Health Enterprise East (HEE) has recently launched a partnership with St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to help accelerate the development of innovative technologies.
The announcement comes as HEE marks its 15th anniversary as a medtech innovation partner for the NHS and the wider healthcare industry.
The collaboration with St George’s Hospital brings HEE’s membership to a total of 25 NHS organisations, and comes soon after the announcement of its tie-up with the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust. Having started out with just four partner Trusts in the East of England, HEE now works with a network of major teaching hospitals spanning London, the East, South East and South West of the country.
Dr Anne Blackwood, CEO of HEE, said: “Having reviewed over 2,000 innovations since HEE was first launched, it is clear to us that there is an abundance of creativity and innovation within the NHS. By working with partners like St George’s University Hospital, our aim is to support those clinicians who have bright ideas for medical innovations but who need practical guidance, not only on how to bring their ideas to life and but crucially on how to bring them to market. The fact that HEE is now in a position to support a Trust such as St George’s, with its prestigious reputation for research, shows just how far we’ve come, and is indeed a privilege. What better way for us to celebrate our 15th birthday!”
Working alongside researchers, scientists and clinical innovators, HEE will provide support to identify, develop and commercialise medtech innovations originating from Trust staff to enhance the quality of care provided and the patient experience.
Dr Sven Hofmann, head of enterprise & innovation, at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Our new partnership with HEE will help us harness the expertise and innovation generated across both our hospital and university more effectively. Our clinicians and researchers will now enjoy direct access to practical advice, support and funding to help them arrive more quickly at new innovative solutions for the benefit of our patients. The development process will become more streamlined, with support on offer at every stage, from the proof-of-concept phase to real-world testing. With HEE’s track record in developing innovations, it will be exciting to see where this collaboration takes us.”
HEE also works with the Government on innovation programmes designed to accelerate new healthcare technologies to market, and with businesses to assess and evidence the market opportunity for new products or services.
