Round up of the masterclass: Overcoming Barriers in Health Innovation: The Innovator's Perspective on 26 June

On Wednesday 26 June the Industry and Innovation team held another successful evening masterclass event. The event focused on how to overcome common barriers experienced when developing a health innovation through the complex journey from idea to commercialisation. Four fantastic innovators spoke to a packed room about their own experiences and provided advice and insights to others in how to problem solve issues that can arise during the health innovation journey.  

Speakers, Toby King, CEO iFAST Diagnostics, Nigel Clarke, CEO, Morgan Innovation and Technology, Keith Heaton, Founder and Co-Director i2R Medical and Amy Manning, Managing Director Amity Consulting and Former CEO and Founder S12 Solutions addressed multiple common barriers experienced in health innovation. Between them they explored: 

💡the importance of protecting intellectual property, what, when and how 

👍the value of having a good team around you providing the right support, advice and connections 

📜the complexity of the regulatory process for health innovation 

🏭the manufacturing process for health innovation products and the importance of good partnerships 

️🚪how to navigate the commissioning process and the many different doors that innovators may have to knock on to ensure an audience with the right stakeholders at the right time.  

There was great discussion between delegates and the speaker panel around funding, the routes to achieving funding grants and the difficulties that can be experienced when sourcing investment for key stages of the development from idea to commercialisation. 

Frank Ratcliff, Director of Industry and Innovation at Health Innovation Wessex, discussed the funding support service that Health Innovation Wessex provides for innovators applying for funding grants (further information can be found on website here), and our funding newsletter that summarises the upcoming funding opportunities (subscribe here).  

If you are looking for support with your health innovation, complete our engagement form and come and have a conversation with us.  

You can also sign up to the NHS Innovation Service that provides connections to the Health Innovation Network amongst many others.