The development of a web-based tool to accelerate and increase knowledge transfer interactions between the NHS and industry has resulted in an award for Health Enterprise East (HEE) worth £50,000.
The 2012 Fast Forward Competition was launched to find examples of knowledge sharing with industry to help boost UK economic growth. Robert Donald, HEE’s intellectual property manager said: “Expert clinical opinion is vital for companies when developing new medical technology to ensure unmet clinical needs are filled as effectively as possible and new products are ‘fit for purpose’ within the NHS. “For many SMEs within the medtech sector, it can be difficult to identify clinical and research staff who have both the time and wish to engage with them at an early stage of new product development. Our Clinical Expertise Database will facilitate this important exchange.”
