AHSNs launch new programme to accelerate health innovation in partnership with SETsquared

Four southern AHSNs launch new programme to accelerate health innovation

Four Academic Health Science Networks in the south of England have joined forces with the leading university business incubator, SETsquared, to set up a revolutionary new programme that could see more effective and better value healthcare technologies benefitting patients quicker than ever.

An extensive programme is being launched to help accelerate the faster adoption of cost effective innovation into healthcare across the region to benefit patients and the health economy. In this first round, up to 300 participants will be offered access to seminars, 3-day courses, tailored coaching and mentoring run by SETsquared.

The AHSNs, created by the government in 2013, bring together NHS, universities and industry to identify, test and roll out improvements to the health service.

SETsquared is ranked as the number one university business incubator in Europe, second in the world, and has supported more than 1,000 start-ups and innovators in 11 years.

Simon Bond, Innovation Director of SETsquared, said: 'We have extensive experience of helping innovators get their ideas off the ground. We are excited to participate in a programme of this scale and ambition.'

Lars Sundstrom, Director of Enterprise and Translation, West of England AHSN said: ‘This initiative will provide a major boost to innovation locally and is a great example of how AHSNs can work together to take advantage of local centres of excellence like SETsquared.’

The programme will be available in the regions covered by the Kent, Surrey and Sussex, South West, Wessex and West of England AHSNs. The five universities that make up SETsquared – Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Southampton and Surrey – are members of the four AHSNs.

For more information, images or interviews please contact:

Laura Downton at Carswell Gould

T: 023 80 238001

E: laura@carswellgould.co.uk

About SETsquared

SETsquared is a collaboration between the universities of Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Southampton and Surrey which partners in enterprise activities and collectively supports the growth and success of new business opportunities through spin-outs, licensing, incubation and education. The partnership also works with industry through research collaboration and consultancy.

In the last 11 years SETsquared has developed over 1,000 high tech start-ups that have generated some £1bn in investment. It is named by the UBI as the joint best university incubator in Europe and 4th best globally.

About the AHSNs

15 Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs) were founded by NHS England in 2013 with a brief to improve population health and generate economic growth in England.

AHSNs are licensed by NHS England to improve the health and care of the nation through collaboration with patients, the NHS, academia and industry.

The four AHSNs collaborating in this programme are: Kent Surrey and Sussex AHSN, based in Crawley; South West AHSN, based in Exeter; Wessex AHSN, based in Southampton and West of England AHSN, based in Bristol.