A new Advanced Wellbeing Accelerator programme is being launched to help early-stage health and wellbeing businesses grow by providing them with specialist R&D, innovation, and growth support.
The programme, which is match-funded by Sheffield Hallam University and Barclays Eagle Labs via the Government’s Digital Growth Grant, will be delivered through the University’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC) based at the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park.
The Accelerator it will leverage Sheffield Hallam’s research expertise to support and facilitate R&D collaborations – this includes providing up to £25,000 of non-dilutive R&D support and access to facilities and equipment to enable businesses to test ideas and prototypes and advance to the next stage of commercialisation.
Now in its third year, the Accelerator has supported 40 SMEs to date across the medtech sector, covering everything from connected hardware to software as a medical device. Applications are now open for the highly specialised six-month programme, which is providing places for up to 12 companies. The deadline for applying is 30 November and applications are invited from across the UK and internationally - previous successful applicants have included companies from Denmark, Canada, Turkey and beyond.
The programme also offers bespoke mentoring from industry professionals, curated workshops on NHS adoption and regulation, procurement compliance assessments and a high-profile Demo Day to showcase innovation to potential investors, customers, and partners. This support is designed to make sure companies can attract follow on funding to bring products and technologies to market.
The AWRC is dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of the population through innovations that help people move. Its mission is to prevent and treat chronic disease through co-designed research into physical activity and so the programme will focus on helping companies to accelerate development, secure investment and drive commercial success for participating start-ups and scaleups.
Jason Brannan, deputy director of the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre, said: "The centre has seen fantastic outcomes from previous Wellbeing Accelerator cohorts, including millions raised in follow-on funding, NHS adoption, strategic partnerships, international expansion and jobs growth. The Accelerator connects ambitious founders with the full breadth of expertise and facilities needed to rapidly progress their innovations and really does underpin the AWRC’s mission of Transforming Lives Through Innovations That Help People Move.”
Paul Scully MP, minister for tech and the digital economy, added: "Health and wellbeing tech start-ups in Sheffield are paving the way to breakthroughs in digital health, and we’re excited to be able to help out. The Digital Growth Grant will allow Sheffield Hallam University's Advanced Wellbeing Accelerator to nurture high-potential businesses, solidifying Sheffield's emerging status as a hub for digital health tech innovation.”
