New partnership between ABHI and the AHSN Network

The Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the AHSN Network.

The partnership will see a joint commitment to developing and delivering services of mutual benefit, while ensuring health tech companies experience a consistent process, irrespective of the individual Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) they are working with. 

The work will provide an important framework to strengthen the engagement between England’s 15 AHSNs and ABHI’s 280 member companies. To achieve this critical objective, both parties have agreed to collaborate on projects such as:

• Endorsement of the ABHI Code of Business Practice and credentialing arrangements
• Implementation of the Accelerated Access Collaborative
• Full and active collaboration on relevant Innovation National Networks.

ABHI Director, Healthcare Policy, Richard Phillips said: “The AHSNs represent one of the best vehicles for innovation at pace and scale in this country, and we have been supportive of their work from day one. We were delighted with their relicensing earlier this year. ABHI has partnered with the Network on a number of joint projects, and through this MOU, we look forward to developing this relationship further as we support their vital work.”

Professor Mike Hannay, Chair of the AHSN Network, said: “We have worked closely and constructively with the ABHI since AHSNs were first established back in 2013, and it is fantastic to see this relationship now being formalised.

“The AHSN Network sets out to make it easier for industry to do business with the NHS, particularly through our network of Innovation Exchanges and our role in spreading innovations via the Accelerated Access Collaborative. Our partnership with the ABHI will significantly enhance and strengthen the support we can offer to health tech companies, no matter where they are in the country, enabling us to realise the huge benefits this sector can bring to both the health and wealth of our populations.”

Earlier this year, the AHSN Network and The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) announced a five-year partnership to accelerate the introduction and uptake of transformative biomedical innovations into the NHS. Read more here.