Health Technology Support Programme

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The Health Technology Support Programme (HTSP) is jointly funded between Health Innovation Wessex (HIW) and Local Clinical Research Network Wessex (CRN Wessex) to take advantage of the vast expertise within the region. With links to NHS and higher education establishments, the programme is uniquely placed to support health technology SMEs and innovators.

The HTSP supports innovators to find multidisciplinary teams of clinicians and academics from across Wessex to develop partnerships. Complemented by HIW support systems, the programme will support innovators to secure income from specific funding calls for research and facilitate evidence generation across health and social care research systems in Wessex.

Once accepted on the programme, feedback will be given to innovators by a panel of experts. They will then be supported to apply for significant funding opportunities to develop the evidence base to advance technologies that meet the region’s health and care needs.

Eligibility

  • You must be a UK registered small-to-medium-sized enterprise (SME).
  • The innovation of interest will meet the funding opportunity criteria.
  • The research should be conducted in the Wessex region (Dorset and Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, as defined at the bottom of the HIW homepage).

Funding 

HTSP helps innovators target specific funding opportunities, for example the NIHR’s Invention for Innovation (i4i) programme of grants, including: 

We are currently accepting applications for the HTSP- round 1: NIHR -i4i - PDA  (different opportunities will be promoted as they are released).

Closing date for applications to the HTSP Round 1: 27th September 2024

The HTSP consists of five stages:

  1. Complete the Innovator Engagement Form and email rosie.mackay@nihr.ac.uk
  2. Companies and innovators matching the criteria will be invited to meet with HIW and CRN Wessex to discuss their innovation and suitability for a collaboration.
  3. If selected, companies and innovators will be supported to produce an information pack with application documents and highlight areas where feedback is needed. This document will be reviewed by an expert panel of clinicians and academics who will feedback.
  4. Selected applicants will be invited to present their innovation to the expert panel. All presenters will receive further feedback, advice and, where appropriate, signposting to other opportunities.
  5. HIW/CRN Wessex will support successful applicants to form a strong research team with Wessex based clinicians and academics. This partnership will support the funding application. Companies and innovators will be informed of the panel’s decision within five working days of the presentations.

Successful companies will then be invited to join the HTSP and will benefit from the following support:

  • Engagement with Wessex clinicians and academics to form a research team to apply for the targeted funding calls.
  • Feedback on their innovations and ways in which it may better meet clinical needs.
  • A fully funded associate who will provide project management support in the form of coordinating bid writing, liaising with the chief investigators and wider research teams, and ensuring that deadlines are met.

If you are an innovator, start-up, small business, or established company and believe could be eligible for one of our open calls, or a clinician or researcher in Wessex who would like to find out more please consider applying and contact Rosie Mackay