May 2021 marks the 2-year anniversary of the North West HeathTec Cluster. Formed in 2019, the HealthTec Cluster is a joint initiative between the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and the Innovation Agency, the North West HealthTec Cluster connects capabilities from academic, public and private organisations from across the region, with a mission to boost the health and life science sector in the North West.
Through the creation of this connective environment across the region; knowledge, skills and facilities can be shared, boosting economic growth and driving productivity.
Collaborating for success
Life-changing innovation, award-winning business and dynamic collaboration have marked 2 years of the HealthTec Cluster for the North West. An example of one of its recent collaborations between two health tech companies – Revivocell and Daresbury Proteins – saw the two bio-tech start-ups develop a new type of COVID-19 testing platform that is rapid, low cost and easy to use.
Whilst other COVID-19 diagnostic tests are available, this laboratory-based test can deliver highly accurate results within minutes and doesn’t require specialist training.
The development of this new technology took place at the cutting-edge facility – STFC’s Daresbury Laboratory – and came to fruition following support from Liverpool Metro Mayor’s Future Innovation Fund which enabled the companies to scale up and manufacture the product.
It’s both exciting and encouraging to see some of Liverpool’s best start-ups contribute to the effort to overcome this pandemic.
The success of the HealthTec Cluster doesn’t stop there, back in February 2021 the STFC Daresbury Laboratory launched a new facility to develop new cancer treatments.
Designed and built in collaboration with a team of experts at Daresbury Laboratory, the new, bespoke testing facility will enable Varian Medical Systems to scale up the testing of its advanced linear accelerator technology. This will allow the company to more than triple its testing and manufacturing capacity, leading to the creation of five new permanent jobs at Daresbury Laboratory as well as new jobs at the Varian site in Crawley.
The Cluster continues to see strong growth of organisations on the site with ~150 hi-tech organisations and nearly ~40 of these operating in or supporting the Health and Life Science Sector. New companies to the site include: Holiferm, an organisation commercialising biosurfactants for use in environmentally friendly home and personal care products, award winning DNA, drug and alcohol testing laboratory, Alpha BioLabs and Birmingham Optical, specialists in the optical industry, providing equipment, services and expertise and a market leading portfolio.
As part of its growth strategy the HealthTec Cluster continues to work with partners to support Health & Life Science innovation and the wider sector, to see a roundup of collaborative and upcoming events, click here.
The HealthTec Cluster Virtual Conference
Finally, the HealthTec Cluster would like to invite you to its second anniversary virtual conference where there will be a number of panels from leading sector specialists discussing key industry issues such as sustainability and net zero and what’s next in supporting the Covid-19 recovery.
Bringing together peers from across the sector, attendees will be given the opportunity to network with likeminded individuals, to share ideas and recent successes in the Health and Life Sciences sector and beyond.
To secure your free place, register now.
