacts they cause.
To meet this challenge, I am pleased to be working with Innovate UK to launch these Catalysing Innovation Awards, supporting the development of the most promising medicines, devices and digital tools to enhance treatment and care.
These awards will support UK companies and innovators to build the evidence needed to show what works in real services, ensuring innovations reach the people who need them sooner, prevent deaths and strengthen recovery.”
Dr Stella Pearce, Executive Director for Healthy Living and Agriculture at Innovate UK, said:
“Working with the Office for Life Sciences, Innovate UK is accelerating the development of cutting-edge drug and alcohol addiction treatments and interventions to move quickly from research into real-world services
By fast-tracking these innovations into the hands of clinicians and support teams, we can improve outcomes for people with these addictions and drive economic benefit for the UK.”
Two funding strands – up to £10 million per project
Applications are now open, with two distinct funding routes:
- Late-stage, high-impact projects – awards of up to £10 million for technologies close to deployment, able to demonstrate real-world effectiveness, UK market readiness and progress towards regulatory approval.
- Earlier-stage innovations – awards of up to £1.5 million to help promising technologies demonstrate initial effectiveness and strengthen business planning.
Successful applicants will also receive exclusive education sessions from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to support navigation of regulatory and evidence pathways.
Applications close on 6 May 2026, with an online briefing event scheduled for 19 February.
Why this matters
For innovators, addiction is now a priority for technology-enabled reform.
For policymakers and health leaders, the challenge will be ensuring that proven innovations do not stall at pilot stage but reach scale – particularly in areas where harm, inequality and system cost remain high.
As the government seeks to align scientific excellence with public health outcomes, the success of this funding call may shape how addiction services evolve over the coming decade.
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Curia will continue to track how these awards translate into deployment, commissioning reform and measurable impact across health and care systems. To find out more about becoming a member of Curia’s Health, Care, and Life Sciences Research Group, please contact Partnerships Director, Ben McDermott: ben.mcdermott@chamberuk.com.