Portal launches to help medtech sector and NHS collaborate

A new online portal has launched in the UK to enable close collaboration between the National Health Service (NHS) and the medtech industry in the development of innovative medical devices.

Health Enterprise East (HEE), the NHS medtech innovation consultancy, is launching MedTech CONNECT as part of the MedTech Navigator programme, a scheme funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and delivered by HEE to enhance knowledge-sharing between NHS practitioners and the medtech industry. 

It is believed to be the first portal for both clinicians and medtech SMEs, giving them free access to connect with the most appropriate development partners. 

Clinical expertise is vital during the early medtech development phase, to ensure that new devices address specific needs and can be effectively integrated into a clinical environment. 

MedTech CONNECT aims to help companies identify NHS clinicians who might be best placed to offer these insights and participate in their development project. Both parties can also access expert support and guidance from HEE where required.

Registration on MedTech CONNECT is free. Once signed up and approved innovators can begin searching for NHS experts by clinical specialty, job role, geography and field of research. All clinicians registered on the portal have already confirmed interest in a potential industry collaboration. 

“In our experience, the quickest and most effective way to get new technologies that truly meet patients’ needs to market is for NHS experts and the medtech industry to work more closely together from the outset" Dr Chris Warwick, Senior Consultant at HEE explained. 

"MedTech CONNECT allows for easy, tailored two-way access which we believe could yield far-reaching benefits for patients, in terms of swifter access to innovative technologies. By removing some of the bureaucracy that can hamper innovation, we are confident that MedTech CONNECT will accelerate medtech adoption in our health service and ultimately improve patient outcomes.”