![\"NevilleYoungDirectorofEnterprise\"](\"https:\/\/www.techsparx.co.uk\/north\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/NevilleYoungDirectorofEnterprise-300x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\nFollowing on from the success of the 2019 programme, Propel@YH an accelerator programme aimed at helping digital health innovators navigate the NHS in the Yorkshire and Humber region, is returning for 2020.<\/p>\n
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Propel@YH provides support and advice to SMEs focused on digital health, with the aim of accelerating growth and increasing market presence.<\/p>\n
Applications for the programme open on 11th\u00a0February and will close on 12th\u00a0March. The programme is open to SMEs that can demonstrate innovative digital health solutions and either have an existing presence in the Yorkshire and Humber region or are willing to establish one. Programme content will be tailored to individual members to enable global organisations to bring innovative digital health and patient solutions to the region\u2019s population and wider health economy.<\/p>\n
The Yorkshire & Humber AHSN (Yorkshire & Humber Academic Health Science Network) will run the six-month programme with mHabitat delivering the majority of the masterclass content. This year also sees the University of Leeds\u2019 innovation hub, Nexus, support the programme as community partners. Barclays Eagle Labs will also join to provide business support through their national incubator network and leading health law firm Hill Dickinson return as legal partners. Leeds City Council is also supporting the programme. The new partners significantly bolster the Propel@YH programme, bringing greater benefits to digital health innovators selected to take part.<\/p>\n
The 2019 cohort reported several positive outcomes from the programme. Among these were raising significant investment, creating jobs, numerous research collaborations, and the creation of several new digital services. Members also attributed creating new opportunities to benefit patients and increased potential patient reach to Propel@YH 2019, with significant savings to the NHS.<\/p>\n
The 2020 programme has space for 10 start-up digital health innovators. Competition is set to be very high this year, with extra benefits for SMEs on the programme being highly coveted and invaluable, including access to expert partners such as NHS providers, commissioners and academic institutions, and more.<\/p>\n
Neville Young, Director of Enterprise and Innovation for the Yorkshire & Humber AHSN, said: \u201cThis is the second time we\u2019ve been able to offer this great opportunity for innovative\u00a0digital and data-driven health\u00a0companies to access a raft of support specifically tailored to their needs and equip them with the knowledge and contacts to drive their businesses forward.\u00a0Key to the success of this program is the great digital assets we have in the Yorkshire and Humber region in terms of infrastructure, skills and data itself.
\n\u201cDigital health technology\u00a0and data-driven health solutions are extremely important\u00a0and growing\u00a0business sectors, but SMEs often face a number of challenges and barriers that restrict their growth.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy providing support through Propel@YH, we not only enable citizens to have quicker access to innovative products that help to improve healthcare in the region, but we also bring economic growth and jobs into the Yorkshire and Humber region.\u201d
\nPrevious cohort member Barry Singleton, Chief Relationship Officer at Scaled Insights commented:\u00a0 \u201cAs a newcomer to the health care system with no clinical experience, I found the whole program to be invaluable. The masterclasses were incredibly informative and gave me a greater understanding of how the system works.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor any start-up or scale-up company seeking to better understand how to navigate the NHS, to understand its complexity and the amount of evidence that is required in order to work towards\u00a0 gaining adoption of new technology, Propel YH will deliver everything you need and more.\u201d<\/p>\n