NHS Innovations London

NHS Innovations London (NHSIL) is part of a national network of NHS Innovation Hubs that were established to provide services to the NHS to help Trusts identify, protect and develop their ideas. Many innovations are best implemented by making them freely available through normal knowledge management processes. However, some innovations are inventions that can only be realised through commercial development, and for these the professional management of the associated intellectual property is needed.

One of the main functions of NHSIL is to unlock the full potential of healthcare opportunities by providing the funding and business capabilities to help bring these ideas to market. NHSIL’s role is to help commercialise the best ideas for the benefit of patients and society.

NHSIL operates on a membership basis with NHS Trust throughout the London region. They service NHS Foundation Trusts, Mental Health Trusts, Primary Care Trusts including Teaching PCT’s and Research Consortia in the region.

NHS Innovations London was granted certification of incorporation to become a company limited by guarantee on 13th December 2006.

NHSIL Organisational & Operational Structure
NHSIL project staff is split into 4 different specialist areas that operate in cross-functional teams for project works. These areas can be split into the following categories

1. NHS Trust Liaison: NHSIL Partner Liaison Managers each liaise with 10-20 Trusts within the London region, providing a range services, including management of new disclosures, IP training session, Technology Scouting (audits) and development of active IP projects. Partnership Liaison Managers are also responsible for assessing disclosures at the feasibility stage to ascertain whether ideas are likely to be patentable. Partnership Liaison Managers develop strong working relationship with IP Leads in each Trust and also identify potential internal “champions” in each department, as appropriate.

2. IP Management: Intellectual Property Managers, with specialisations in medical devices, equipment, pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, file provide advice on IPR such as design rights, copy rights and trade marks. They also provide technical evaluation of new IP, including comparisons with other technologies and products, as well as recommendations on the improvement of new IP and its patentability by working with external IP and legal advisors. Their overall position is to manage the IP process, including validation, definition, filing and protection of patents and protection of trademarks/copyrights.

3. Virtual Product Development: Currently, one Development Project Manager manages all external product development, including liaison with external vendors and the originating Trust. Development Project Managers identify IT, IM, software, database and telecoms related products and IP arising in the London NHS Trusts and potential other new technology-related sources of IP. Where applicable, they are also involved with the assessment of the key routes and partners to commercialization, e.g. through licensing, OEM, company formation or other relationships.

4. Business Development & Marketing: NHSIL’s Director of Business Development and Business Analyst provide specialist knowledge and advice regarding the commercialization process for Healthcare innovations, such as market research, business plan development, funding, forming partnerships etc. NHSIL Business Development Team generally helps inventors choose between two main commercialization routes: licensing or the creation of a company, often spin out companies for NHS Trusts. There is also a Marketing Manager to cover all areas communications and marketing, including branding, network and award events, and developing promotional material.

Proof of Concept Fund
NHSIL provides a Proof of Concept Fund to help individuals prove their idea or invention can work. The fund provides financial backing and business support for inventors and researchers looking to demonstrate the commercial applications and viability of their technologies and research.

Since the launch of the Proof of Concept Fund, over 20 projects from London Trusts have been allocated over £500,000.

Recent Proof of Concept fund allocations have covered the development of projects in the following areas:


 * Therapeutic
 * Diagnostic
 * Medical device
 * Software
 * Assistive technology
 * Hospital equipment

The Proof of Concept Fund is open to all NHS staff with no restriction on the field of technology or invention.

Investors and Industry
NHSIL give medical or healthcare companies access to healthcare technologies and devices, developed as a result of specific needs identified in the delivery of frontline healthcare. They work with companies who are interested in licensing, forming spin out companies or partnering in product design, product development, prototype manufacturing, regulatory affairs and distribution. We can also work with you to set up clinical trials and gain ethical and regulatory approval.

NHSIL puts its projects through an evaluation process (Xpedite™), ensuring that all innovations receive a detailed market assessment, a technical validation and are properly protected.

NHSIL assesses the need for a product by identifying “champions” within the field and asking them to confirm the usefulness and uniqueness of the product - and in some cases perform limited trials. The benefits of this process is twofold: confirmation that the product is of real value and an endorsement from leading clinicians in the field. NHSIL partners with both SMEs and large commercial organisations to enable the transfer of new innovations from the NHS into healthcare markets on the most favorable terms. They also seek to build long term partnerships with key players in specific markets to increase the efficiency of the commercialization process and facilitate the development of interactive relationships between clinicians and technology experts.

Current Purpose & Function of NHS Innovation Hubs
The NHS network of regional NHS Innovation Hubs have been set up to support NHS Trusts and Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) identify and develop innovations that are in the interests of patients and society as a whole. They do this through the activities and services of the network and by adoption of the Department of Health (United Kingdom) Guidance. The Innovation Hubs offer legal and commercial support to NHS staff who have a pre-market product.

The NHS Innovation Hub Network work to fulfill the following functions:


 * To build IP awareness in the Trusts
 * To find & evaluate IP for the Trusts
 * To protect & manage IP for the Trusts
 * To assist & fund technology development
 * To commercialize technology & products
 * To facilitate the dissemination of service improvements

The NHS Innovation Hub network in England consist of the following organizations:


 * East Midlands Innovations Hub
 * MEDIPEX
 * NHS Innovations North
 * RTC North
 * TrusTECH
 * Health Enterprise East
 * NHS Innovations South East
 * MidTech
 * NHS Innovations South West

Funding Bodies
NHS Innovations London is sponsored by a number of public organisations, which are as follows.

DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY – OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The Office of Science & Technology was formed in 1992. It leads the Government in supporting excellence in Science &, Engineering & Technology. This in turn benefits UK society and the economy. As a result of the John Baker report (published in August 1999), the Government formed the Public Sector Research Exploitation (PSRE) fund to address some of the problems facing public sector bodies dealing with knowledge transfer.

NHS Innovations London (NHSIL) was awarded £ 2.3 million under PSRE2 for the period 2004-2007 and a further £ 1.5 million under PSRE3 for the period 2006-2009 to provide funding to manage innovations and Intellectual property coming from NHS Trusts in London and also to provide Proof-of Concept support to migrate products towards commercialization.

On 28 June 2007, the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills(DIUS) was formed to take over some of the functions of the disbanded departments of Education and Skills and Trade and Industry.

Lord Triesman is currently the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DH)

As part of a national network, the Department of Health (United Kingdom) provides annual funding to NHS Innovations London via the NHS Institute For Innovation and Improvement for services to NHS Trusts in the London region for the identification, protection and management of innovations and intellectual property that benefit patient health care and result in the generation of revenues for the Trusts LONDON DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (LDA)

The London Development Agency (LDA) works to build a thriving economy for London’s communities and businesses. They support the growth of new and existing businesses and the creation of new jobs by investing more than £300 million a year in London.

The LDA focuses their investment on areas of greatest need and greatest potential, so that all Londoners can gain from and contribute to London’s success.

Board Members

 * Mr James Cochrane - Chair
 * Dr Robert Bell - Board Member
 * Mr John Goulston - Board Member
 * Mr Simon Crawford - Board Member
 * Dr Keith Meadows - Board Member
 * Robert Naylor - Board Member
 * Jerry Benjamin - Board Member
 * Joy Ellery - Board Member
 * Dr David Owen - Board Member

Sir Jonathan Michael also served on the board.