InnoScot Health is encouraging Scottish healthcare innovators to apply for the third year of the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme (CEP), with applications set to close on 29 October ready for the programme to commence in early 2025.
Applications are welcomed from NHS workforce staff and those providing NHS services, with early stage ideas welcome provided they have been “given careful consideration”.
Applicants are asked to specify the priority areas their innovation covers, along with information about the target group(s) of users it will serve, and what kind of impact is expected. A one-minute video pitch and two letters of support from “professional contacts” should also be supplied.
Gillian Henderson, head of project management at InnoScot Health, said: “It doesn’t matter if you’re an experienced entrepreneur or just starting out – CEP offers a wide range of know-how to all NHS Scotland workers who aspire to positive transformation through creative solutions, while allowing them to discover the innovative startup world of healthcare.”
To learn more about the Clinical Entrepreneur Programme and how to apply, please click here.
Spotlight on healthcare innovation in Scotland
Recent developments from Scotland include the publication of the new Digital and Data Capability Framework, aiming to support digital skills and competencies across the entire health and social care workforce. NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) also published its strategic framework for 2024-2026, setting out the organisation’s vision, values and priorities; and in September the Scottish Government published the strategic plan for 2024-2027 for the Scottish Cyber Coordination Centre, outlining the vision for a “digitally resilient nation”.
This week, HTN published a special report examining the landscape of digital healthcare in Scotland at present and for the future, as well as speaking to representatives from the Scottish Government, NHS National Services Scotland and Scotland’s Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre, to hear their views on projects and priorities.
Highlighting funding opportunities for healthcare innovation
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has recently opened applications for its AI Airlock pilot, offering innovators the chance to benefit from expert support and sandbox testing for medical devices utilising AI.
Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI), the HSE and Irish College of GPs launched a call for GreenTech in healthcare, aiming to identify products and services capable of promoting environmental sustainability in primary and secondary healthcare.
A number of new partnerships are also set to be trialled in the UK which will see the NHS and the UK’s research and development base working alongside the private sector, with UK Research and Innovation announcing £118 million in funding to create five new hubs to help develop new health technologies.
And earlier this week, the UK’s Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) has opened applications for a £4 million medtech fund designed to support SMEs in commercialising new products and meeting new regulatory requirements, with up to £30,000 available for successful applicants.
