Grow MedTech is a new programme, funded by the Research England Connecting Capability Fund, established to support medical technology innovation and development in the Leeds and Sheffield City Regions. Focusing on technology convergence and the de-risking of technologies, Grow MedTech will bring together leading technology and translational expertise in the Leeds and Sheffield city regions in a patient focussed and commercially driven innovation system. It will enhance productivity and economic growth in the UK medical technology sector, while addressing the evolving health needs of the population.
Grow MedTech combines strengths from the Universities of Bradford, Huddersfield, Leeds Beckett, Leeds, York and Sheffield Hallam, with sector specialist innovation managers, industry partners and expert healthcare professionals to offer a level of medtech capability and capacity that no single entity could provide on its own. The programme aims to unlock the full potential of the region and make it a leading area for medical technology innovation and commercialisation in the UK.
I am the Technology Innovation Manager for Grow MedTech at the University of York. I am based in Research and Enterprise, and you will find me working with the Business Development Team in the Ron Cooke Hub. In my role I am working closely with academics, companies and clinicians in the York region to enable exciting Medical Technology opportunities developed by universities and companies to progress to commercial propositions. This involves identifying promising Medical Technologies emerging from the Grow MedTech consortium and its networks, matching with academic capability, company partners and other collaborators and providing the support and management to de-risk these technologies ready for investment. My technology areas of interest within the med tech field include medical devices, tissue engineering, biological scaffolds, biomaterials, diagnostics, personalised medicine and digital health.
We are inviting applications for Proof of Market, Proof of Feasibility and Proof of Concept projects from academic led teams at partner institutes. These calls will support projects that demonstrate links with industry and the clinical/healthcare sector.