Innovator and business

Health Innovation North West Coast works with innovators and businesses to help turn promising ideas into solutions that can make a real difference to patients and the health and care system.

We act as an honest broker, helping to align innovations with unmet health and care needs and supporting their safe and effective adoption in real-world settings.

We support innovators at every stage, from early ideas through to implementation and scale. This includes clinicians, SMEs and academic spin-outs developing new technologies, services and approaches to care.

We support you to:

• Understand health and care system needs and priorities
• Build a strong value proposition and commercial capability
• Navigate the NHS and wider health and care landscape
• Identify funding opportunities and develop robust grant applications
• Generate evidence through real-world evaluation
• Connect with experts, NHS partners and opportunities to test and develop your innovation
• The right support at the right stage

The right support at the right stage

Our support for innovators is underpinned by our Office for Life Sciences (OLS) Commission, providing a structured approach to help you access the right level of support at the right stage of your innovation journey.

Universal offer

Our foundational support is available to all innovators at no cost through the Health Innovation Network.

This can include:

• Early-stage support
• Assessment and triage of innovation ideas
• Advice, guidance and signposting
• Introductions to relevant events, networks and opportunities
• Support to build your understanding of the health and care system

Enhanced offer

More targeted, in-depth support is available at no cost to innovators based in England where their solutions meet identified regional priorities or unmet needs.

Charges may apply for innovators based outside England or where an innovation does not align with identified priorities.

Distinctive offer

Individual Health Innovation Networks also provide specialist services and expertise beyond the core commissioned offer. These services are not mandated through the OLS Commission and may be provided on a fee-paying basis where appropriate.

We'll work with you to understand your innovation, where you are in your development journey and the support that could help you take your next steps.

Consultancy support

We also offer time-limited consultancy support, which can focus on a specific part of your innovation journey or provide more in-depth support from development through to adoption.