DigitalHealth.London has announced that applications are open for the latest cohort of its Launchpad Programme, designed to offer support to early-stage innovators looking to launch digital health products and services.
The programme is seeking applications for innovations with “high potential to meet current NHS and social care challenges”, with successful applicants being granted access to a range of support to help them understand the process of bringing their products or services to the UK market.
Sara Nelson, the programme director for DigitalHealth.London, highlights that the programme has helped to support more than 60 companies over the last four years, adding that it is often seen as a “springboard” to “more in depth company support through other DigitalHealth.London programmes”.
Some of the companies that the Launchpad programme has supported to date include Canopie, a digital programme designed to tackle maternal mental health problems at scale; bumpf, a mobile pregnancy app to help patients plan, learn and share throughout their pregnancy journey; and FotoConsent, a secure mobile platform to help patients and healthcare professionals share medical images, documents and data safely.
Innovation across the UK
Last month we covered the launch of SBRI Healthcare’s competition seeking innovations in antimicrobial resistance, women’s health, stroke care and urgent and emergency care, with the aim of accelerating the uptake of innovations and facilitating the collection of evidence in real-world settings.
We also reported on the launch of The National Network for Innovation In Sport and Health as part of efforts to accelerate the growth of med tech, healthcare innovation and sport tech in Swansea, helping to boost collaboration between the NHS, industry and academia and encourage investment in this space.
Elsewhere, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust published its annual innovation report for 2023/24; Labour pledged to commit to innovation for the NHS in its party manifesto; and applications opened for the latest round of the CW Innovation Horizon Fellowship programme, designed to encourage staff across Chelsea and Westminster Hospital to share innovative project ideas.
