Medilink Midlands offers Patronage to prominent organisations within the Midlands that recognise and demonstrate the importance of life sciences to the region, and that appreciate the positive contribution that Medilink makes to the sector through our diverse programme of events and business support activities.

Health Innovation East Midlands (formerly East Midlands Academic Health Science Network) joined the Medilink Midlands Patronage in 2015 and has since become a key partner for many projects, including the ERDF-funded projects which ran from 2014-2023. On behalf of our longstanding Patron, we’d like to take the time to highlight the significant contribution Health Innovation East Midlands makes to the life sciences sector in the Midlands.

Who we are 

Health Innovation East Midlands (formerly the EMAHSN) was established by NHS England in 2013, as one of 15 organisations across England acting together as the innovation arm of the NHS. We bring together partners from across all sectors involved in health and care including the NHS, social care and public health, patients, research, third sector and industry – to identify, test and spread new technologies and better ways of working. Our aims are to save the NHS money, generate economic growth, empower health and care staff, and improve the experience and outcomes of patients

How we can help 

At Health Innovation East Midlands, our focus is connecting and collaborating with the healthcare sector, the public, and industry and research organisations to discover, test, and spread health innovations into the NHS.

To do this we offer various forms of support including:

  • Rapid evaluation in real world settings
  • Innovation scanning – searching for and supporting adoption of solutions to health and care challenges
  • Data and analytics to support data-driven insight
  • Patient & Public Involvement / Health Equity – access to toolkits and training, and independent ‘confirm and challenge’ via the independent patient networks that we host
  • Quality Improvement methodology and expertise around communities of practice.

In addition to formal programmes such as:

Innovation Academy

Health Innovation Academy logoBy popular demand, we are relaunching our Innovation Academy in 2024 with new course content to support innovators looking to gain access to the NHS for their products.

The Innovation Academy offers innovators free access to a curated catalogue of short courses that follow the Healthcare Technology Pathway from ideation to adoption. The expert-led modules are made up of on-demand recorded content, complemented by live ‘Ask the Expert’ sessions to gain further insight.

As the innovation arm of the NHS in the East Midlands, we are uniquely placed to support and guide innovators seeking to turn their great ideas into successful solutions that are both commercially viable and transform care for patients.

The Innovation Academy equips participants with the core skills required to work with the NHS and deliver new innovations. Academy participants will learn how to apply business concepts, tools and terminology whilst gaining an understanding of the NHS and healthcare market.

‘Ask the Expert’” Q&A session with TBAT Innovation – R&D Funding & Tax Credits on Tuesday 23 January 2024 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Gain valuable insights from industry experts who will demystify funding options, navigate tax incentives, and answer all your burning questions. Plus, attendees get a bonus one-to-one consultancy call with TBAT to discuss their specific needs.

In order to book onto the session, you must create or login into the ‘Health Innovation Academy’ – to sign up/be redirected, please see here.  Once signed in, go to the R&D Funding and Tax Credits course page to book on to this ‘Ask the Expert’ session.

Supporting innovation 

Having first collaborated in 2014, we have a longstanding working relationship with Medilink Midlands that continues to evolve through new and ongoing collaborative projects. As well as being a key strategic partner for Medilink’s ERDF-funded business support projects, we work together on a highly successful series of Innovation Surgeries held at Charnwood Campus. These form part of a series of events and workshops to support the growth and success of the life science organisations clustered around Charnwood Campus Science, Innovation and Technology Park.

We have also joined forces with Medilink Midlands to launch a new programme designed to support and accelerate health innovations in the region. The Health Innovation Fund offers support of between £5,000 and £10,000 to enable East Midlands-based SMEs or businesses working with East Midlands healthcare system partners to further advance disruptive innovations that are ripe for NHS uptake and have significant potential for rapid economic return for the region.

Applications are open and will close on 1 March 2024. To find out more and how to apply, visit: healthinnovation-em.org.uk/healthinnovationfund

Get in touch 

If you would like to learn more about Health Innovation East Midlands to see how we can support your innovative ideas please visit our website or email [email protected]. Where you can complete our engagement form and we’ll be in touch.

On behalf of Health Innovation East Midlands, we hope that the above highlights just some of the sector-leading work being carried out by our valued Patron.

More information on our Patronage is available here.

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