The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Invention 4 Innovation programme, and Innovation Observatory is attending the Med-Tech Innovation Expo on 4-5 June (NEC, Hall 2) and will feature Sustainability in Health Technology: What is required and Why.
Sustainability is a key consideration in product development and an assessment focus in the NIHR. The NHS, responsible for 40% of the public sector’s emissions, committed to net zero in 2020 and has made significant progress, but knowledge gaps remain on how to achieve this goal. Decarbonisation requires a systemic approach, involving collaboration between researchers, engineers, NHS staff, local authorities, and charities.
NIHR has invested £25m in research funding to reduce emissions in the health sector and recently partnered with UKRI for a further £42m initiative focusing on health and sustainability. The NIHR is committed to supporting rapid, impactful research and encourages broad collaboration to achieve a low-carbon healthcare system while improving patient outcomes. Efforts to cut emissions can also reduce health inequalities, shift care from hospitals to communities, and promote preventive health measures.
This year, alongside our traditional activities, the NIHR Invention 4 Innovation programme is helping raise awareness of the importance of sustainability in health technology development alongside fellow Medilink Midland member Pd-m. Join us on the Med-Tech Insights stage on 5 June, 11am to 12 noon where the NIHR Invention 4 Innovation programme will be hosting a 60 min panel discussion on the ‘what’ and the ‘why’ and ‘how’ sustainability is important to innovators at all stages of the research pathway. The session will be chaired by Helen Compton, Innovation Programmes, NIHRCC and panellists will be:
- Michael Hopkinson Department of Health and Social Care, MedTech and Innovation Directorate and contributor to the Design for Life Roadmap: building a circular economy for medical technology. The “why” from a policy perspective.
- Dr Sophie Lentzos, NIHR Head of Climate, Health and Sustainability. The ‘why’ from a funder perspective.
- Helen Dawes, NIHR HealthTech Research Centre (HRC) in Sustainable Innovation, Exeter. The ‘what and how’, a case study highlighting the support NIHR can provide.
- Rich Shaw, Commercial and Sustainability lead, Pd-m. The ‘how’ for early-stage innovators.
As usual, the Invention 4 Innovation Programme will be supporting 3 SMEs in the start up zone and they will be able to tell you not only about their product, but also the role NIHR has in supporting them in their journey.
Plus we have our main exhibition stand (F39) where colleagues will also be available to tell you about the NIHR Industry offer, the NIHR Invention 4 Innovation (i4i) programme, the NIHR Innovation Observatory and its support for SMEs, and we will either have colleagues from the NIHR HRC in Sustainable Innovation visiting or will signpost you to their stand (H49).
To close the MTI expo on 5 June the Rapid News stand will host the closing activity for both Pd-m and NIHR.
At 2pm Pd-m will convene 4 SMEs they have worked with as early-stage innovators. The SMEs will showcase how they are embedding sustainability into their innovations at an early stage of development (TRL2-3).
At 2.30pm the 3 NIHR Invention 4 Innovation Programme sponsored SMEs in the start up zone will compete with the other start up zone SMEs in the pitch festival to win an interview with Rapid News for the med-tech magazine newsletter to help promote their innovation to a wider audience. NIHR-supported SMEs this year include Predictive Health Intelligence, and Healome Therapeutics Ltd and each 5 min pitch will be in front of the Rapid News stand audience and judging panel. This year the judging panel will comprise:
- Andrew Davidson, PD-m Chairman, Chair of judging panel
- Andrew Short, Innovate UK Business Connect
- Chris Hyde, NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Sustainable Innovation
- Lu Tikrity, Rapid News
There is likely to be something of relevance to you as innovators and plenty of opportunity to raise queries on med-tech product development whether you are an early-stage SME (pre NIHR funding stage), or a later stage SME looking to utilise the NIHR wider offer to support your clinical translational development. Come visit the NIHR Invention 4 Innovation Programme and Innovation Observatory (F39) and Pd-m (F35) stands.
Article provded by NIHR.
