Written by The West Midlands Innovation Accelerator recently announced by the West Midlands Combined Authority is designed to increase the region’s innovation and R&D capability.
The West Midlands will receive a share of a new £100m fund from Innovate UK, first announced in the Government’s 2022 Levelling up White Paper. The West Midlands Innovation Board has targeted the investment on five projects enabling new solutions around Medical and Clean Technologies.
The University of Warwick is to play a key role in the delivery of the 6D Innovation Accelerator project focussed on building and accelerating a regional ecosystem of Health and Medical Technologies
The 6Ds include:
> Diagnosis of company needs
> Definition of major NHS and industry-based challenges to target
> Development and refinement of prototype products
> Deployment of innovation in real-world NHS settings
> Diversification of supply chains, skills and services
> Demonstration of significant economic and health benefits for our region
The West Midlands Health and Wellbeing Innovation Network, based within the Warwick Innovation District, will enable companies to develop products and services collaboratively with the regional healthcare system.
David Plumb, Chief Innovation Officer at the University of Warwick, commented: “I’m delighted we have secured this funding as it provides the opportunity to create positive outcomes for businesses, the healthcare infrastructure and patients within the West Midlands.”
“The healthcare sector has recently faced some of the most challenging circumstances in memory. Initiatives like the accelerator are vital in order to harness innovation to solve these challenges quickly and efficiently for the benefit of all”.
If you are an innovator with a Medtech or Health Tech solution or represent a healthcare institution with challenges to solve please find out more about the West Midlands Health and Wellbeing Innovation Network here and contact the team.
For more about the West Midlands Combined Authority click here: https://www.wmca.org.uk/what-we-do/economy-and-innovation/west-midlands-innovation-accelerator/
Job Opportunities
There are several new job roles being created in line with the recent successful project acquisitions. The West Midlands Health & Wellbeing Innovation Network is hiring for a number of innovation related roles.
Please contact Joshua.dale@warwick.ac.uk if you have experience delivering innovation workshops, programmes or projects.