Chinese investor taps into elderly care know-how

A CHINESE investment company which specialises in providing health and social care for the elderly has chosen Manchester as the location for its new UK research and innovation centre.
 
Edward Healthcare, a subsidiary of Yuanzhen UK Investments, has taken space at the MedTECH Centre on Manchester Science Park where it will explore international care systems which could be adopted for use in China.

China has 180 million people aged 65 and over – equivalent to the whole of Europe’s population – and it is increasing by eight million each year. Social changes mean fewer old people are being cared for by relatives at home.
 
Edward Healthcare has also signed a £1m, 10-year contract to buy expertise from TRUSTECH, the North West NHS’s commercialisation arm which is working with two other health agencies – the Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC) and Manchester Integrating Medicine and Innovative Technology (MIMIT) – on research and information services.
 
TRUSTECH was involved in bringing The Edward Centre to Manchester, after working with MIMIT to deliver a set of manuals detailing the procedures for operating care homes.
 
Peter Bullock, managing director of The Edward Centre, said: “Manchester is the ideal location for many reasons. We are keen to collaborate with Professor Jackie Oldham at MIMIT, who is a leading expert in rehabilitation science, and to access the resources of Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC), renowned for its excellence across research, innovation, education and patient service.
 
“Having already worked very successfully with TRUSTECH and MIMIT, we wanted to build on a strong relationship and take it to the next stage. Manchester also has a vibrant Chinese community and is a destination of choice for industry and entrepreneurs.”