Pioneering UK neurotech fund launched from Cambridge

The Blue Sky Proof-of-Concept (PoC) Fund it has launched is designed to accelerate bold, neurotech breakthroughs nationwide, paving the way for a new generation of neurotechnologies to treat conditions such as depression, dementia, chronic pain, epilepsy, and nervous system injuries. 

The fund will support six-month hypothesis-testing projects with the potential to reshape a future where neurological conditions no longer limit human potential.

This initiative is part of the Cambridge NeuroWorks Programme, supported by multi-million-pound funding from the UK government’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA). The initiative aims to identify and support innovators across the UK developing new treatments, devices, and diagnostic tools for neurological conditions.

Dr Aga Iwasiewicz-Wabnig, Director of the Maxwell Centre at the University of Cambridge and Cambridge NeuroWorks Blue Sky Lead, says:  “Neurodegenerative disorders affect a large portion of society, making lives harder and putting a significant burden on health systems, calling for bold action to change the status quo. 

“Our PoC Fund will serve as a platform for original thinkers who might otherwise lack access to the right kind of funding and diverse expert advice needed to rigorously test their moonshot ideas.”   

The Blue Sky PoC Fund invites bold, well-defined hypotheses that align with ARIA’s Scalable Neural Interface Opportunity Space. These Opportunity Spaces are designed to explore critically important but under-investigated areas of research. Within this context, Cambridge NeuroWorks is focused on advancing highly targeted, minimally invasive neurotechnologies to better understand and repair, improve, or reduce decline in brain and nervous system function.

Each project, delivered through a UK Higher Education Institution, will receive up to £50,000 for eligible costs, access to subject-matter experts, ongoing support, and inclusion to the Cambridge NeuroWorks community and network.

Dr Bart Nieuwenhuis, Innovation Pathway Manager (Proof-of-Concept) at Cambridge NeuroWorks, says:  “Cambridge NeuroWorks is already driving exciting neurotechnology projects here in Cambridge. With the launch of the PoC Fund, we can now also support transformative ideas across the UK. I’m excited to see how this fund will shape the development of new neurotechnologies to tackle pressing neurological challenges.”

Applicants should clearly define the clinical problem their project addresses, outline its potential long-term benefits for patients, and identify a UK Higher Education Institution to host the project. Applications close on 20th January 2026, with successful projects starting between 15 June and 15 September 2026.

To find out more and apply, visit: https://cambridgeneuroworks.org/programmes/blue-sky-proof-of-concept-fund