A new £50 million capital grant fund has been launched by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Office for Life Sciences to support large-scale, transformative research and development (R&D) projects in the UK’s life sciences sector.

The Life Sciences Transformational R&D Investment Fund (TRIF) Pilot is designed to accelerate innovation, strengthen health resilience, and deliver significant economic benefits. Eligible projects must have a total cost of at least £100 million, including capital expenditure.

Grants will be awarded at the minimum level required to ensure project viability, in line with UK subsidy regulations. Typically, this will range from 10–20% of total project costs. For example, a £100 million project may receive between £10–20 million in grant funding.

While the pilot phase is focused on large-scale investments, the government has signalled its intention to explore future expansion of the programme to support a broader range of R&D initiatives, including smaller-scale projects.

The TRIF Pilot complements the existing Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (LSIMF) and forms part of the UK’s wider strategy to enhance its global leadership in life sciences.

Applications are open until 31 March 2028 at 11:59pm, and full details are available via the government’s grant application portal.

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