Heath innovation networks work with health and care businesses and individual innovators to help realise the potential of their ideas.

Heath innovation networks provide a wide range of support to innovators, which depends largely on the needs and development stage of their specific innovation. For example, in the case of early-stage innovator support this may include advice and guidance on gaps in an innovator’s value proposition, gaps in their evidence base, and potentially helping to develop a proof-of-concept prototype.

Much of the early work heath innovation networks do with innovators is around helping them to understand the complexities of the health and care sectors.

We’ve collated some useful resources to help innovators learn more about these challenges:

Developing your value proposition

The way you describe and convey the potential of your product or service to prospective customers.

Writing your NHS business case

A proposal requesting resource, whether that is money, people, or time, from an NHS organisation.

Evaluation and evidencing your innovation

Data and information are the ‘what’ and evaluation leads to the ‘so what’.

NHS procurement explained

The five main routes for companies interested in supplying to the NHS.

Read our innovator booklet for further information about how we can help health innovators realise the potential of their ideas.

You can also hear from other innovators on our regular podcasts and ‘Meet the Innovator’ blogs.

Get support with your innovation from the NHS Innovation Service

We are a partner in the NHS Innovation Service, a free online platform for health innovators which will match you to relevant organisations who can provide bespoke and tailored support. Along with support from the health innovation networks, you can also receive personalised support from a number of expert organisations including National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and NHS Supply Chain. You will need to create an account and complete your innovation record to access support with your innovation.