How Nami Surgical Secured Innovate UK’s Biomedical Catalyst Grant
Press Release
Earlier this year, Nami Surgical secured £700,000 in grant funding through Innovate UK’s Biomedical Catalyst programme, supporting the continued development and commercialisation of the company’s miniature ultrasonic surgical technology.
As the UK’s national innovation agency, Innovate UK supports businesses to develop and commercialise new technologies through funding and access to a wider ecosystem of expertise and resources.
Securing the funding was a highly competitive process. With support from Scottish Enterprise International Collaboration and Innovation Specialist Ulrike Knies-Bamforth, Nami successfully secured the grant on its first application.
The Biomedical Catalyst Grant
Groundbreaking medical technologies can require significant research, development and testing before they are ready to reach the market.
The Biomedical Catalyst programme is designed to support innovative UK SMEs through this journey, helping to accelerate promising technologies towards market, reduce some of the risk associated with early-stage innovation and encourage further private investment.
The grant is delivered by Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and funded by the UK Government.
With a reported success rate of just 7% for the funding round, securing £700,000 on Nami’s first application represented a significant milestone for the company.
The Application Process
The first stage involved a detailed written application covering the technology, business opportunity and research and development required to progress Nami’s technology towards market.
With a scientific background and experience in publishing, Ulrike worked closely with the Nami team to provide additional insight into the application process, helping ensure complex technical information was communicated clearly and concisely.
Following a successful initial review, Nami Co-founders Dr Nico Fenu and Dr Rebecca Cleary were invited to interview. The judging panel scrutinised the application and provided further questions for the team to address as part of its final submission.
Reflecting on Ulrike’s support throughout the process, Rebecca commented:
“Ulrike’s scientific background, and knowledge of the support ecosystem of MedTech startups has been absolutely vital to the success of our fundraising efforts. Beyond her expertise, she has been a patient and supportive coach- the results of which have been absolutely transformative for our business.”
Through consultation with other experts, the initial application was refined and submitted, pending feedback to reach the next stage.
What it means for Nami
Commenting on the application and the team’s approach, Ulrike said:
“Rebecca was so diligent in her approach, dedicating herself to learn the nuances of Innovate UK’s application process and applying this throughout every step of the process- on top of her own technical expertise. As well as this, Nico’s thorough knowledge of the market and the work he’s put in to understand the landscape truly sets the company apart and will continue to do so for years to come.”
The £700,000 grant was secured alongside a further £2.5 million in equity investment, led by St Andrews-based EOS Advisory alongside the Investment Fund for Scotland.
Together, the funding has enabled Nami to move into new headquarters with a dedicated R&D and prototyping laboratory, while expanding the team to accelerate product development and testing.
Importantly, the Biomedical Catalyst funding is supporting the continued development of Nami’s miniature ultrasonic scalpel platform, bringing the technology closer to commercialisation and eventual use in surgery.
The project also supports the development of a new electrical driving system for Nami’s ultrasonic devices, with the aim of further enhancing their performance and functionality for robotic surgical applications.
