Funding competition SBRI : Improving Hip Fracture Outcomes Using Data, phase 1

Organisations can apply for a share of £160,000 inclusive of VAT to develop a solution which will improve quality of care and outcomes for hip fracture patients.

Competition opens: Monday 1 February 2021
Competition closes: Wednesday 31 March 2021 11:00am

This competition is now closed.

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Description

This is a Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) competition funded by the Scottish Government through Health Innovation South East Scotland.

The aim of the competition is to improve outcomes for hip fracture patients by developing a system using routinely collected health data and data-analytics techniques.

The system must optimise complex patient care pathways to deliver hip fracture care according to national care standards.

This is phase 1 of a potential 2-phase competition. A decision to proceed with phase 2 will depend on the outcomes from phase 1 and assessment of a separate application into a subsequent phase 2 competition.

Only successful applicants from phase 1 will be able to apply to take part in phase 2.

Successful applicants will receive funding, as well as guidance from NHS Lothian, University of Edinburgh and access to the DataLoch repository of health data for South East Scotland.

In applying to this phase 1 competition you are entering into a competitive process.

Any adoption and implementation of a solution from this competition would be subject of a separate, possibly competitive, procurement exercise. This competition does not cover the purchase of any solution.

This competition closes at 11am UK time on the deadline stated.

Funding type

Procurement

Project size

Phase 1 projects can have total costs of up to £15,000, inclusive of VAT.

Who can apply

Your project

Projects are expected to start by 2 June 2021 and can last up to 3 months.

To lead a project, you can:

be an organisation of any size
work alone or with others from business, research organisations, research and technology organisations or the third sector as subcontractors

Contracts will be awarded only to a single legal entity. However, if you can justify subcontracting components of the work, you can employ specialist consultants or advisers. This work will still be the responsibility of the main contractor.

Funding

A total of up to £45,000 inclusive of VAT is allocated to phase 1.

Phase 1

Feasibility study R&D contracts will be up to £15,000 inclusive of VAT will be awarded for each successful project for up to 3 months. We expect to fund up to 3 projects.

Total costs must include VAT. VAT is the responsibility of the invoicing business, and applications must list total costs inclusive of VAT. You will be asked if you are VAT registered before entering your project costs.

If you are a VAT registered organisation you will not need to enter your costs inclusive of VAT as the application form will calculate the VAT for you.

If you are not VAT registered then you can quote without VAT but you will not be able to increase invoice values to cover VAT later on.

Phase 2

The second phase involves up to 2 contracts being awarded to businesses chosen from the successful phase 1 applicants. Up to £57,500 inclusive of VAT will be allocated for each contract, to develop a prototype and undertake field testing for up to 9 months.

The total funding available for the competition can change. The funders have the right to:

adjust the provisional funding allocations between the phases
apply a ‘portfolio’ approach

Research and development

Your application must have at least 50% of the contract value attributed directly and exclusively to R&D services, including solution exploration and design. R&D can also include prototyping and field-testing the product or service. This lets you incorporate the results of your exploration and design, and demonstrate that you can produce in quantity to acceptable quality standards.

Research and development does not include:

commercial development activities such as quantity production
supply to establish commercial viability or to recover R&D costs
integration, customisation or incremental adaptations and improvements to existing products or processes

State aid

SBRI competitions involve procurement of R&D services at a fair market value and are not subject to state aid criteria that typically apply to grant funding.

Your proposal

The aim of the competition is to improve outcomes for hip fracture patients by developing a system using routinely collected health data and data analytics techniques.

The system must optimise complex patient care pathways to deliver hip fracture care according to national care standards.

Your project can focus on one or more of the following:

data analytics
machine learning
Artificial intelligence (AI)
analysis of risk
software development
computerised decision-support/ integrate care pathway development

In phase 1 you must:

gather clinical needs and care pathway requirements
develop current and future state maps of hip fracture services
demonstrate the technical feasibility of your proposed innovation
establish ongoing collaboration between technical and clinical members of the project team
formalise any required ethical approvals, data sharing agreements and contracts
begin working with clinical data
develop a technical specification which describes in detail how a proposed phase 2 ‘Technology Development’ will be completed

At this stage contracts will be awarded for phase 1 only. You must define your goals and outline your plans for phase 2. This is part of the full commercial implementation in your phase 1 proposal.

You must demonstrate a credible and practical route to market, so your application must include a plan to commercialise your results.

In phase 2 we will ask successful applicants from phase 1 to:

develop and evaluate a prototype of your solution
test the prototype on real-world data and systems within NHS Lothian to establish clinical utility
develop a business plan for full commercial exploitation

Research categories

Phase 1: technical feasibility studies

This means planned research or critical investigation to gain new knowledge and skills for developing new products, processes or services.

In phase 1 the supplier will work closely with the stakeholders to develop a solution. The outcome of phase 2 will be a prototype of the solution.

Phase 2: prototype development and evaluation

This can include prototyping, demonstrating, piloting, testing and validation of new or improved products, processes or services in environments representative of real-life operating conditions. The primary objective is to make further technical improvements on products, processes or services that are not substantially set.

Projects we will not fund

We will not fund projects that cover:

solutions that are incompatible with the current technologies used by the healthcare community and the main patient population in Scotland
basic research or exploratory studies where an idea or solution has not been identified.

1 February 2021: Competition opens
17 February 2021: Online briefing event: watch the recording
31 March 2021 11:00am: Competition closes
5 May 2021: Applicants notified
2 June 2021: Phase 1 contracts awarded
2 June 2021: Feedback

Before you start

By submitting an application, you agree to the terms of the draft contract which is available once you start your application.

The final contract will include any details you have agreed with the funding authority and will be sent to you if your application is successful. The contract is binding once the contract is returned by the applicant and signed by both parties. The terms and conditions included in the draft contract should not substantially change.

When you start an application on the Innovation Funding Service you will be prompted to create an account as the lead applicant or sign in as a representative of your organisation. You will need an account to track the progress of your application.

As the lead applicant you will be responsible for:

collecting the information for your application
representing your organisation in leading the project if your application is successful

You will be able to invite colleagues from your organisation to contribute to the application.

What happens next

A selected panel of assessors will review and score your application and the winners of phase 1 contracts will be selected. All applicants will be provided feedback by NHS Scotland on request.

For phase 2 assessors can also take into account the phase 1 end-of-phase report. They might ask a number of finalists to attend an interview or give a demonstration.

What we will ask you

The application is split into 3 sections:

Project details.
Application questions.
Finances.

1. Project details

These sections are not scored.

Application details

The lead applicant must complete this section. Give your project’s title, start date and duration.

Who made you aware of the competition?

Select a category to state who made you aware of the competition. You cannot choose more than one.

How long has your organisation been established for?

Select a category n to state how long has your organisation been established for. You cannot choose more than one.

What is your organisation’s primary area focus?

Select a category to state your organisation’s primary focus area. You cannot choose more than one.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We collect and report on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) data to address under-representation in business innovation and ensure equality, diversity and inclusion across all our activities.

You must complete this EDI survey and then select yes in the application question. The survey will ask you questions on your gender, age, ethnicity and disability status. You will always have the option to ‘prefer not to say’ if you do not feel comfortable sharing this information.

Project summary

Please provide a short summary of your project and describe how it meets the scope of the competition.

Describe your project briefly. Be clear about what makes it innovative and how it relates to the scope of the competition. How does it tackle different aspects of the challenge and how will it provide an integrated solution?

Give details of the lead organisation. Before you submit, we expect you to have discussed your application within your own organisation and any other relevant organisations.

List any organisations you have named as subcontractors.

Your answer for this section can be up to 800 words long. This section is not scored, but we will use it to decide whether the project fits the scope of the competition. If it does not, it may be rejected.

Public description

Please provide a brief description of your project. If your application is successful, we will publish this description. This question is mandatory, but we will not assess this content as part of your application.

Describe your project in detail, and in a way that you are happy to see published. Do not include any commercially sensitive information. If we award your project funding, we will publish this description. This could happen before you start your project. We have the right to amend the description before publication if necessary but will consult you about any changes.

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

2. Application questions

The assessors will score your answers to all these questions.

Your answer to each question can be up to 400 words long. Do not include any URLs in your answers unless we have explicitly requested a link to a video.

Question 1. Proposed idea or technology

Provide a brief description of your proposed idea or technology. How does it address the outcomes described in the competition scope?

Describe the current state of development or readiness of the idea.

You can submit an appendix containing images and diagrams to support your answer. It must be a PDF up to 2 A4 pages long and no larger than 10MB. The font must be legible at 100% zoom.

This question will be scored against this assessment criterion: ‘How well does the proposal meet the challenge?’

Question 2. Technical project summary

Give a short background to the main technical challenges you are looking to address.

Describe or explain:

how you will address the challenge
what the innovation is
the main technical deliverables
the research and development that will prove the scientific, environmental and commercial merit of the project
what might be achieved by deploying the innovation to address the selected challenge

This question will be scored against this assessment criterion: ‘How valid is the technical approach?’

Question 3. Current state of the art and intellectual property

Detail other products currently available on the market and how the innovation of your proposed project differentiates itself from them.

Include details of:

any existing intellectual property (IP)
its significance to your freedom to operate

This question will be scored against these assessment criteria: ‘How innovative is this project? How much does the project develop or employ novel concepts, approaches, methodologies, tools or technologies for this area?’

Question 4. Project plan and methodology

Describe your project plan and identify the main milestones.

The plan for phase 1 must be comprehensive. For phase 2 only an outline is required. The emphasis throughout should be on practicality. We are seeking evidence that the technology works, can be made into a viable product and can achieve the proposed benefits.

You should describe or explain:

what resources will be needed to deliver the project
what the main success criteria would be
the identified project management processes that will ensure you achieve the milestones
the main technical, commercial and environmental risks and what you will do to mitigate them
how you would handle any IP issues which might arise during the project

Indicate your required payment schedule by month.

Please ensure that if you are working with subcontractors you explain how you will maintain freedom to operate and fulfil the IP requirements detailed in the contract. Allow for the preparation of a detailed plan for phase 2, towards the end of phase 1.

You must upload a project plan or Gantt chart as an appendix. It must be a PDF up to 2 A4 pages long and no larger than 10MB in size. The font must be legible at 100% zoom.

Download and complete the milestone template.

Your milestones must be:

clear
defined using SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound) criteria
associated with the appropriate deliverables and payments

Once you have completed the milestone template it must be uploaded in a PDF format to this question. The font must be legible at 100% zoom.

This question will be assessed against these assessment criteria: ‘Does the proposal show a clear plan for establishing technical and commercial feasibility and the development of a working prototype? Is there a clear management plan What are the main technical, commercial and environmental risks to project success? Will these be effectively managed? Are the milestones and evaluation procedures appropriate?’

Question 5. Technical team and expertise

Provide a brief description of your technical team.

Describe or explain:

the expertise of each team member or subcontractor, outlining why they are critical to the project’s success
how much of their time will be spent on the project

This question will be scored against this assessment criterion: ‘Does the applicant have the skills, capabilities and experience to deliver the intended benefits?’

Question 6. Costs and value for money

How much will the project cost for phase 1? How does it represent value for money for the team and the taxpayer?

Describe or explain:

the total eligible project costs, inclusive of VAT, you are requesting in terms of the project goals
how this project represents value for money for you and the taxpayer

You can submit an appendix as a spreadsheet. It must be a PDF up to 2 A4 pages long and no larger than 10MB in size. The font must be legible at 100% zoom.

Within your spreadsheet:

indicate your potential costs for phase 2
costs quoted must reflect actual costs at a “fair market value” and not include profit

Full Economic Cost (FEC) calculations are not relevant for SBRI competitions. SBRI is a competitive process and applications will come from a variety of organisations. Whatever calculation you use to arrive at your total eligible project costs your application will be assessed against applications from other organisations. Bear this in mind when calculating your total eligible project costs. You can include overheads but remember that this is a competitive process.

If you are a VAT registered organisation you will not need to enter your costs inclusive of VAT as the application form will calculate the VAT for you.

If you are not VAT registered then you can quote without VAT but you will not be able to increase invoice values to cover VAT later on.

The assessors are required to judge the application finances in terms of value for money. In other words, does the proposed cost for effort and deliverables reflect a fair market price? They will score your finances against this assessment criterion: ‘Are the budget and costs realistic, justified and appropriate for the aims and methods?

Please note information from the finances section will be used to support the assessment of this question. Proposed costs stated in this section must match those entered in the finance summary on your application.

Question 7. Commercial potential

Describe how you would realise the commercial potential of your proposal and to what timescales, including a clear plan to deliver that and a route to market. Focus on your proposed customer’s needs but you may also mention the future commercial potential across the public or private sector and the international market.

How far is the challenge you are addressing shared across the public and/or private sector in the UK and further afield? Describe the competitive advantage that your proposal has over existing or alternative technologies that meet market needs.

This question will be scored against these assessment criteria: ‘Is there a clear commercial potential for a marketable product, process or service and a clear plan to deliver that and a clear route to market? How significant is the competitive advantage of this technology over existing technologies that meet the market’s needs?’

3. Finances

Enter your phase 1 project costs, organisation details and funding details. For full information on what costs you can claim, see our project costs guidance.

Background and further information

About Small Business Research Initiative competitions

SBRI provides innovative solutions to challenges faced by the public sector. This can lead to better public services and improved efficiency and effectiveness.

The SBRI programme:

supports economic growth and enables the development of innovative products and services through the public procurement of R&D
generates new business opportunities for companies
provides a route to market for their ideas
bridges the seed funding gap experienced by many early-stage companies

SBRI competitions are open to all organisations that can demonstrate a route to market for their solution. The SBRI scheme is particularly suited to small and medium-sized businesses, as the contracts are of relatively small value and operate on short timescales. Developments are 100% funded and focused on specific identified needs, increasing the chance of exploitation.

Suppliers for each project will be selected by an open competition process and retain the intellectual property generated from the project, with certain rights of use retained by the contracting authority. This is an excellent opportunity to establish an early customer for a new technology and to fund its development.

Broader information

Hip fracture is a major global health problem which is associated with high mortality, morbidity, and economic burden. It affects approximately 70,000 patients annually in the UK and this is expected to double by 2035.

Hip fracture care quality is widely regarded as a key marker of overall quality of unscheduled hospital services, and improvement mechanisms will be applicable across the acute healthcare sector. National standard of care have been developed, however there are no digital solutions driving the improvement of hip fracture care pathways at present.

Projects coming out of this challenge will:

identify categories of hip-fracture patient within NHS Lothian that may respond differently to treatment options.
develop decision support functionalities accordingly using data analytics methods.
identify modifiable factors affecting Time-to-Surgery and patient outcomes, including 30 day and 12 months mortality rates.
develop algorithms that can provide decision support functionalities at key decision points in the hip-fracture care pathway from admission to rehabilitation (i.e. patient triage, prioritisation, optimisation)
perform a cost analysis combining patient cluster analysis and patient level costing data.
develop a roadmap for the validation, implementation and integration of decision support functionalities into a computerised integrated care pathway for hip-fracture surgery at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

Data sharing

This competition is jointly operated by Innovate UK and NHS Lothian (each an “agency”).

Your submitted application and any other information you provide at the application stage can be submitted to each agency on an individual basis for its storage, processing and use. Any relevant information produced during the application process concerning your application can be shared by one agency with the other, for its individual storage, processing and use.

This means that any information given to or generated by Innovate UK in respect of your application may be passed on to NHS Lothian, and vice versa.

Innovate UK is directly accountable to you for its holding and processing of your information, including any personal data and confidential information. It is held in accordance with its Information Management Policy.

Innovate UK and NHS Lothian are directly accountable to you for their holding and processing of your information, including any personal data and confidential information. Data is held in accordance with their own policies. Accordingly, Innovate UK, and NHS Lothian will be data controllers for personal data submitted during the application.

Innovate UK complies with the requirements of GDPR, and is committed to upholding the data protection principles, and protecting your information. The Information Commissioner’s Office also has a useful guide for organisations, which outlines the data protection principles.

Further help and information

If you want help to find a project partner, contact the Knowledge Transfer Network or Scottish Enterprise.

If you have any questions about the scope requirements of this competition, email Veronica Arias veronica.arias@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

If you need support with the application process, email us at support@innovateuk.ukri.org or call the competition helpline on 0300 321 4357 between 9am and 11:30am or 2pm and 4.30pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays).

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