A new 'Digital Health' incubator aimed at helping start-up companies work with NHS trusts and clinical commissioning groups is being built in Birmingham.
The 2,500 sq ft facility will form part of the new £8 million iCentrum building which is due for completion next year on Innovation Birmingham Campus.
The West Midlands Academic Health Science Network (WMAHSN), which is funded by the NHS, has signed up as the partner to deliver the new facility.
The WMAHSN is one of 15 academic health science networks across England and their purpose is to improve patient outcomes and generate economic benefits for the UK by promoting and encouraging the adoption of innovation in healthcare.
The Digital Health incubator will launch when iCentrum opens in March and is aiming to help the West Midlands have the first digitally enabled health economy in England.
The incubation centre will seek to accelerate the growth of early-stage businesses with a tech product or service that offers innovative solutions to those with long term conditions and promotes wellness and the prevention of illness.
Tony Davis, commercial director of the WMAHSN, said: "In the short time since our launch, we have generated £15 million of savings for the region's NHS by introducing new innovations.
"We have identified digital health as our major enabler, which is why we are partnering with Innovation Birmingham to deliver a brand-new incubator for early stage tech companies.
"We want to work with brilliant, creative tech start-ups to pioneer solutions for patients to be able to access their own patient data and records."
Innovation Birmingham's business mentors will actively work in the Digital Health incubator.
There will also be mentoring from industry experts, access to big data and exclusive insight into innovation challenges facing the healthcare industry.
Representatives from the WMAHSN will have a base within the incubator and it will be delivered for an initial three-year term.
David Hardman, chief executive of Innovation Birmingham, added: "Having the WMAHSN on board to deliver a Digital Health incubator is very exciting for the region.
"The opportunities that early stage companies seeking to innovate in the healthcare sector will be able to access by being based in this new facility will be invaluable."
