Innovation News
September 2025
AcademyforHealthEquity
Protectingyoungathletes:concussioningrassrootssport
Howdoweprotectyoungathleteswithoutdiscouragingthemfromthelife-long benefitsofsport?Concussioningrassrootsandschool-levelsportisagrowing concern,butoftenmisunderstoodoroverlooked.Joinusforthefirstsessionin BangorUniversity’sHealthEquitySeminarSeries,hostedbytheAcademyfor HealthEquity.We’llhearfromDrJulianOwenandPhDresearcherSteffiStudt, whoseresearchexploresconcussionawareness,behaviour,andprevention strategiesincommunityrugby.Thisonlinesessionisespeciallyrelevantfor thoseinhealth,education,sport,andyouthsettings,aswellasresearchersand leaderscommittedtosafe,equitableaccesstophysicalactivity.
Tuesday7thOctober2025|12:15–13:00
OnlineviaMicrosoftTeams
Registerhere
BevanCommission
AturningpointforhealthandcareinWales
FollowingtheSirManselAylwardSpringSummitheldinMarchthisyear,which broughttogether120leaders,theBevanCommissionhaspublisheda preliminaryreport,titled‘TheTurningPoint:UnitingfortheFutureofHealth& CareinWales’.Thereportsetsoutaclear,ambitious,andunifiedvisionforthe futureofhealthandcareinWales.
Ithighlightstheurgentneedforchange,withsomesoberingstatistics: Ourover-65populationissettogrowseventimesfasterthantheunder65s.
Peopleinourmostdeprivedcommunitiesarelikelytodie10yearsyounger, with15feweryearsspentingoodhealth.
Around6%ofNHSstaffareoffsickatanyonetime,morethandoublethe nationalaverage,withnearlyhalfofsocialcareworkersconsidering leavingwithinfiveyears.
Around80%ofwhatshapesourhealthhappensoutsideofhospitalsand clinics,yetnearlyhalfournationalbudgetisspentonreactivehealthand careservices.
Weencourageyoutoreadthefullsummarytounderstandthescaleofthe challengeandtheambitionofthesolution.ReadthePreliminaryReportonthe BevanCommissionwebsite.
TheeconomiccostofpoorhealthinWales
Inarecentop-edforBusinessNewsWales, ourDirector,Dr.HelenHowson,laidoutthe starkdemographicchallengefacingour nation.Withanageingpopulationanda shrinkingworkforce,Walesisatacritical crossroads.
Dr.Howsonarguesthattonotjustsurvive butthrive,wemustmovefroma'sickness service'toa'wellbeing'model.Thesolution liesinprevention,withemployersplayinga crucialrole.Byfosteringhealthier,more supportiveworkplaces,wecanbuildamoreresilientworkforce.Thisisnotjust anNHStask;itisasharedresponsibilitytocreateahealthier,moreprosperous futureforallofus.
Adopt,SpreadandEmbed:transformingplannedcareinnovationacross Wales
InJuly,welaunchedtheBevanCommission’s‘Adopt,SpreadandEmbed’ programme.SupportedbyWelshGovernment,thisinitiativeaimstotake proven,locallydevelopedhealthcareinnovationsandsystematicallyrollthem outacrosstheentireNHSWales.Theaimissimplebutambitious:transform plannedcare,tacklewaitinglists,improvepatientoutcomes,anddeliverbetter valuethroughoutourhealthservice.
Theselectedinitiativescoveradiverserangeofclinicalneeds,fromestablishing specialisedcareforolderpeopleundergoingsurgery(POPS),toimproving radiologypathwaysandenhancingcommunitygynaecologyservicestobring careclosertohome.Eachonehasalreadydeliveredtangiblebenefits,including optimisedtimelines,reducedwaitinglists,andsignificantcostsavings.
ThisprogrammeisadirectandpracticalresponsetoWelshGovernment’s InnovationStrategy,whichcallsforturningbrightideasintoimpactful,systemwideimprovements.
Importantly,italsoalignswiththefivekeyprioritiesforthehealthservice outlinedbytheFirstMinisterandreiteratedbytheCabinetSecretaryforHealth andSocialCare.
ReadthecompendiumofprojectsproposedfornationaladoptionontheBevan Commissionwebsite.
Employeehealthandwell-beingbestpracticeguide
Lookingafterourteamshasneverbeenmoreimportant.Itisnota'nice-tohave'anymore;itisasharedpriorityforbuildingresilientbusinessesanda healthiersocietyhereinWales.
ThatiswhytheBevanCommission,inpartnershipwithCBIWalesandPublic HealthWales’HealthyWorkingWales,havelaunchedthe"EmployeeHealth andWellbeingBestPracticeGuide."
Thispracticalguideispackedwithinsights,strategies,andreal-worldcase studiestohelpyousupportyourpeople'shealthandwell-beingeffectively.
Forbusinessleaders,HRmanagers,andanyonepassionateaboutcreatinga healthierworkplaceinWales,thisisforyou.
Downloadyourfreecopy.
BusinessWales
WelshGovernmentinvitescompaniestoco-exhibitatWorldHealthExpo DubaiinFebruary2026
Thisvisitwillprovideyouwiththeopportunitytoshowcaseyourcompany,gain valuablecontactsandbuildyourexportsinthissector.
Benefitsofgoinginclude:
Cost-effectivemeansofvisitingthemarket.
Networkandengagewithkeybusinessesanddecisionmakersinthe market
Sharingknowledgeandinformationwithotherparticipants
Assistancewithtravelarrangementsthroughappointedtravelagent
Attendnetworkingevents
Inclusioninanymarketingmaterial
WelshGovernmentissupporting(subjecttoeligibility)companiestotakepartin thisexportmarketvisit.Forthisevent,youcanattendeitherasaco-exhibitoror asavisitor.
Exhibitor
Thecosttoexhibitiseither£5,000foralargestandor£3,800forapodstand. Thisincludes: ReturnUKflights
Inmarkettransfers(iftravellingbothwayswiththeGroup)
6nights’accommodation(includingbreakfast)
Exhibitionpass
Exhibitionstandandexhibition
Registrationandaccesstotheonlineportal
Thisofferisavailablefortworepresentativespercompany.
Visitor
Thisis£1,300.00.Thisincludes: Returnflights
Inmarkettransfers(iftravellingbothwayswiththeGroup)
6nights’accommodation(includingbreakfast)
WXHDubaiEntrypass
LearnmoreontheBusinessWaleswebsite.
DigitalHealthand CareWales
DigitalHealthandCareWalespublishesnewInformation,Intelligenceand ResearchAnnualReport
DigitalHealthandCareWaleshaspublisheditsAnnualReportfocussingonthe fourthmissionofitsstrategicplan:drivingbettervalueandoutcomesthrough innovation.
TheAnnualReportoutlines,sharesandpromotesusinganincreasinglydiverse rangeofhealthcare-relatedinformation,intelligence,knowledgemanagement andresearchandinnovationservicesthatareavailablenowforuseacrossthe healthandcarecommunityinWales.
ArrangedbythefourstrategicaimsfromtheResearch&InnovationStrategy andInformation&AnalyticsStrategy,itincludesexamplesofsomeofthework deliveredoverthelastyear,thepracticalbenefitsrealisedandthefutureplans foritsservicestohelpachievethevisionssetoutinthosestrategies.
HealthEducationand ImprovementWales
NewlearningtoolscanhelpNHSWalesstaffbuildconfidencewithAI
AIisalreadyreshapingtheNHS,fromtriagingpatientsandreducingadmin,to fasterdetectionofdeterioration.Butforthesetoolstoworksafely,responsibly andeffectively,healthcarestaffneedspacetounderstandhowAIworks,its benefitsanditsrisks.
That’swhyHEIWhascreatednew,practicalwaysforNHSWalesstafftoexplore AI.
Startingwithafree30-minuteFoundationsofAIinHealthcarecourseonthe nationallearningplatformYTŷDysgu.ThecoursedemystifiesAIterms,shows realhealthcareexamples,andhighlightskeyethicsliketransparency,bias,and keepingahumanintheloop.
TheHealthcareAILearningInterface(HALI)isalsolaunchingthisautumn.It’sa role-specificAIchatbotmentorbuiltintoYTŷDysgu.
ItgiveslearnersAIexamplestailoredtotheirjob,likerotaplanningorretinal screening,whileremindingthemofthetechnology’slimitationsandrisks.
HALIhasjustbeenthroughinternaltestingandwillbeavailabletoallNHS Walesstafflaterthisyear.
BethefirsttotryHALIbyjoiningthewaitinglist.
HealthTechnologyWales
HealthTechnologyWales2024/25AnnualReportpublished
HealthTechnologyWales(HTW)isdelightedtoannouncethepublicationofits 2024/25AnnualReport.
During2024/25,HTWconsidered58newtopicreferralsandpublished8new HTWguidancedocuments,aswellas54TopicExplorationReports.
Itsnationalguidancecoveredtopicsrangingfromdigitaltoolsfordiabetes managementtotheenhancedliverfibrosistestandincludedpioneeringAI technologiessuchasAI-assistedendoscopyforgastrointestinalcancer. HTWwouldliketotakethisopportunitytothankitsstakeholdersfortheir continuedsupportofitswork.
The2024/25AnnualReportcanbereadinfullhere.
HealthTechnologyWaleshaspublishednewguidanceontheuseofadvanced electrosurgicalbipolarvesselsealingsystems(ABVS)duringhysterectomy
AccordingtoHTW’sguidancetheevidencepartlysupportstheadoptionof ABVSinpeopleundergoinghysterectomy.Theevidencesupportstheroutine adoptionofABVSforuseduringvaginalhysterectomy.
However,whileABVSshowspromiseforuseduringabdominalhysterectomy andlaparoscopichysterectomy,theevidenceisinsufficienttosupportroutine adoption.
Clickheretoreadtheguidanceinfull.
Guidancepublishedonimplantabletibialneuromodulationdevicestotreat urgeurinaryincontinence
HealthTechnologyWaleshaspublishednewguidanceontheuseof implantabletibialneuromodulationdevices(ITNDs)totreaturgeurinary incontinenceand/oroveractivebladdersyndrome.
Urgeurinaryincontinenceisasudden,urgentneedtopassurine.Itismainly causedbycontractionsinthemusclesofthebladderandcanbecausedby weakpelvicfloormuscles,nervedamage,infection,lowlevelsofoestrogenora heavierbodyweight.
ITNDSuseelectricalsignalstohelpcontrolthemusclecontractionsthatcause urgeurinaryincontinence.
AccordingtoHTW’sguidanceITNDsshowpromiseforthetreatmentofurge urinaryincontinenceand/oroveractivebladdersyndromebuttheevidenceon thedevicesisinsufficienttosupportroutineadoption.
Clickheretoreadtheguidance.
LifeSciencesHubWales
LifeSciencesHubWaleshelps64,000patientsaccessinnovationin2024/25
LifeSciencesHubWales’2024/25AnnualReporthighlightshowcross-sector collaborationistacklingreal-worldchallengesandmakingalasting differencetothehealth,wealth,andwellbeingofWalesanditspeople.
Here’salookattheir2024-25innumbers:
MakinglifebetterforpatientsinWales
64,606patientsaccessinginnovation
1,040fewerdayspatientsspentinhospital
2,191fewerclinicalvisits
DrivingeconomicgrowthinWales
Delivering£3.895millionWelshCompany GVAGrowth
Securing£5.046millioninfunding
Inducing£2.44millionofinvestment
Supportingthehealthandsocialcare ecosystem
Supporting8adoptionprojects
Completing119innovationassessments
Crafting16marketintelligencereports,28 rapidscanreports,4sectorreportsand4 internationalreports
LifeSciencesHubWales’AnnualReportfor2024-25isavailabletoreadhere.
Upto£10,000nowavailableforcollaborativecancercareinnovationprojects
LifeSciencesHubWalesandtheAcademyofMedicalScienceshavelaunched theirCancerCareAcceleratorFund.Upto£10,000inseedfundingalongside bespokesupportisnowavailableforUK-basedorganisationsworkingon collaborativecancerinnovationprojects.
Nowinitssecondyear,applicationsopenon10September2025andcloseat 12:00pmon28November2025.
TheseedfundingisopentoUK-registeredorganisations,includingproject teamsordepartments.Projectsmustdemonstratecross-sector, multidisciplinarycollaboration,andincludeatleastoneWales-basedpartner.
AwardeeswillreceivetailoredsupportfrombothLifeSciencesHubWalesand theAcademyofMedicalSciences.Thiscouldincludeguidanceonpartnership development,accesstofurtherfundingopportunities,sectorintelligenceand dedicatedprojectsupport.
Ifyou’reinterestedinapplying,takealookattheGuidanceDocumentfor detailedinformationoneligibility,scope,andavailablesupport.
MediWales
InvestinginHealth:unlockingfinanceforWelshlifesciences
Date:1 October2025 st Location:Space2Batthe Maltings,Cardiff
JoinMediWalesandBritish BusinessBankforaninsightful sessionexploringthefunding opportunitiesfortheMedTech andLifeSciencessectorinWales.
Featuringpanelswithleadingfunders,ecosystemexperts,andinnovative businesses,thiseventwilluncoverthefinancialpathwaysdrivinggrowth, research,andcommercialisationsinoneofWales’mostdynamicindustries.
Thiseventwillbeofinteresttothoseinterestedinearlystageandscaling financeoptionsforlifesciencescompanies.
DiscovermoreabouttheInvestinginHealthevent.
MediWalesInnovationAwards2025
MediWaleswillbeholdingour twentiethannualInnovationAwardson Thursday4 December,attheMercure HollandHouseHotel,Cardiff. th Welookforwardtowelcomingour industrymembers,academiaand healthandsocialcarestafffora fabulouseveningcelebratingthe amazingachievementsofthelife sciencesectorinWales.
OurAwardscompetitionwillopenfor entriesfromearlySeptember,withboth IndustryandHealthandSocialCare categoriesonoffer.
LearnmoreabouttheMediWales InnovationAwardsandthecompetition ontheMediWaleswebsite.
NationalNetworkfor InnovationinSport&Health
WorktobeginonNationalInstituteforSportandHealthHQinSwansea
ConstructionstartsthisJanuaryontheNationalInstituteforSportandHealth (NNISH),afour-storeyflagshipfacilityatSwanseaBaySportsPark.Replacing theSkettyLanepavilion,the2,000m²centrewillunitebusiness,academiaand healthcaretoboostsport,healthandinnovation.
BackedbySwanseaUniversityandSwanseaBayCityDeal,NNISHwillfeature co-workingandteachingspaces,aHealth&WellbeingAcademy,Sport SimulationSuite,andaVodafonetechhub.
Theprojectwillcreateover1,000jobs,withaprojected£150mboosttothelocal economyby2033.Thefacilityisduetoopeninearly2027,withapplicationsfor officespaceandvirtualmembershipsnowopen.
SBRICentreofExcellence
InnovationchallengehelpsWalesdetectcancerearlier
AUK-firstinnovationprogrammeishelpingtoshapethefutureofcancer diagnosisacrosstheNHS.TheSBRICentreofExcellenceCancerChallengehas fundedfivecompanies,withfournowpilotedacrosshealthboardsinWales:
IBEX–anAIsolutioninpathologytotriageGastricbiopsies,achieving excellentaccuracyindetectinggastriccancersandpre-cancerous conditions.
Cyted(EndoSign®spongecapsule)–reducingrelianceonendoscopy throughasimplecapsulespongetest.
CanSense–aWelsh-developedbloodtestusingAItohelpprioritise colonoscopydemandinbowelcancerpathways.
Qure.ai–AItoolssupportingradiologistsbycuttingreportingturnaround timesforchestX-raysandCTscans.
FuturePerfect-Creatingapre-cancerregistryofpeopleinNorthern Irelandatriskofinheritedcancers,toaidintheirsurveillanceandtreatment.
Eachprojectaddresseshigh-demandareasofthecancerpathway,withearly datasuggestingimprovementsinspeed,accuracyandpatientexperience.They willhighlighthowtargetedinnovationcanreduceunnecessaryprocedures, optimiseclinicalcapacityandprioritisepatientsmostinneed.
Allprojectsareundergoingindependentevaluation,withfindingsexpectedto informnationaldecision-making.Ifsuccessful,theycouldprovideablueprintfor howinnovationisembeddedintocancerservices.
Inspiredbynature:designingthenextgenerationofhealthandcarespaces
AcrossWales,there’saneedforsmaller,flexibleandtechnology-readyspaces wherepeoplecansafelyandcomfortablyaccesscareclosertohome.
TheSBRICentreofExcellence,workingwithWelshGovernment,hasfundedfour phase1prototypestoreimaginewhatthesespacescouldlooklike:
YNyth(Health&Wellbeing360)–Modular,nature-inspiredpodsbuiltfrom Welshtimber,sheep’swool,slateandlimeplaster.
BioPod(CwtchHealthLtd)–Amobiletelemedicinepodwithlivinggreen walls,solarpanels,andbiomimeticcooling.Inside,high-definitionlinks connectpatientstoclinicians,whileself-cleaningsurfacesandsounddampeningdesignenhanceaccessibility.
EarlyInterventionBlended-CarePods(WellbeingMonitorLtd)–Portable clinicsembeddedintocommunityspaces,designedtoovercomebarriers suchasruralisolation,lowdigitalliteracy,orsensoryloss.Theyfeature multilingualimmersiveVRonboardingalongsidepreventativescreenings. ModularPods(E3DesignLtdwithTHRIVE)–Flexible,reusablestructures builtfromrecycledmaterials,designedforrapidassemblyinWales.Easyto cleanandrebrand,theysupportinfectioncontrol,reduceenvironmental impact,andcanbeadaptedtomultiplecaresettings.
Theseprototypesaimto:
Bringservicescloser tohomein welcoming, accessiblespaces Reducepressureon overstretched facilities
Integratesustainable designandlocal manufacturinginto healthandcare infrastructure
Beaffordableand scalable
Formoreinformation,ortogetinvolvedinfuturephases,contact SBRI.COE@wales.nhs.uk.