Plymouth Health Innovation Alliance

Distinct demographic

The South West’s unique population characteristics – rural, ageing and static – present the ideal platform from which to develop products and services of national and international significance.

Therefore, health technology innovation is focused on primary and social care and patient self-care management, including new clinical treatments, disease interventions and monitoring.

Vibrant research community

University of Plymouth researchers work closely with the NHS Trusts and have deep roots in the healthcare needs of the region. With a reputation for exceptional clinical learning, strong social engagement and world-class research, it is one of the largest providers of graduates for the health and social care sector with an annual research income of over £4.5 million.

The University’s Plymouth Institute for Health and Care incorporates the the Centre for Health Technology which drives the development, evaluation and implementation of innovative products and services to transform health and social care, and the Peninsula Clinical Trials Unit (PenCTU) which conducts world-class multi-centre clinical trials.

Health innovation focus

Plymouth's Health Innovation Campus looks after over 60% of the City’s healthcare provision, supporting over 6,000 jobs with another 1,000 in the supply chain. Alongside the Trust, the University’s Derriford Research Facility, Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Peninsula Clinical Trials Unit and Plymouth Allied Health Care, there are already 27 medical companies based at the City's Plymouth Science Park. The region is a hot spot for social enterprise activity in the UK. In Plymouth alone, there are around 150 social enterprises that employ around 7,000 employees.

Rapid route into the health innovation ecosystem

Working with our partners, we have a proven track record in overcoming key sector challenges in early health innovation adoptions: providing access to research expertise for evaluative purposes, end-user and health services engagement and market assessment.

Our regional innovation adoption environment includes all NHS Trusts, GP practices, care homes, commissioners, patients and end-users as well as voluntary and charitable groups and researchers, which allows us to effectively develop, evaluate and apply sustainable solutions to the healthcare challenges of the 21st century.