Innovative healthcare products or services can now apply for a share of £300,000 as a funding call and an accelerator programme opens.
Health Innovation Manchester, the organisation responsible for accelerating innovation into Greater Manchester’s healthcare system, has opened applications for the 2020-2021 Momentum Innovation Fund. The innovation fund has been established to support the introduction and adoption of needs-led, evidence-based innovations into the healthcare system within Greater Manchester and East Cheshire.
Applicants with market ready or close to market ready innovations which can support clinical management post COVID-19 can apply for up to £50,000 for real-world evaluations of their solutions.
This year, Health Innovation Manchester has also partnered with Danaher Diagnostics on a health accelerator programme to support innovations that provide remote management of patients leaving hospital care and/or patients with long-term conditions at home.
Dirk Heckel, vice president global innovation at Danaher Diagnostics, said: “We are excited to partner with Health Innovation Manchester to launch an accelerator programme that aims at increasing our insights into the role and clinical value of remote patient management.
“The current pandemic has accelerated the need for alternative care delivery models, and we consider this as a huge opportunity to expand our knowledge about beneficial diagnostic modalities and approaches.”
In addition to funding, the heath accelerator programme will provide additional support to projects to help navigate the healthcare system, learn about the NHS and utilise the expertise of Danaher Diagnostics to develop the solution and value proposition. Innovations that are not market ready and are at an early stage proof of value phase, will be considered for the accelerator programme
A total of £300,000 in funding is available across the two programmes.
Richard Deed, associate commercial director at Health Innovation Manchester, said: “The ability to remotely monitor patients and ensure residents with long-term illness can safely manage their condition at home has become an urgent priority for healthcare during COVID-19.
“Many of our previous Momentum Fund winners have been successful in bringing their innovations to market and into the health and care services, making a difference to our local area and beyond. We are delighted to be partnering with Danaher Diagnostics this year on the accelerator programme providing access to expertise to support and develop innovative solutions.
“We are looking to find and support innovators who are as passionate as we are about improving the health and wellbeing of our citizens and boosting the local economy.”
Both programmes are open to Small and Medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large organisations. All applications to must include evidenced involvement from an NHS or Social Care Organisation within the Health Innovation Manchester footprint, which encompasses Greater Manchester and East Cheshire. Projects funded can last up to 12 months and will be monitored against agreed milestones and outputs.
Through the programmes Health Innovation Manchester aims to improve the health of our citizens and promote economic development and wealth creation through the growth of local businesses and jobs.
Applications are open until 15 November 2020 and need to be completed online.
Successful shortlisted applications will then be invited to online interviews in January 2021. Winners of funding through the Momentum Fund will be announced in March 2021. For those considered for the health accelerator programme, an additional solutioning phase will be completed before funding is awarded.
