A partnership has been formalised between two leading organisations for innovation in the West Midlands.

Health Innovation West Midlands (HIWM) and the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) have agreed to collaborate on the development of innovative ideas and technologies to transform health and social care.

They will explore ways to exploit their respective expertise and networks to accelerate the development of innovations. This builds on an existing partnership, through membership of the West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator programme, within which they are already supporting companies in the region.

HIWM Chief Officer Tim Jones said: “There is huge potential for synergy in working more closely with MTC and I am looking forward to bringing together our different skills and networks to turbo charge innovation across the West Midlands.”

Andy Barnes Managing Director Civilian Sectors at MTC said: “We’re delighted to launch this new, stronger collaboration which will be particularly valuable for medical device manufacturers who can benefit from the innovative expertise of MTC and the NHS market access knowledge of HIWM.”

MTC is part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult; it develops and proves transformational manufacturing processes and technologies in partnership with industry, academia and other institutions.

HIWM is one of 15 health innovation networks funded by NHS England, whose role is to find, test and accelerate the adoption and spread of innovative ideas and technologies with the potential to transform health and social care.

For press enquiries please contact communications@healthinnovationwm.org 

Photo caption L-R:

• Colin Bancroft, Senior Business Development Manager, MTC
• Andy Barnes, Managing Director – Civil, MTC
• Tim Jones, Chief Officer, Health Innovation West Midlands
• Judith Stewart, Commercial Business and Economic Development Director, Health Innovation West Midlands