Further Boost to HealthTech in West Yorkshire as Partnership Agreement Signed
Topic : Type : Press Release
In a significant boost to West Yorkshire's healthcare landscape, the Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI) and the West Yorkshire HealthTech Cluster group have jointly committed to developing an Integrated HealthTech Innovation System. This partnership aims to accelerate health technology advancements and revolutionise healthcare provision across the region.
Recognising the potential of HealthTech breakthroughs, this collaboration will spearhead a series of strategic initiatives designed to harness West Yorkshire’s robust ecosystem of innovation, ultimately improving patient care and fostering economic growth. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by ABHI and the West Yorkshire HealthTech Cluster group underlines a shared vision to make West Yorkshire a global leader in HealthTech.
The key commitments of this initiative are focused on creating a cohesive HealthTech innovation system to accelerate the development and adoption of new technologies in healthcare, from medical devices to diagnostics and digital health solutions. The work aims to enhance the visibility of West Yorkshire’s HealthTech centres of excellence, attracting inward investment and aligning policy with industry needs.
Collaboration will be fostered to improve HealthTech infrastructure, ensuring West Yorkshire remains a prime location for HealthTech businesses. Furthermore, the initiative will target specific healthcare challenges such as frailty, obesity, and mental health through focused HealthTech innovations.
Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said: "Working with partners, we're putting innovation at the heart of our plans and efforts to improve healthcare in West Yorkshire. Collaborations like this, alongside our Healthtech Launchpad, will allow us to build on our strengths to boost skills, create jobs and drive growth. Together, we will help more people live longer, healthier lives in a stronger, brighter West Yorkshire that works for all.”
West Yorkshire’s HealthTech sector is underpinned by world-leading research and a vibrant industry ecosystem. The region’s universities have secured over £200 million in funding for health and care innovations. Additionally, West Yorkshire is home to over 250 HealthTech businesses, generating over £3 billion in turnover and employing around 16,000 people. The West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership, with a budget of more than £5 billion and a workforce of around 100,000, serves a population of 2.5 million people, making it one of the largest integrated care systems in the country.
ABHI’s Executive Director of Policy and Partnerships, Richard Phillips, added: "HealthTech offers many solutions to our healthcare challenges, and so there is need for ongoing strategic support and dynamic partnerships with the NHS, academia, government and industry. West Yorkshire has a proud tradition of excellence in this regard and has long been one of the UK’s leading HealthTech hubs, with numerous outstanding companies in the region. This exciting development further strengthens this position and establishes West Yorkshire as a significant player, both nationally and globally."
This renewed commitment to HealthTech innovation positions West Yorkshire as a global leader in HealthTech expertise, growth, and productivity. By working together, the ABHI and the West Yorkshire HealthTech Cluster group aim to deliver high-quality patient outcomes, address health inequalities, and drive inclusive economic growth, ensuring a healthier future for all.
MoU signatories include:
- Association of British HealthTech Industries
- Health Innovation Leeds
- Leeds Beckett University
- University of Bradford
- University of Huddersfield
- University of Leeds
- University of York
- West Yorkshire Combined Authority
- West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership