University of Warwick announced as partner in £14m health tech scheme

The University of Warwick has been announced as a lead delivery partner on the £14 million West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator (WMHTIA).  

WMHTIA aims to bring together universities, hospitals, industries, and government-funded ‘catapults’ to help companies overcome ‘pinch-points’ in the commercialisation process.  

The programme will develop innovative solutions to problems within the British healthcare market and introduce new medical and healthcare technologies.  

We have the knowledge, skills and now resources across the WMHTIA partners to build the infrastructure that will enable (the) West Midlands to become a Health Tech leader

Josh Dale, Associate Director of Health and Wellbeing Innovation

The West Midlands Health and Wellbeing Innovation Network (WMHWIN) is based at the University of Warwick and funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority. 

The WMWHIN will deliver programmes to attract and support health innovators to the West Midlands, which will “drive new innovations based on clinical and patient need”.   

It aims to stimulate competition and collaboration in the healthcare market to improve patient experience and outcomes.  

The network focuses on addressing existing and post-Covid-19 healthcare challenges like the long waiting list, ageing population, robotics, new diseases, and management.   

The programme strives to enhance waste management across hospitals, improve staff allocation, promote efficient patient flow, and increase patient status visibility in the NHS system.  

Partners in the WMWHIN include the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust and Bruntwood SciTech. 

Josh Dale, Associate Director of Health and Wellbeing Innovation, suggested that the regional initiative will create “a health innovation ecosystem” that helps businesses, the NHS, and patients. 

He said: “We have the knowledge, skills and now resources across the WMHTIA partners to build the infrastructure that will enable (the) West Midlands to become a Health Tech leader.”

David Plumb, Chief Innovation Officer at the University of Warwick, said: “I’m delighted we have secured this funding and am sure that the accelerator will make a positive difference across NHS trusts and beyond.

“In a sector where healthcare technology is always moving rapidly, initiatives like the accelerator are vital in order to give us the most efficient healthcare system possible here in the West Midlands.” 

WMWHIN is part of the Warwick Innovation District located at the Junction Building.