As we enter the final quarter of 2025, the telehealth and digital health sectors continue to evolve rapidly, driven by advancements in AI, remote monitoring, and accessible care delivery. With ongoing policy discussions around extending Medicare telehealth flexibilities beyond September 30, 2025, funding opportunities remain crucial for innovators, researchers, and healthcare providers looking to expand virtual care solutions. This blog post highlights key grant and funding opportunities available in Q4 2025 (October to December), focusing on those supporting telehealth infrastructure, digital health technologies, and related research. These opportunities span U.S. federal agencies like NIH and NSF, as well as international programs like the EU's EIC.

I've curated a list based on current announcements, prioritizing those with deadlines in this period. Note that deadlines can shift, so always verify on official sites. Opportunities are presented in a table for easy comparison, followed by brief overviews.

Key Opportunities Overview

EIC Accelerator 2025 (European Innovation Council, EU)
Deadline: October 1, 2025
Funding: Up to €2.5M grant + €10M equity
Focus: Deep-tech startups scaling digital health solutions (AI, telehealth platforms, TRL 5+)
Eligibility: EU-based SMEs or mid-caps; no consortia required

Smart Health and Biomedical Research in the Era of Artificial Intelligence (SCH) (NSF, U.S.)
Deadline: October 3, 2025
Funding: Typically $500K–$2M per project
Focus: Interdisciplinary AI and data science for biomedical challenges, telehealth analytics, and remote monitoring
Eligibility: U.S. academic institutions, nonprofits, or consortia; interdisciplinary teams required

Laboratories to Optimize Digital Health (R01 Clinical Trial Required) (NIH)
Deadline: October 5, 2025
Funding: Budgets reflect project needs, up to 4 years
Focus: Clinical trials advancing telehealth tools for chronic disease and behavioral health
Eligibility: U.S. and non-U.S. higher ed, nonprofits, for-profits; relevant expertise required

Using Innovative Digital Healthcare Solutions to Achieve Health Equity (AHRQ/NIH)
Deadline: October 15, 2025
Funding: Project-specific
Focus: Telehealth apps and digital solutions improving equity for underserved, rural, and low-income communities
Eligibility: Public and private entities; emphasis on health equity

EIC Pathfinder 2025 (European Innovation Council, EU)
Deadline: October 29, 2025
Funding: Up to €4M (100% grant)
Focus: Early-stage research in digital health such as AI for diagnosis or biotech for resilient systems (TRL 1–4)
Eligibility: EU consortia with at least three entities from different countries, or single applicants for challenges

Digital Health Innovation Fund (Canada-focused, open internationally)
Deadline: November 15, 2025 (LOI by October 1)
Funding: Project-based
Focus: Pilots and innovations in telehealth and virtual care delivery, especially in primary care
Eligibility: Innovators and organizations internationally

NIH Trailblazer Award for New and Early-Stage Investigators
Deadline: December 5, 2025
Funding: Up to $1.5M over 5 years
Focus: Bold ideas in digital health research, including telehealth-enabled personalized medicine
Eligibility: Early-career U.S. investigators within 6 years of their first independent position

Detailed Spotlights on Selected Opportunities

1. EIC Accelerator 2025: Scaling Telehealth Disruptors

The European Innovation Council's EIC Accelerator is a flagship program for ambitious digital health ventures. Ideal for startups developing telehealth platforms or AI-driven remote diagnostics, it combines non-dilutive grants with equity to bridge the gap from prototype to market. In 2025, challenges include generative AI for healthcare and biotech innovations. Applications open year-round but have cut-offs; the Q4 window is critical for those ready to scale. Expect a rigorous jury process emphasizing commercial viability.

2. NSF's Smart Health and Biomedical Research (SCH): AI Meets Telehealth

NSF's SCH program is perfect for collaborative projects integrating AI into telehealth, such as predictive analytics for remote patient monitoring or data-driven public health interventions. With a focus on transformative tech, it's suited for academic-industry partnerships. Proposals must demonstrate interdisciplinary impact, and while funding varies, past awards have supported multi-year efforts totaling over $1M. This is a strong fit for U.S.-based researchers tackling post-pandemic care gaps.

3. NIH's Laboratories to Optimize Digital Health (R01)

This NIH funding opportunity targets clinical trials optimizing digital tools for real-world telehealth applications, like app-based mental health support or wearable-integrated care. The October cycle aligns with standard NIH review timelines, offering awards starting as early as December 2025. Budgets are flexible but must justify needs, with a cap of 4 years. It's open to a broad range of applicants, including for-profits, making it accessible for digital health innovators conducting trials.

4. Additional Notables: Foundations and State Programs

• NCDHHS Telehealth Infrastructure Grant (Wave 4): North Carolina's program funds rural telehealth expansion, with applications closing September 30, 2025 (just edging into Q4 review). Up to $500K for infrastructure; eligible for NC-based nonprofits and providers.
• American Heart Association (AHA) Research Grants: Pre-proposals due October 29, 2025, for digital health projects in cardiovascular telehealth. Full proposals follow, with awards up to $500K.
• For foundations, check the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation's ongoing digital health grants (rolling deadlines through 2025), which have awarded nearly $500M historically for AI in health.

Tips for Applying

• Start Early: Many require letters of intent (e.g., NIH's 30 days prior) or pre-proposals. Review eligibility strictly—e.g., EU programs favor consortia.
• Tailor to Priorities: Emphasize equity, AI integration, and rural access, as these are hot themes in 2025 funding.
• Resources: Use Grants.gov for U.S. federal opps, EU's Funding & Tenders Portal for EIC, and NIH RePORTER for past awards. Consult state offices like HRSA for telehealth-specific guidance.
• Challenges Ahead: With the Medicare telehealth "cliff" looming post-September 30, 2025, grants focusing on policy-compliant innovations will stand out.

Q4 2025 offers a robust pipeline for telehealth and digital health advancement. If you're an innovator or provider, these could propel your next project. Stay tuned for updates!