NHS Innovation Accelerator Announces 2023 Fellows
The NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA) has announced 17 new Fellows will join the programme in 2023. This is the largest cohort for the programme since its launch in 2015 and results in the programme now supporting close to 100 Fellows.
The successful Fellows have created innovations that offer solutions to some of the most pressing NHS needs. They range from digital apps that can overcome language barriers and reduce health inequalities, to an artificially intelligent chatbot that can offer responsive, instant access to mental health support.
To date, the NIA has supported the scaling of 85 innovations spread across 2,882 locations of England’s NHS. This has created 1,102 new jobs. Close to 60 NIA-supported innovations have been successfully marketed internationally.
Each NIA Fellow and their innovation are selected through a robust, multi-stage application and assessment process involving an expert panel of clinical, patient and commercial assessors.
The NIA is an award-winning NHS England initiative, working to support NHS Long Term Plan priorities by accelerating uptake of promising innovations for patient, population and NHS staff benefit. It is commissioned by the NHS Accelerated Access Collaborative, hosted by UCLPartners and delivered in partnership with the Health Innovation Network.
“Difficulties encountered throughout the Covid pandemic have further catalysed innovation in healthcare. We have seen the gaps and we all know things need to change to ensure our healthcare system is sustainable. Some great thinkers have come forward with solutions, showing themselves to be ready to scale their ideas in England’s NHS and further afield. We welcome them to the NIA.
I am really looking forward to working with them over the next three years, strengthening their businesses and expand their solutions. All to help patients, improve the healthcare system and retain and create employment in the UK.”
“Welcoming a new cohort of Fellows is always an exciting moment, and this year, as we celebrate 10 years of the programme, it feels even more special. At the NIA, we are committed to supporting innovators navigate the complexities of the system and drive real impact for the benefit of patient care and the workforce. Our programme is designed to provide Fellows with the knowledge, connections, visibility and confidence they need to overcome challenges and support the NHS, the healthcare ecosystem and the wider UK economy.”
“I am thrilled to see these seventeen new innovators join our programme. At the NIA they will be well supported to test if their ideas can be successfully adopted by and scaled across the NHS. By working together, we will find new ways to transform patient care and deliver improvements in the delivery of healthcare for future generations.”
“We need innovation now more than ever before. If you think about the challenges the NHS has weathered over the last few years with COVID and where we find ourselves now. If we think not just about that immediate recovery challenge but about the changes to our population in the next few years, the increasing level of demand on the NHS, innovation is not just a nice to have, it’s an essential if we are going to do what we need to for today’s patients but put ourselves in the best possible position to care for tomorrow’s patients as well”
