MedTech Campus offers gateway to the NHS

Business Network Services officially launched at Innovation Expo at London’s ExCeL

Companies from across the medical technology sector will be offered improved access to the NHS and global markets when the Anglia Ruskin MedTech Campus launches its Business Network Services on Wednesday, 13 March.

The event, at the Healthcare Innovation Expo at London’s ExCeL Centre, will feature presentations by stakeholders and supporters of the Anglia Ruskin MedTech Campus including Health Minister Lord Howe, representatives from local council partners, NHS Trusts, private healthcare CEOs, and Anglia Ruskin University Vice Chancellor Professor Michael Thorne.

The pan-Essex project, which is a partnership between Chelmsford City Council, Harlow District Council, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and Anglia Ruskin, is predicted to grow the UK medical technology sector by £1.2bn and generate approximately 12,500 jobs across three sites.

The Business Network Services will allow companies of all sizes – from start-ups to multinationals – the opportunity to access clinicians, academics, industry and customers.  Anglia Ruskin is the lead academic partner and key provider of business and innovation services and, through its Clinical Trials Unit, it works closely with six acute NHS Trusts and a large mental health trust in Essex, offering access to a potential test bed of three million patients.

These links allow businesses to gain early adoption and feedback on their product, as well as develop relationships with potential customers.  The Anglia Ruskin MedTech Campus has well-established connections with the NHS and can call upon thousands of academic and clinical researchers from across the full healthcare landscape, who can advise companies and inventors on their product or service ideas.

The Business Network Services can also provide access to a range of public and private sector funding opportunities, ranging from venture capitalists to Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.  Anglia Ruskin has set up a £500,000 proof of concept fund and is also planning to secure up to £2.2m from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to promote low carbon innovation in the MedTech sector.

Lord Howe, Health Minister, said:

“Rapidly adopting innovations that improve the quality of patient care is a priority for the NHS. It is vital that we support the NHS to embrace invention, be receptive to new ideas and share and spread the best ideas, products and clinical practice.
“The Anglia Ruskin MedTech Campus can play a key part in bringing these innovations to the NHS and beyond.  With a global healthcare market worth around four trillion dollars, the potential value to the UK in terms of economic growth and development is enormous.”

Professor Michael Thorne, Anglia Ruskin University’s Vice Chancellor, said:

“The unprecedented demands that the NHS faces from a population who are living longer, healthier lives, but with more chronic conditions means that the current model of healthcare delivery has to change to be sustainable.  The Anglia Ruskin MedTech Campus will specialise in near-market solutions for products and services, meaning we can begin to address these problems tomorrow rather than the distant future.”

Chief Executive of Chelmsford City Council, Steve Packham, said:

“There is a very proud tradition of business innovation within Chelmsford, Harlow and Southend.  The scale of the MedTech opportunity is significant and the three authorities are fully committed to working in partnership with Anglia Ruskin University to make this venture a success.
“All locations have something very different to offer, however collectively there is real potential to generate significant growth in this research sector.  Developing innovation, attracting inward investment, creating new jobs and economic growth are aspirations for us all and we believe that the chances of success are greater through a genuine partnership approach.”

Harlow Council’s Chief Executive, Malcolm Morley, said:

“This is a great example of the public sector working together to support and contribute to the private sector’s enterprise and innovation.  Using the comparative advantages of Essex as part of an internationally focused partnership will convert aspiration into tangible economic success for the benefit of UK plc. 
“Harlow is a science-based town and a key focus of the town’s Enterprise Zone is MedTech.  This partnership will support the existing MedTech cluster and the culture of scientific enterprise and innovation within the town.”

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s Chief Executive, Rob Tinlin, said:

“Our ground-breaking partnership brings business, local authorities and academic institutions uniquely together.  This means industry can engage with local authorities and care commissioners in a new way to deliver excellent care innovatively.
“Southend’s healthcare and economy already benefits from existing medical technology businesses.  We are keen to develop this cluster further to help businesses flourish across the board.”

The Business Network Services launch will take place in the Medical Leaders Conference Area at the ExCeL Centre on Wednesday, 13 March (3pm).  There will be interview opportunities with the key stakeholders from 4pm.  For further details of the MedTech Campus, please visit http://www.medtechcampus.com/