Lord Drayson launches Medical Technology Exchange Centre and welcomes NHS TrusTECH to Daresbury Science & Innovation Campus
 | Lord Drayson,Minister of State for Science and Innovation, visited Daresbury Science & Innovation Campus (Daresbury SIC) today (Friday 15 May) to launch a new centre which could lead to better patient care. |
The Medical Technology Exchange Centre, MedTEC is the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s (STFC’s) new healthcare-focussed technology exchange centre which brings together STFC’s Futures Programme with expertise in a number of related fields.
The Minister also met with business leaders from hi-tech companies and saw the latest scientific facilities and plans for the future of the Campus.
The theme of the visit was ‘Taking science to market’ and it included a tour of the Campus’ key scientific facilities including the HPCx supercomputer - one of two high-end national computing services - and the latest facilities for accelerator science and novel light sources. Plans for the future of the Campus, including progress on plans for the new centres for computational science and detector systems, were also presented.
The Minister then officially launched MedTEC which will allow more rapid engagement of the NHS and other health-related organisations in the innovation process on the Campus. MedTEC will host an office of the Northwest NHS Innovation Hub (TrusTECH). TrusTECH wascreated to help regional NHS staff to identify and protect innovations that could be commercialised or shared to improve patient care. MedTEC will enable STFC to combine its Healthcare Futures Programme with a TrusTECH hub office and a hotdesk for other partners from the healthcare sector.
The combination of company expertise combined with relevant STFC knowledge and expertise and a good interface to the NHS is already proving a powerful tool in the innovation process. Work has already begun on developing several projects. Speaking at the launch, the Minister said:
"This new centre for medical technology will complement the cutting-edge science centres and 80 high-tech start-ups already on the Daresbury Campus. It will encourage the use of a unique UK asset, the National Health Service, to help drive the process of innovation. It is this type of strategic investment that will give this country the edge it will need to compete in tomorrow's global economy."
Professor Keith Mason, Chief Executive of the STFC added:
“This centre provides a focus for like-minded organisations to meet, and to more rapidly identify and take forward ideas that will lead to real improvements in healthcare in the future. We hope this approach will revolutionise the way challenges are met in other areas of science and technology going forward.“
Lord Drayson also met with managing directors from a number of the Campus’ growing hi-tech companies. The companies, based in the Daresbury Innovation Centre, are active across a number of sectors, from biomedical to digital technologies. John Leake General Manager of Daresbury SIC, added:
“We are very proud to welcome Lord Drayson to launch the MedTEC facility – a centre which builds upon the Campus’ existing strengths in the biomedical sector. We look forward to supporting its development into a key innovation hub in the Northwest.”
Lord Drayson unveils plaque to launch the Medical Technology Exchange Centre
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NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1]NOTES TO EDITORS:
Lord Drayson PhD For further information on Lord Drayson please visit the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills website at http://www.dius.gov.uk/about_DIUS/ministerial_team/lord_drayson
TrusTECHis an NHS organisation and part of the NHS Innovation Hub network. It provides advice on and assistance with managing innovation arising from all aspects of the NHS healthcare provision. As one of the first NHS Innovations Hubs to be established, TrusTECH has a wealth of experience in intellectual property (IP) and innovation management. Based in the Innovation Unit at Manchester Royal Infirmary (and with offices in Liverpool, Preston and Daresbury), TrusTECH works with Trusts in Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside. For further information please visit: www.trustech.org.uk
Daresbury Science & Innovation Campus is an internationally recognised location for hi-tech businesses and leading-edge science. It represents a fundamentally new approach to driving UK competitiveness in global science and innovation. Daresbury SIC was formed by the Northwest Regional Development Agency and the Science & Technology Facilities Council, Lancaster University, the University of Liverpool, the University of Manchester and Halton Borough Council. For further information please visit www.daresburysic.co.uk
Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is one of seven national research councils in the UK. The STFC ensures the UK retains its leading place on the world stage by delivering world-class science; accessing and hosting international facilities; developing innovative technologies; and increasing the socio-economic impact of its research through effective knowledge exchange partnerships. For further information please visit: www.stfc.ac.uk
The Healthcare Futures programme is focussed on the exploitation of STFC’s technological and knowledge capabilities to address national Healthcare challenges.
HPCx at Daresbury is one of two national high end computing services which works in close collaboration with HECToR at the University of Edinburgh.
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