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Topic : News and Press Type : Press Release

• ABHI has signed a partnership with Ascend Solutions to support UK HealthTech companies to localise their solution and scale up in the Kingdom, linking into their new ABHI Middle East Accelerator
• The first cohort of 12 UK HealthTech companies have just completed their first trade mission to Saudi Arabia where they met with national stakeholders, hospital systems and other healthcare organisations

The cohort of UK HealthTech companies at The Garage, the second largest incubator in the world, facilitated by the Ascend Solutions team.

The Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI) has announced a partnership with Ascend Solutions in Saudi Arabia to support UK HealthTech companies to enter the market. This partnership will strengthen the growing relationships that ABHI already has in place and offers additional help to companies who want structured engagement with the right stakeholders and organisations via Ascend's Co Creation Lab.

The companies have just returned from their first mission to Saudi Arabia, which included an innovation day with Ascend Solutions. They also met with leaders at hospital systems and government bodies including the Ministry of Health, Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group, Dallah Health, and King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre.

The Accelerator is a 12-month programme of support that includes a learning series to prepare companies for market, access to a network of market experts in the UK and the Middle East, and missions out to market over the course of the year, as well as one, high profile, UK based engagement.

The programme is also being supported by Hill Dickinson Health Lawyers, their in-market legal partner, BLK Legal, and Welcome Health Ventures, who supported in-market connections and coordinated the April trade mission.

• Air Sentry - pioneers of safe, sustainable clinical air environments, supplementing traditional air changes with a safe alternative.
• Biotronics3D - a leader in cloud-based medical imaging solutions, helping healthcare professionals transform the way they manage, share, and interpret diagnostic images.
• Eyesight Electronics - making eye care accessible, affordable, and effective across global populations. 
• GBUK Global - design, develop and distribute a comprehensive portfolio of own and third-party branded medical devices across Enteral Feeding, Vascular Access, Patient Handling and the Critical Care environments.  
• iGii - revolutionising industries with Gii, the world’s most sustainable and high-performance carbon nanomaterial. 
• Interactive Health Ltd - ​​work with government, corporate and third sector organisations to deliver innovative digital health and social care solutions that empower individuals and drive positive behavioural change.
• Infix Support - cloud-based software that seamlessly integrates with existing hospital systems, unlocking untapped value in healthcare data.
• Kimal Plc - Maternity by Kimal is a team of experts committed to advancing maternity care for every mother.
• Niico - an AI and Automation platform built for Healthcare, Education and Enterprise sectors that simplifies and enhances how teams work and improves patient experience.
• Psyomics - ​a digital mental health tool that sits at the front door of adult community mental health services, supporting the intake, triage and assessment processes.
• Real Digital International (RDi) - a healthcare and medical devices company specialising in data-driven, automated solutions including fulfilment services for diagnostics and medical kitting.
• Synbiotix - a leading provider of intelligent digital solutions, transforming service delivery across the healthcare sector. 

By leveraging ABHI’s expertise and local partners in the Kingdom, companies are able to define a go-to-market strategy, mitigate market entry risks, and expand their operations. 

Suzie Ali-Hassan, International Business Director, ABHI said:

“I am delighted to sign this partnership today to secure Ascend’s support for UK healthcare businesses enter the Saudi market. Their offering aligns very well with our accelerator programme, ensuring companies are given full opportunity to be successful in the Kingdom by leveraging Ascend’s extensive network. It also emphasises ABHI’s commitment to Saudi Arabia, understanding the pace of healthcare transformation and the whole country’s commitment to Vision 2030.”

Motaz Hashem, Chief Strategy Officer, Co-Creation lead at Ascend Solutions said:

"We are proud to partner with ABHI on this new venture to connect UK HealthTech innovation with Saudi Arabia’s evolving healthcare system. Saudi Arabia is undergoing a significant transformation in healthcare delivery, and through this Accelerator, we can help UK companies understand the landscape, build meaningful relationships, and ultimately bring world-class technologies to benefit patients across our region."

This new Middle East Accelerator builds on the successful ABHI US Accelerator that has generated significant results over the past eight years, with over $150 million in business won by participating companies. 

Suzie Ali-Hassan, International Business Director, ABHI & Motaz Hashem, Chief Strategy Officer, Co-Creation lead at Ascend Solutions.