Health Technology Economy Set to Grow in North West

The launch of a HealthTec Cluster at Sci-Tech Daresbury will help grow businesses and medical science both  in the North West region and nationally, bringing together researchers, industry specialists and local clinical champions. Led by STFC, part of UK Research and Innovation, in partnership with the Innovation Agency, the Academic Health Science Network for the North West Coast, this initiative will stimulate cross-sector collaborations commercialisation and the global growth of health technologies, supported by an array of innovation-enabling organisations.

At the launch event in May, Sir Mark Walport, Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation, said: “Combining the extraordinary technology strengths of STFC at the Daresbury Campus with the health expertise of the North West Coast Academic Health Sciences Network provides an outstanding setting for the new HealthTec Cluster to develop. By working with the cluster’s many stakeholders, UKRI will enhance capacity to support the development of innovators and industry. This complements the founding objectives of the HealthTec Cluster set up by STFC and its partners at Harwell.”

Liz Mear, Chief Executive at the Innovation Agency, said: “There is a wealth of talent and many fantastic facilities in our region; I am confident that by collaborating in a HealthTec Cluster we will create a powerful magnet for more investment and activities in the North West which will benefit the UK economy – and the health of our population.”

Dr Barbara Ghinelli, Director of Cluster Development at STFC, said: “Together with its sister cluster at Harwell the North West HealthTec Cluster will provide a national asset which will drive the innovation required to address the challenges that the health system faces. In addition it will help the UK become a world leader in developing, validating and adopting affordable innovations at scale, aligned with the UK life sciences Industrial Strategy.”