TWI is co-investing with Teesside University to establish a new Healthcare Technologies Innovation Centre.
The centre will build on the extensive medical device and engineering experience within TWI and the digital, health, science and engineering research at the University to address some of the challenges in the medical sector.
Working closely with the South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and industry, including TWI’s 700 international Industrial Member companies, the Teesside University led centre will identify key challenges in the sector and look to apply its digital and engineering expertise to develop innovative solutions and support companies in the development and commercialisation of new devices and services. The new Healthcare Technologies Innovation Centre will have full access to TWI facilities in Middlesbrough and across the UK.
Initial projects will extend existing work within Teesside University and at TWI, around device prototyping, microfluidics, sensors, implant surfaces and additive manufacturing technology (3D printing). Work will also focus on how digital advances can be used to support the delivery of future healthcare provision.
The Healthcare Technologies Centre will follow the Innovation Centre model developed at TWI which co-locates academic and industrial researchers to identify and address industrial challenges. It will become the 8th such centre to be established by TWI; all centres focus on industrially related research and position academic staff alongside industrial researchers and industry. This will be the first addressing the medical sector.
Professor Simon Hodgson, Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at Teesside University said:
‘We are really excited by this new partnership which brings together some of our best research in the university in Health, Biomedical and Analytical Sciences, Applied Biology, Mechanical, Materials and Electronic Engineering, Computer and Data Science and Design and combines this with TWI’s 35 year history of helping medical companies to meet their technology challenges and to manufacture cost-effective products. Together we aim to work with Healthcare Professionals and Medical Industries to try and develop innovative technological solutions to some of the challenges faced by clinicians, practitioners and patients.’
TWI and Teesside University signed the agreement for the new Centre in the company of Lord Heseltine CH at the opening of the new £10m TWI Technology and Training Centre – North East at Teesside Advanced Manufacturing Park.