Clusters promote economic growth through the co-location of organisations, knowledge, skills and facilities. This environment promotes connection and collaboration – enabling those in the cluster to operate more flexibly and productively.
The lead organisations in the development of this HealthTec Cluster are the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and the North West Coast Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) – the Innovation Agency.
The UK is globally recognised as a leader in health technology research and innovation. Health technology encompasses a number of disciplines across life sciences from medical technologies and digital applications, to pharmaceuticals and biomedical technologies.
In the North of England there are over 28 universities fuelling research, education and skills development and over 1200 life science companies employing more than 50,000 people (Bionow, April 2019).
The HealthTec Cluster provides an opportunity to bring these hubs of expertise from across the industry, academia, public sector, investor networks and entrepreneurs together to share ideas and collaborate to stimulate innovation and tackle global challenges.
The HealthTec Cluster spans four local enterprise partnerships in the North West:
- Cheshire and Warrington
- Greater Manchester
- Lancashire
- Liverpool City Region.
These regions come together to share knowledge and facilities specifically designed to develop health technology businesses and to transform healthcare.
“Connecting with the NW HealthTec Cluster is possibly the most important thing SMEs can do in their commercialisation journey. The true benefit of representation, platform, introductions and advice collectively, and from stakeholders such as STFC, Innovation Agency, Health Innovation Exchange and KTN has been incalculable.”
Phil Blything, CEO, Glow New Media
Contact
Phil Carvil
Telephone: 01925 603368
Email: philip.carvil@stfc.ac.uk.
Last updated: 31 March 2022