Health technology sector funding boost
YORKSHIRE’S healthcare technology sector is to get a £1.8m funding boost with the launch of a new three-year investment readiness programme.
Access to Finance for Healthcare Technology Companies will be launched on February 25 at the Alea Casino in Leeds.
Sir Chris O’Donnell, the Sheffield-born former chief executive of Smith & Nephew credited with re-inventing the firm as a medical technology giant will give a keynote address.
The new Yorkshire Forward funded programme will be delivered by Grant Thornton, BITECIC and Quotec.
The programme will provide healthcare technology companies with the knowledge, advice, tools and resources needed to access equity funding from national and international investors.
For investors it will provide a pipeline of attractive prospective investments between £50,000 and £5m.
Programme manager Phil Whaley of Grant Thornton said: “While the current climate is tough, our experience tells us that healthcare technology propositions are increasingly favoured over those in other sectors.
“Europe-wide, the healthcare sector represents 26% of all deal activity, so we’re confident there is a lot of scope for developing the investment market here in Yorkshire and Humber.”
The programme is open to all Yorkshire based SMEs and entrepreneurs in the healthcare technology sectors.
Participating companies will receive ongoing support and assistance, moving through a structured programme starting with a recruitment and induction phase, followed by a market and technology assessment, investment readiness workshop, mentoring, and investor introductions.
Information can be accessed via a dedicated website – www.investinginhealth.co.uk Interested companies, investors and business support providers can register their interest on the site.
