We help to develop innovation centres, which act as hubs for health, academic and industry partners involved in joint projects.
Our role can include pump prime funding, helping to attract major investment from European and other sources; and introductions to potential investors and other collaborators in healthcare and academia.
We have helped or are helping these innovation centres:
Alder Hey Childrens Hospital
We have provided two awards of infrastructure funding to the new Alder Hey Children"s Hospital. The first award was for the Institute in the Park, a paediatrician research and education centre; and the second was for a 'living hospital lab" - a centre for developing new innovative approaches for children's care and treatment in clinical settings.
"The monies have allowed us to gain match funding and ensure that both projects are successful. Our ambition to be an international centre of excellence in developing healthcare solutions for children has been accelerated by the support of the Health Innovation North West Coast."
Louise Shepherd
Chief Executive, Alder Hey Children"s Hospital
Chester Centre for Integrated Healthcare Science
Based at Bache Hall, adjacent to the hospital, the centre acts as a hub for innovation and collaboration; enabling the integration of research and education into health and social care.We have provided pump prime funding for this joint venture between the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Chester, to facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration across the two organisations.
Chorley Digital Health Hub
We have funded a feasibility study alongside Chorley Council and a plan for a data centre in Chorley which will comprise a 17,500 square foot data centre with offices. An outline specification, layout plan and artist"s impression will be prepared. Plans are also being developed to build smart technology-enabled homes on the site.
Lancaster University Health Innovation Campus
The campus is a response to a genuine need from industry and there will be a strong focus on working with businesses and healthcare providers to make advances in technologies, products and services.
We are funding the role of entrepreneur in residence as a first step in bringing together industry, health care and the university.
The Innovation campus will open in 2018 and will:
- Capitalise on the research profile, collaborative strengths and business linkages of the University.
- Provide research and development activities and raise the profile of Lancaster University as an excellent partner for collaborative research.
- Improve graduate retention in the area.
- Mutually enhance the image and reputation of Lancaster, the region, the University and businesses.
Liverpool Bio Innovation Hub
The Liverpool Bio Innovation Hub will include laboratory and office space and allow commercial access to the latest biobank technologies and equipment in the study of areas such as genomics, proteomics and metabolomics.
The first phase in developing Liverpool"s health campus is the Liverpool Life Sciences Accelerator, which will expand the scale of the existing model for development of commercial opportunities from the research and clinical base. It will comprise:
- Laboratory facilities for new and growing SMEs
- Business support and commercialisation centre
- Meeting and networking facilities
The Accelerator will support collaboration between the public and private sectors (large and small private sector companies, academics and clinicians) to develop a wide range of products including drugs, devices, smart technology and materials for implants that will improve patient care and treatment outcomes.
