Innovate UK has opened an accelerator programme for SMEs to explore the potential of overseas markets.
Applications are now open for its Global Incubator Programme for the Houston USA market, through a partnership with the Texas Medical Centre and support from the Department for International Trade, as part of the BioBridge agreement.
The programme aims to support a wide range of SMEs who may specialise in clinical decision support, hospital efficiency, remote patient monitoring, digital therapeutics, surgical devices, ICU devices, outpatient medical devices, AI in radiology, wearables and devices that enable patient monitoring, diagnostic platforms, and biomaterials.
Innovate UK note that Houston has been chosen as a partner region because it’s “a hub for medical device manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and health research” and “has more than 1,760 life sciences companies, cutting-edge health care facilities and research institutions”.
The incubator is for six to eight innovations to join a structured programme across four stages to tackle some of the challenge innovators face when entering a new market. The stages will see organisations to prepare and develop a strategy, visit a group or people in the ecosystem, work with a specialist to consider the technology and market fit, customer validation, consider potential funding, and develop connections.
To find out more on the programme there is an applicant briefing taking place 3pm – 4pm, Wednesday 7th December 2022. The deadline to apply is 5pm Friday 27th January 2023.
