Since its launch 17 months ago, the Huddersfield Health Innovation Partnership (HHIP) has supported over 450 businesses in developing products and services aimed at improving health outcomes, enhancing workplace wellbeing, addressing health inequalities, and advancing medical technology.
Formed as a collaboration between the University of Huddersfield, 3M Buckley Innovation Centre (3M BIC), Kirklees Council, the NHS, Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, and Third Sector Leaders, the HHIP facilitates connections between academia, healthcare, and industry. Through strategic funding, business support, and knowledge exchange opportunities, it helps translate ideas and research into real-world solutions.
In recent months, the HHIP has provided strategic support for projects tackling major healthcare challenges and inequalities. Thirty-five organisations have received grants, while 80 entrepreneurs have been assisted in becoming enterprise-ready.
Projects emerging from the HHIP include:
• Mental health support – An innovative suicide prevention platform.
• Inclusive healthcare research – Projects exploring the impact of yoga on adults with learning disabilities and advancing fertility care research.
• Advancing medical accessibility – Research into AI-driven accessibility solutions for mobile health applications, as well as inclusive chemotherapy treatments, including scalp cooling solutions for individuals who wear head coverings.
• Sustainable healthcare innovations – Development of a reusable drinking aid to improve hydration for care home residents and hospital patients.
• Improving workplace wellbeing – Implementation of strategic workforce interventions to improve employee health and wellbeing.
• Enhancing community services – Initiatives aimed at improving physical and emotional health in local communities, alongside the development of a digital platform promoting diabetes awareness in ethnic minority communities.
Over 40 businesses have received tailored mentoring from a pool of 29 mentors, covering areas such as marketing, business growth, NHS procurement, and start-up support. Additionally, hundreds of organisations have participated in HHIP-hosted events, including speed debating sessions, roundtables, and workshops on AI in healthcare, NHS procurement, regulations, and workplace health and wellbeing.
As part of the West Yorkshire Innovation Festival, an event celebrating the success of the HHIP and Kirklees Council’s Thrive programme was held at the Daphne Steele Building on the University of Huddersfield’s National Health Innovation Campus on Tuesday, 4 March.
Key Figures on the HHIP’s Impact
• 450+ businesses supported
• 35 organisations awarded grants
• 80 entrepreneurs supported
• 40+ businesses mentored
• Hundreds of organisations engaged through events
Voices on the Impact of the HHIP
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, highlighted the significance of the HHIP in positioning Huddersfield within the £160 million Investment Zone. She praised the collaboration between the NHS, universities, and health technology businesses, describing it as a driving force for innovation, job creation, and regional growth.
Professor Tim Thornton, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Huddersfield, noted the overwhelming interest in the HHIP and the National Health Innovation Campus, stating that partnerships have ranged from cutting-edge medical devices to digital health and accessibility solutions.
Richard Stubbs, CEO of Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, emphasised that “innovation is a team sport,” crediting the HHIP for fostering collaborations that address regional health challenges and advance transformative healthcare solutions.
A Hub for Innovation at Pinderfields Hospital
A major milestone for the HHIP was the opening of a new Innovation Space at Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, operated by Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust. Officially launched in October 2024 by the West Yorkshire Mayor, this space has since welcomed over 300 visitors, including Trust staff participating in internal workshops focused on idea generation and service improvement.
Beyond internal innovation, the Innovation Space has hosted six external roundtables and events, bringing together clinicians, academics, and industry leaders to explore innovative solutions to key NHS challenges.
Dr Richard Robinson, Chief Medical Officer at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, described the Innovation Space as a vital resource for fostering creative thinking and driving service improvements within the Trust and the wider healthcare sector.
Looking Ahead
The Huddersfield Health Innovation Partnership (HHIP) is led by the University of Huddersfield. The National Health Innovation Campus, a key part of HHIP, is partially funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). The West Yorkshire Combined Authority oversees the fund’s implementation as part of the Mayor’s ambition to make West Yorkshire the best place to work, learn, and live.