Welsh Government: Sparking Innovation through Technology, Digital and Transformation
Accelerate: Supporting innovation in Wales As the UK and the rest of the world begin to adjust to the many changes arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, we start to embark on a so-called ‘new normal’ that will redefine the way we work, socialise and live our lives. It is a time to embrace these changes and turn them into new positives, in a way that supports our social well-being, ensuring we stay safe and healthy while building a sustainable and resilient economy.
Moving forward with our new normal also means there is opportunity and potential for development of new products, processes and services that will help in these endeavours. There seems no better time to accelerate innovation than right now, where recent challenges provide opportunities to re-define the way we access healthcare and support, communicate with others, and learn about self-management of our own
health. For many companies, this may mean developing completely new products and services, or it could mean incorporating new ideas to develop existing ones. The Accelerate programme is here to help businesses and individuals develop and bring to market innovative new products and services that help individuals or health and social care professionals. Maybe you are developing a virtual service like a mental health app for young people, or you are manufacturing products to help support isolated older adults. Maybe you work in the NHS and have an idea to improve remote services, or have potential solutions to some of the challenges now facing clinicians and carers in hospitals and social care settings. We are here to support you with scientific research, guidance, testing, prototyping, user experience evaluation and design thinking.
If you work in life science, health and social care or you have a business and are developing innovative ideas, services or products related to these sectors, then we would like to hear from you. All we require is that you have the capacity to match staff time and resources to contribute to an R&D collaboration with the Accelerate University Partners.
Meet the partners Accelerate is a £24 million co-funded programme by the European Regional Development Fund, the Welsh European Funding Office, Welsh Government’s Health and Social Services group, universities, Life Sciences Hub Wales, and the health boards. The ultimate aim of Accelerate is to create lasting economic value for Wales.
Accelerate is led by Life Sciences Hub Wales, in partnership with Cardiff University’s Clinical Innovation Accelerator (CIA), Swansea University’s Health Technology Centre (HTC) and University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s Assistive Technologies Innovation Centre (ATiC). Rather than providing funding or grants, the programme offers the opportunity to tap into academic expertise, a thorough understanding of the life sciences ecosystem, and the latest facilities needed by innovators and entrepreneurs to realise their ideas. Life Sciences Hub Wales’s staff have detailed knowledge of the key challenges and needs of health and care services in Wales. They’re able to
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