Supporting innovation

Innovation is at the heart of transforming healthcare. It is central to what we do and why we are helping to create an ‘innovation ecosystem’ for the West of England.

Over the last five years, England’s 15 Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs) have become known as the ‘innovation arm’ of the NHS. The AHSNs operate a national network of Innovation Exchanges to identify common challenges and quickly bring people and organisations together to develop, test and spread solutions.

By being embedded in our local health and care systems, the West of England AHSN understands the innovation needs of the NHS and social care, and we’ve earned a reputation for our ambitious, joined-up vision for healthcare innovation.

We bring a whole system approach to matching innovation to locally identified challenges by connecting and brokering relationships between innovators, industry, researchers and academics, and health and care colleagues:

We have a variety of support and tools for healthcare innovators to use to help get your ideas off the ground or help your business grow.

  • The Innovation Exchange is our web portal providing easy access to the support we offer innovators.
  • Our Industry and Innovation team can offer advice, signpost you to local assets/resources and facilitate partnerships.
  • We have funding and support opportunities available for businesses wanting to innovate in health. These include funded accelerator programmes, open innovation calls and upcoming health challenges. Visit our Innovation Exchange here to access.

The Innovation Exchange

Our Innovation Exchange provides the support you need at any stage of your innovation. Get access to all our business services in one place as well as local and national funding opportunities.

Visit the Innovation Exchange

Funding and opportunities

Bringing you the latest health and care innovation funding news and opportunities

Read more

Innovation and Growth newsletter

Sign up to receive the latest healthcare industry and innovation news, funding and support opportunities from the West of England AHSN.

Read more
Academy resources signpost

The West of England Academy

Explore our free Academy resources to gain essential knowledge and skills for innovative thinking in healthcare. Our resources include events, toolkits and online training.

Explore the Academy

Twitter

@HealthInnoWest

From 1 October, our name is changing from West of England AHSN to ... *drumroll* ... 'Health Innovation West of England'. New name - same focus on innovating health and care #DoesExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Find out more: https://t.co/uQUpvyR5uJ https://t.co/PnGEsWg6jm

Favourite | Retweet

@HealthInnoWest

Engaging patients in our #PatientSafety programmes – listen to the @AHSNNetwork's latest Health Innovation podcast about how we involve the people who matter: https://t.co/VC6MzGPFXW https://t.co/HLYJaCPF1q

Favourite | Retweet

@HealthInnoWest

Check out these new evidence-based resources from @AHSNNetwork to support and help prepare people invited for a Structured Medication Review: https://t.co/UCmhbuCPfk @TonyAvery1 @MedicinesDavid @davidwebb_1 @NVTweeting @ABPI_UK @age_uk @CarersUK @FriendsElderly @Pharmacist_News https://t.co/lDsgbDnbQR

Favourite | Retweet

@HealthInnoWest

Are you a healthcare professional in the West of England, keen to tackle inappropriate #polypharmacy? Then join our next Community of Practice this Thursday! We'll be focusing on Acute Kidney Infection and the effect of NSAIDs and DAMN drugs. Book here: https://t.co/5PN21V4w0J https://t.co/Nl0LjdHoL5

Favourite | Retweet