An initial cohort of eight start-up companies have begun their journey through the new Oxford AHSN Accelerator programme.
They were selected after successfully pitching their ideas to a panel of industry leaders, investors and senior AHSN staff. Their innovations relate to drug discovery, diagnostics, digital health and service delivery.
By the end of November the eight SMEs should have developed a fully formed business venture with the help of experts supporting the programme which is delivered by the Oxford AHSN with BioCity.
Online peer-support and progress-tracker toolkit enabling the exchange of ideas and construction of collaborative business models is being provided to the Accelerator companies by WeKandu.
Oxford AHSN Chief Operating Officer Paul Durrands said: “To make a difference to patients’ outcomes, safety and experience we need innovations that are based on real needs and that are evidence based. They also have to be practical and affordable. Our Accelerator helps innovators drill down into customer needs and what will create real value to the NHS.”
The ten SMEs whose applications were unsuccessful are also continuing to receive support.