Leeds collaboration to boost health tech industry

More than three million people across Leeds City Region should benefit from health technology advances as a new scheme to accelerate health tech innovation is unveiled.

The commitment, made by health technology industry leaders, the regional enterprise partnership, the NHS, local authorities, and universities in the region, is the first of its kind in the region. Organisations involved have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to drive forward new approaches in improving patient and population health and care through better, faster health tech innovation.

As the UK’s largest economic region outside London, Leeds City Region already has a concentration of excellence in health tech. It is home to over 250 health tech businesses, 200 digital and technology businesses operating in the health and care sector, leading centres of academic excellence in research and innovation, and West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership, the third largest integrated health and care partnership in the country.

Nonetheless, the government’s Leeds City Region Science and Innovation Audit (SIA), said that stronger, cross-sector collaboration is vital to overcoming barriers to growth.

The signatories have agreed to work together to drive economic growth and improve health outcomes and service efficiency by: finding personalised, community-based health tech solutions that help the people of the Leeds City Region to live healthier lives for longer, particularly those living in identified priority neighbourhoods; sharing insights into what people in Leeds City Region need, to determine what the priorities should be for health and care services and industry and driving inward investment in health tech to support inclusive economic growth.

Roger Marsh, chairman of Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and NP11, said: “Our region is home to one of the UK’s largest concentrations of innovative life science businesses, pioneering world-leading innovations and delivering significant GVA for the region. This unique partnership will provide an integrated network to accelerate innovations to meet the health needs of our communities.”