INSIGHTS / News

Healthcare innovators in the West of England came together in Bath this month to learn how to take their cutting edge technology and business ideas to the next level.

The three-day Healthcare Innovation Programme, hosted by SETsquared and the West of England Academic Health Science Network (AHSN), provided 16 innovators from 13 healthcare ventures with an intensive course in taking innovations to market and culminated in a certificate presentation attended by Bath MP Ben Howlett.

Dr Elizabeth Dymond, deputy director of enterprise at the West of England AHSN, said: “The Healthcare Innovation Programme is invaluable for those looking to shape the next generation of healthcare. The innovations we’ve seen on this course have the potential to revolutionise aspects of healthcare and improve benefits to service users as well as save money for the NHS.”

Simon Bond, Innovation Director at SETsquared, said: “We’re delighted to be able to deliver this world class training programme again in Bath with the West of England AHSN, and the calibre of innovators that we’ve seen this month has been as high as ever. The ideas that innovators brought to this course range from apps that allow patients to track their symptoms, to a way for music, objects and photos to help people with dementia and their families, and we were very impressed with each of the participants’ passion for bringing substantive benefits to the healthcare sector.”

Delegates took part in sessions that covered customer analysis, funding strategies, building a business case and market analysis. The programme also provided a chance for the innovators to pitch to an experienced panel as well as try out ideas and network.

Certificates and t-shirts were presented to all participants and Bath MP Ben Howlett attended to celebrate the achievements of each innovator on the programme.

Ben Howlett MP said: “It was an honour to be invited to the last day of the Healthcare Innovation Programme and hear the original ideas of the participants. I’m so pleased that SETsquared and the West of England AHSN continue to bring this course to Bath as it’s a fantastic resource for those working on innovations that will hopefully go on to benefit many aspects of healthcare.”

SETsquared joined forces with four Academic Health Science Networks in the South of England in 2014 to set up the revolutionary new programme that could see more effective and better value healthcare technologies benefitting patients quicker than ever.