Development agency to fund UK health service spin offs

Development grant

The South East Health Technologies Alliance (SEHTA) is to provide funding of £500,000 for NHS Innovations South East over the next three years. NHS Innovations South East helps staff in the south east region of England to commercialise technology developed within the National Health Service (NHS).

SEHTA was launched in April 2006 by the South East of England Development Agency, to coordinate funding and provide support for spin-outs across the region. David Parry, SEHTA’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “By coming under the SEHTA umbrella, SMEs from NHS Innovations South East can gain access to a much wider network of innovation support.”

David Mackintosh, Chief Executive of NHS Innovations South East, said the agreement would help ideas generated by the 190,000 NHS staff in the region make it to market. “Our association with SEHTA will help ensure that these ideas are realised for the benefit of patients, the NHS and SMEs in the south east.”

Since it was set up a little over two years ago, NHS Innovations South East has registered more than 200 ideas and expects to see a fair percentage make it onto the market. NHS Innovations South East is one of nine NHS Innovation Hubs in England receiving funding totalling some £5 million per year.

SEHTA members can access an exclusive portfolio of products and services including a Financial Advisory Service, offering free direct expert help and advice preparing SMEs for investment; a biomanufacturing project, offering help to companies to develop a biomanufacturing strategy; a public relations and communications service;  and access to EU project, called Biosmile, enabling companies in the South East to network with potential partners in parts of France, Belgium, Germany and Holland.