‘Engaging SMEs with the NHS’ is being organised by the SBRI East programme board and administered by Health Enterprise East (HEE), the NHS partner organisation for innovation for the Midlands and East.
A key objective of the SBRI East programme is to demonstrate how the power of public sector procurement can be harnessed to secure bespoke R&D and technology development that is specific to NHS needs.
This free two-day event will feature speakers from leading NHS clinical procurement and commissioning teams as well as offer delegates an opportunity to hear about some of the bespoke technology developments funded to date under the programme. There will also be the opportunity to gain valuable advice from companies already in the SBRI East programme, plus an opportunity to hear details of the latest SBRI East competition, which is due to be launched in March 2012.
Around 130 companies are expected to attend and each day areas of focus will be:
key strategic and clinical leaders’ future priorities; NHS procurement demystified;
building your business case for NHS adoption and finding finance.
Speakers include: Sir Neil McKay, Chief Executive NHS Midlands and East;
Stephen Browning, Head of SBRI and Smart, Technology Strategy Board;
Liam Horkan Lead Nurse, Clinical Procurement East of England NHS Collaborative Procurement Hub; Mark Campbell, Associate Director, Medical Technologies Evaluation Programme NICE; Sandra Barrow, Head of Innovation Procurement, Department of Health; Tim Haines, Partner, Abingworth LLP; Dr Jonathan Belsey, Health Economist and Karen Livingstone, SBRI East Management Board.
Dr Anne Blackwood, Chief Executive HEE said: “This two day event will illustrate to companies the benefits of entering our next SBRI East competition, not just in terms of funding product development, but also keying into the NHS to ensure that innovations meet current needs. In addition to helpful advice from procurement professionals, there will also be the opportunity to hear first hand from previous SBRI East winners who will tell their story and provide pointers for success”.
The conference is free of charge but you need to register at on the SBRI East tab situated on the homepage. Alternatively call 01480 364925 for further information
About SBRI East
SBRI East is an award winning innovation programme that has brought business, health, technology and government partners together to deliver a competition for small to medium sized enterprises to provide innovative solutions for identified healthcare problems.
To date it has helped bring five leading-edge products to market within two years, available now to improve the quality of patient care. Strong clinical engagement from the region has enabled companies to truly understand the unmet need and innovate the right solution for patients and the NHS.
Using public sector procurement to provide a lead customer for companies has motivated staff to deliver solutions. Being assessed in a Dragons Den style of process has also encouraged companies to assess thoroughly all aspects of their technical, commercial and end user needs before starting the development phase.