

Key Dates
Launch funding | 17th June |
Expression of Interest | 27th June |
Submit Business Case | 18th July |
Panel Deliberation | 21-25th July |
‘In person’ pitch | Wb 28th July |
Project Close | 31 December |
Evaluation | January 2026 |


What we’re looking for
The CDC has up to £180k to award to at minimum 3 companies to:
- Help us build our data commons by joining-up the data
- Help us explore novel data capture through a Community-led approach
- Create a novel digital idea
This fund is not to be used as working capital for ‘business as usual’ operations, but specifically to develop your innovations further. Your innovation must:
- Develop a new product, process, service or application which responds to one of the challenge areas;
- Deliver clear transformational benefits for the applicant SMEs and LCR economy;
- Improve the health and wellbeing of the LCR
You will retain ownership of the IP of anything you produce using this funding.


How to apply
We have a short two-stage application process. Email us at any time if you have questions at cdc.info@liverpool.ac.uk.
- First – Fill in our Expression of interest form by 27th June at noon
- Second – Submit your Business Case using our Business case template by 18th July
You may complete an EOI but decide this programme isn’t for you during the sprint. Please let us know and provide any reason for your decision to help us with future programs.
You will only be able to submit a full application if you have been through the EoI process.
The CDC team will be in touch after submitting your EoI to discuss your project.
Frequently Asked Questions
We appreciate that “innovation” can mean different things to different people. Innovation activities within the region range from R&D- intensive fundamental science carried out through our leading universities, to agile SME product, process & service innovation. We are open to projects from any sector, speciality or technology (except those specifically excluded in the eligibility criteria).
We do not hold any pre-conceived ideas as to what proposed innovations look like, but we are clear that all proposals must look to:
- Develop a new product, process, service or application which responds to one of the challenge areas;
- Deliver clear transformational benefits for the applicant SMEs and LCR economy;
- Improve the health and wellbeing of the LCR
We will give priority to SMEs based, or looking to relocate to the LCR. We’re looking for digital/data led solutions linked to the following areas:
- Help us build our data commons by joining up the data – collect store or link data between organisations and across sectors.
- Help us explore novel data capture through a Community led data project
- Create a novel digital idea -Apps to facilitate response to upcoming trends – capturing emerging trends from personal data, communities and organisations working across sectors to allow workforces to respond.
An expert panel will review applications. Please ensure you answer the questions we’ve asked.
Your application will only be assessed on these questions.
Shortlisted projects to pitch live in the week of the 28th July.
Read the Panel scoring criteria to find out more.
Yes. We want to create a vibrant, internationally visible, civic data environment which will enable residents’ data to work harder for them to shape better care and fuel globally important innovations from the LCR.
We believe this is a virtuous cycle so it’s important to us that any funded innovation either draws from, or contributes to, the data and intelligence landscape. For example, you might be contributing to the data intelligence of the system through sharing your insights and engagement data which will inform future interventions, you might be targeting your solution based on live data that you are using to ensure best use of resources or you might be building valuable data that could be used to inform decision makers about what is working on the ground. We want to understand how you will use data and intelligence to make the best solution, operate effectively or contribute to the knowledge we hold collectively in the future.
