The NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA) recruitment call is open now

The NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA) - an NHS England and NHS Improvement initiative supported by England’s 15 Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs), hosted at UCLPartners - has launched the call for its 2022 cohort of Fellows.

The national accelerator is open to local, national and international health and social care innova-tions supported by passionate individuals from any background, including SMEs, clinicians, chari-ty/third sector and academics.

This year, the NIA is looking for innovations that address at least one of the following themes: 

• Supporting equity of access, experience or outcomes for those at greatest risk of poor health outcomes
• Early detection or diagnosis
• Delivery of proactive personalised care    

Applications are open until 10 October 2021.

Interested in applying?
Visit the NIA website to learn more about the application criteria and process, find dates for in-formational webinars, and access the online application portal: nhsaccelerator.com/apply/

We (the AHSN) can also available to support you in completing your application.

For anyone looking to learn more about the NIA, informational sessions are taking place on the following dates:

• Thursday, 9 September 2021, 12:00 - 13:00
• Monday, 20 September 2021, 12:00 - 13:00
• Tuesday 5 October 2021, 12:00 - 13:00

For further information, contact the NHS Innovation Accelerator: nia@uclpartners.com

What is the NHS Innovation Accelerator?

The NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA) is an award-winning NHS England and NHS Improvement initiative. It supports delivery of the NHS Long Term Plan priorities by accelerating uptake of prom-ising innovations for patient, population and NHS staff benefit, and providing real time practical insights on spread to inform national strategy.

Launched in 2015, the NIA is chaired by Professor Stephen Powis, National Medical Director for NHS England and NHS Improvement, and delivered in partnership with the 15 Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs), hosted at UCLPartners. 

Who can apply to the NIA?

The NIA is open to applicants from any background, including clinical, academic and SME. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their need for the support offered by the NIA, their commitment to scaling their innovation in the NHS and to making a positive impact on the NHS and its patients, as well as a passion for sharing their learnings.

What type of innovation is the NIA looking for?

The NIA supports innovations of all types, including digital, medtech, new processes and pathways, and AI. Innovations should be at the right level of maturity to apply to the NIA, meaning they are already in use in at least one site - either in the NHS or elsewhere - and are able to demonstrate positive outcomes for patients and/or staff. 

This year, the NIA is recruiting for innovations which address at least one of the following themes:

• Supporting equity of access, experience or outcomes for those at greatest risk of poor health outcomes
• Early detection or diagnosis
• Delivery of proactive personalised care

Additionally, applicants are asked to demonstrate:

• How their innovation addresses health inequalities, either by actively minimising inequality or by proactively ensuring the innovation does not exacerbate inequality.
  
• Active engagement with patient and public representatives on the innovation with which they are applying.

Where can I find more information?

All information about the current recruitment call, and a link to the online application portal, is available on the NIA website. There you will find an overview of the call for applications, guidance for completing the application and detailed FAQs.