21.10.14
Health technology companies with life-saving ideas to share £2.5m
The Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Healthcare has launched its latest competition, offering £2.5m of funding to companies working in priority healthcare areas.
The competition aims to accelerate the development and NHS adoption of new technologies. The programme focuses on clearly identified NHS needs, bringing clinicians and business together at an early stage to harness the expertise of SMEs to develop effective solutions. Successful projects are fully funded through three phases of development - proof of concept, product development and delivery in the marketplace.
SBRI Healthcare is an NHS England initiative, championed by the Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs), whose role is to promote UK economic growth by spreading innovation and best practice across the NHS. The SBRI Healthcare competitions are launched on a biannual basis and result in fully funded development contracts between the awarded company and NHS England to meet known healthcare need.
“The SBRI Healthcare is creating new jobs, helping to develop strong businesses and bringing new solutions to solve identified NHS challenges that aren’t currently being met,” commented Karen Livingstone, director of SBRI Healthcare. “It is fantastic to see such promise at a relatively early stage in the development cycle of many of the new technologies. Early evaluation of this approach shows the products developed save lives and NHS resources and we look forward to seeing the fuller impact of the programme as more products reach the patient.”
Theme areas have been chosen in partnership with Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs), and supporting bodies, across England and will focus on Brain Injury; Child and Adolescent Mental Health; Diabetic Foot Ulcers; Imaging; and Outpatient Services.
The competition closes on 9 December 2014, with winners announced in March 2015. Briefing events for business to learn about the competition will take place on 11 November (London) and 13 November (Leeds). To find out more visit the SBRI Healthcare website.
NHE interviewed Karen Livingstone earlier this year: From brainstorm to bedside: turning innovative ideas into NHS reality
You can also find more coverage of SBRI Healthcare elsewhere on the NHE website.
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