Health innovation networks work across the entire spectrum of the health and care system, transforming lives through healthcare innovation.
To help us on this mission, we are national partners in a number of unique initiatives.
Health and care system initiatives
MedTech Funding Mandate
The Health Innovation Network delivers the MedTech Funding Mandate policy in partnership with the NHS. The policy is part of the NHS Long Term Plan’s commitment to accelerate the uptake of selected innovative medical devices, diagnostics and digital products to patients across England.
Rapid Uptake Products (RUP)
The RUP programme supports adoption of NICE-approved innovations in line with the NHS Long Term Plan’s key clinical priorities.
Current RUPs include:
National Insights Prioritisation Programme (NIPP)
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we work across all industries, having a huge effect on health and care systems in particular.
The NHS Insights Prioritisation Programme (NIPP) drives the evaluation and implementation of innovations, which support these novel post-pandemic ways of working, building service resilience and delivering ongoing benefits to patients.
Current project areas focus on:
- Remote consultation
- Remote monitoring
- New approaches to service delivery
- Health and social care workforce innovation
Find out more on our programme page.
Initiatives for innovators
NHS Innovation Service
The NHS Innovation Service acts as a catalyst for the development and spread of promising and high impact innovations throughout the NHS.
Innovators can use the service to access bespoke support from all 15 heath innovation networks, plus national support from organisations such as the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and NHS Supply Chain.
The service also acts as a gateway to information, supporting innovators to understand the required standards and regulations, the evidence they should demonstrate, and the NHS procurement and reimbursement processes.
Learn more on our NHS Innovation Service page.
SBRI (Small Business Research Initiative) Healthcare
SBRI Healthcare is an initiative set up by NHS England, supported by the heath innovation network and managed by the LGC Group.
The initiative supports a programme of health-related competitions, inviting those in industry to come forward with their ideas and novel technologies. This leads to fully-funded development contracts between the awarded organisation and the NHS.
The Heath Innovation Network aid the initiative by advising and promoting relevant funding competitions. The goal is to attract innovations that tackle known needs and challenges, and fast-track their implementation in the health and care sector.
Learn more about current funding opportunities on the SBRI Healthcare website.
NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA)
An initiative set up by NHS England and supported by Heath Innovation Networks, the NIA accelerates uptake and spread of high impact innovations across the NHS to create better outcomes for patients, the public and NHS staff.
The initiative has a unique dual focus – personal development for innovators in SMEs and healthtech companies, and bespoke support for innovation roll out.
Learn more about current opportunities to become a fellow on the NIA website.
NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme (CEP)
The NHS CEP, delivered by Anglia Ruskin University, is an initiative set up to help healthcare staff to develop the commercial skills, knowledge and experience needed to successfully spread innovation, for the sake of patients, the public, and the wider NHS.
The programme offers a range of support, including:
- Direct education
- Mentoring
- Networking
- Access to exclusive opportunities, expertise and resources
Learn more about current application opportunities on the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur website.
