The Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the UK Israel Tech Hub (UKITH) to bring Israeli health and medical technology innovations to the North of England.
The NHSA is a partnership established by leading Universities and NHS Hospital Trusts in the North of England to improve the health and wealth of the region by creating an internationally recognised life science and healthcare system. It links eight universities and eight research-intensive NHS Teaching Trusts with four Academic Health Science Networks.
Suzanne Ali-Hassan, head of corporate affairs for the NHSA, signed the MOU with David Quarrey, the British Ambassador to Israel at MIXiii Biomed 2018 in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Ali-Hassan said: “We are thrilled to be signing this memorandum of understanding with the UK Israel Tech Hub, which will open up the North of England to innovative and cutting-edge Israeli health technology.
There are well more than 1400 life science and healthcare companies in Israel whose innovations have the potential to bring great benefits to the North’s hospitals and patient population.
The joint-working arrangement will support Israeli healthcare companies establishing research and a presence in the UK, specifically in the North of England.
The NHSA will provide support to the Israeli companies identified by the UK Israel Tech Hub to access the UK clinical research environment in the North of England. This will support companies in building a business case for their technology when entering the UK, helping them to engage with health research professionals, health economic teams and clinical expertise for the development and validation of their technology within an NHS health system.
Ambassador Quarrey said: “This is the latest sign of the deepening innovation links between our two countries. The agreement will further enable British researchers and patients to have access to the latest technology from Israel. And we hope even more Israeli medical companies will now look to the UK as a destination for their growth.”
The UK Israel Tech Hub will support and help in accessing and identify funding for Israeli companies to secure partnerships with the UK clinical research environment in the North of England, as well as support the developing partnerships and collaborations via the NHSA.