Success stories
Medical think tank moves to Blackburn
Tuesday 20th October
An exciting new initiative aims to establish Pennine Lancashire as a national leader in the development of new, high value businesses catering for the medical and health sectors.
A landmark agreement between the Pennine Lancashire ‘No Limits’ Programme and the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has seen the collaborative ‘Health Tech Hub’ project move from its base in Preston to the Medi Knowledge Park at Shadsworth, Blackburn.
The ‘Health Tech Hub’ is a specialist organisation, drawing together industry and University expertise to work with commercial and health service professionals. Its mission is to explore the opportunities for local businesses to supply health organisations with innovative goods and services. It also acts as a focal point for new medical ideas and products required by the health sector that could be manufactured locally.
Dawn Oliver, Manager of the Health Tech Hub, said: “We decided to move the Hub to Pennine Lancashire because the location within the Medi-Knowledge Park is ideal. We are close to the manufacturing base and working to common strategic objectives by focussing on innovation and knowledge transfer within the priority area of the Bio- Medical sector. We’ve only just settled in and already we’ve seen two new medical companies seeking to locate into the area with several firms having already taken advantage of our expertise.
“In the near future we will be unveiling a programme of Hub events* together with key dates when our support surgeries will be available for any business or individual wanting to gain advice or access into this growing business sector.”
Steve Hoyle, Director of the No Limits Programme added:
“The medical sector is one of the key growth sectors identified as being important to the future economy of Pennine Lancashire. We have some excellent manufacturing companies here supplying hospitals and health professionals with a wide range of equipment, devices and services. As demand grows on the health and case services, the Pennine Lancashire economy can benefit through keeping at the leading edge of innovation and development in new products and facilities. Working with the Health Tech Hub enables us to keep a close tab on the demands from the health sector and to work with local businesses to meet these demands.”
Other medical related projects have already moved to Evolution Park, a partnership between developers St. Modwen and Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, located adjacent to the Royal Blackburn Hospital. The employment site is expected to accommodate over 1000 technology related jobs when full.
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