July 2023 Newsletter

NHS Fife Job Opportunity – Senior Project Manager (Innovation)

An exciting opportunity has arisen to support the Reducing Drug Deaths Open Innovation Catalyst Challenge, a National Challenge open to all 4 devolved nations. As a Senior Project Manager, the post holder will manage, coordinate, and support the delivery of the aims of the Open Innovation Challenge and awarded Innovation projects across the UK nations.

This role is available on a Fixed Term for 21 months. Applications on a secondment basis will be considered providing you have prior agreement from your current line manager. Deadline for applications is 18th July 2023.

Menopause Innovation Challenge Open for Applications

The Scottish Health Industry Partnership (SHIP), part of the Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office (CSO) has partnered with CivTech to fund a Menopause Innovation Challenge. This Challenge seeks to empower women to access the right support for their needs, by helping them to understand and identify the best options for individualised support; understand which self-help measures may be useful and to manage symptoms in the workplace; and to access medical support. Deadline for applications is 22nd August 2023. Successful applicants are given funding, intensive support, and space at the CivTech Studio, where they spend four months working hand in hand with their Challenge Sponsors and NHS Scotland Innovation Hubs to build a prototype or ‘Minimum Viable Product’.

Health Technology Session Recording for Phase 1 SBRIs

Ed Clifton, Unit Head for the Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG), part of Healthcare Improvement Scotland, recently provided a presentation on Health Technology Assessment for companies working with NHS Scotland health boards as part of the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) process. This recording is now available to view online.

NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme – Important Notice for Scottish Applicants

The NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme (CEP) is delivered by Anglia Ruskin University, and part of the NHS Accelerated Access Collaborative (AAC) which brings together industry, government, regulators, patients and the NHS to remove barriers and accelerate the introduction of new ground-breaking treatments and diagnostics which have the potential to transform care. Funding for Scottish entrepreneurs to join the NHS CEP for Cohort 8/2024 is still to be finalised.  If you’re a Scottish innovator interested in applying to the programme, complete the expression of interest  to be kept updated on progress. There are several CEP Prep Series events in the coming months which will be of interest to anyone looking to get involved in the programme.

AI and Digital Regulations Service Launched

A new online advice service to help the NHS and wider care system adopt and make use of new digital and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has launched today. The AI and Digital Regulations Service provides guidance for NHS and social care adopters and digital health innovators. The service offers a website providing centralised, curated, and up-to-date regulatory content for both developers and adopters of AI and data-driven technologies; and access to specialist support for both developers and adopters from the service partners.

July Update – Implementation of the future medical device regulations

The Government has now put in place measures to provide that CE marked medical devices can be placed on the market in Great Britain beyond 30 June 2023. For further information, please see the latest update on the implementation of the future regulations for medical devices. This includes an infographic of the timelines for acceptance of CE marked medical devices on the GB market.

Project CAELUS – Watch Discussion on Medical Payload and Quality Assurance

Logistics by drone will be a form of transport like any other form of transport. In the latest discussion, Richard Merchant, Product Design and Engineering Manager of Intelsius, shares our understanding of regulations and best practices that would apply to the transport of medicines and medical products. There is particular focus on Good Distribution Practices, and the safe transport of dangerous goods by air. Richard walks us through the packaging solutions to meet those requirements.

New Responsible Innovation for Technology Development Toolkit

The Product Design Scotland team, in partnership with the Adam Smith Business School at the University of Glasgow, is delighted to share the addition of a new topic to our Product Design Scotland Toolkit! This topic explores responsible innovation for technology development including what responsible innovation is and insights into how it can be adopted with the help of an example case study.

Health Tech Start up to deploy Operating Theatre Platform with two Health Boards

A Glasgow health tech startup is deploying its operating theatre scheduling platform with two additional health boards after saving £2m in running costs for NHS Lothian. Infix, which works to find efficiencies for surgeons’ workloads and improve pre-op care, has secured contracts with NHS Highland and NHS Forth Valley. The product has already allowed eye surgeons in NHS Lothian to complete an additional 570 operations, generating savings of approximately £2m while significantly reducing waiting lists.

Nominations Now Open for the Scottish Health Awards 2023

Nominations are now open for the Scottish Health Awards 2023. There are sixteen award categories including Innovation Award which is sponsored by School of Sciences, University of Dundee. This year is also a very special year for the NHS in Scotland, as we mark the 75th Anniversary of the NHS which was founded on 5 July 1948. This year also marks the 75th year of social care services. For further information on this and all the award categories, visit the Scottish Health Awards website. Nominations are to be submitted online by 5pm on 13th August 2023.

New Guidance published on Public Procurement for SMEs and Third Sector Suppliers

Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) have published new guidance which includes case studies and useful links to support SMEs and Third Sector suppliers in engaging with public sector procurement – finding opportunities and bidding successfully.

Workshop on Robotics for Rehabilitation Therapy

The EPSRC NetworkPlus EMERGENCE will run a workshop from the National Robotarium, Heriot-Watt University’s campus in Edinburgh on 21st July 2023 between 10am and 4pm. The workshop is part of a series of workshops designed to understand how health and social care professionals can benefit from using assistive robotics on their own terms. The focus of the workshop will be robotic technology in support of physical rehabilitation therapies for health and social care professionals.

DigiFest2023 - Registration & Abstract Submission is Open!

DigiFest23, Scotland’s annual digital health, housing, and care event, will combine a programme of free-to-attend, virtual and in-person satellite sessions from October 2023, with a one-day in-person event on Thursday 14th December 2023. The one-day in-person conference on 14 December 2023 is taking place at the University of Strathclyde, Technology & Innovation Centre, Glasgow. Registration is now open and the deadline for abstract submissions is 5pm on 9th October 2023.

Latest funding opportunities

Check out the latest health and care funding opportunities from across the sector on the funding section of our website.