A £5m funding boost is set to help transform the MedTech business community in Yorkshire.
The UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) investment will “translate state-of-the-art research from universities into the next generation of innovative healthcare products and services, and help bring them to market.” It will also create jobs and opportunities for future investment and economic growth in the region.
Overseen by the University of Leeds, working with the University of Sheffield and civic partners including West Yorkshire Combined Authority, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and regional NHS Trusts, the £5m funding will help grow the Yorkshire MedTech Industry, and benefit an estimated two million patients by 2040.
Funding will be offered to research groups across the region working on MedTech products to assess the market and clinical needs for new technologies, as well as supporting preliminary and technical work to bridge the existing gap between research and products in market.
The funding will also support networking events, public and patient engagement activities, workshops and secondments. The MedTech business cluster in the Yorkshire region is worth £2 billion, with over 200 companies employing more than 16,000 people, with many staff in specialist, high value roles.
Prof Ruth Wilcox, director of the Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering at the University of Leeds, who led the bid with colleagues from the Insigneo Institute at the University of Sheffield, said: “This funding will support researchers at universities across Yorkshire to work with our strong regional MedTech industry and translate their research into new medical products and services.”
Professor Paul Hatton, faculty director for research and innovation at the University of Sheffield, said: “This major investment recognises the importance of the medical technologies sector across Yorkshire that aligns closely with shared academic strengths in health and biomedical engineering. Harnessing the combined research power of Leeds and Sheffield universities will drive innovation and new product development, creating jobs and growing the regional economy.”
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, added: “Our region is a leader in health tech and this investment will help the industry go from strength to strength. We’re committed to working with our partners, across the public and the private sector, to build on our global reputation for innovation and deliver a stronger West Yorkshire that works for all.”
