Resources
This page has a collection of resources to help support innovators across the South West, some of them created by ourselves, and some of them from our partners. They are for innovators from earlier stages all the way through to implementation, all looking to enter the health and care system in our region.
WEBINARS
Our Pathfinder webinars, outlining how to unleash your inner innovator.
DOWNLOADS
For early stage innovators, we have developed Business Model Canvas and Value Proposition templates with a focus on health and care, to help you get your innovation started on the right foot.
Our colleagues at Eastern AHSN have developed a range of fact sheets designed to help innovators navigate the health and care system, from protecting your idea through to funding its spread. They can be found here.
There is also a range of organisations in our region which provide various types of support to innovators, including:
PenARC
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) South West Peninsula – or PenARC – undertakes high-quality applied health research focused on the needs of patients and supports the translation of research evidence into practice in the NHS.
Impact Lab
The Impact Lab provides a wide range of valuable support for businesses in Devon, including specialist technical support to develop new products, services and processes, academic expertise, advice and referrals.
Plymouth Health Innovation Alliance
The Plymouth Health Innovation Alliance (PHIA) is an interdisciplinary, cross-sector partnership dedicated to developing the profile of and maximising opportunities for health-related research, innovation, knowledge exchange, research and development led business growth and inward investment in Plymouth and the South West region.
Plymouth Health Innovation Alliance – University of Plymouth
Research Design Service
The RDS offers high-quality, responsive, specialist advice and support on research design and methodology to researchers making funding applications for submission to research programmes and national, peer-reviewed funding competitions for applied health or social care research.
www.nihr.ac.uk/explore-nihr/support/research-design-service.htm
Health & Wellbeing Investment Challenge Fund
The Health & Wellbeing Challenge Fund (South West) has £3.5m of funding available to invest in voluntary, community and social enterprises (VSCEs) operating in the South West.
The Fund offers investment and operating finance to existing social enterprises that are working to tackle a wide range of health, wellbeing and care issues, or that wish to expand their enterprise into this sector. Community groups, companies, or other traders in this field, which are converting into a social enterprise are also welcome to apply.
Heart of the South West Growth Hub
The Heart of the South West Growth Hub provides independent diagnosis and referrals to existing business support services, working in partnership with existing local and national business support services and will help businesses access the right support for them without duplicating existing provision.
Business West
Business West helps businesses of all sizes take advantage of the opportunities and address the problems created by this new world so they may successfully start, grow, export and innovate.
Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Investment Fund
The £40m Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Investment Fund provides debt and equity finance from £25,000 to £2 million to help growing small businesses in Cornwall and Scilly. It has been established by the British Business Bank in partnership with the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LEP and is operated by appointed fund manager, The FSE Group.
The FSE Group is dedicated to bridging the funding gap for innovative, ambitious and scalable small and medium sized enterprises.
EPIC
eHealth Productivity and Innovation in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (EPIC) aims to facilitate a sustainable eHealth sector by maximising innovation networks, sharing expertise and experience from the university and its partner organisations, and providing sector-specific hands-on business support. SW AHSN is key partner of the EPIC programme and manages a grants programme to support SME’s based in Cornwall.
www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/epic
Smartline
Smartline is a collaborative project led by University of Exeter aimed at exploring how everyday technology can help people in Cornwall to live a healthier, happier and more connected life. They can help Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly develop products, services and processes to improve people’s health and wellbeing
