Clinicabin and Airbridge Partnership: Enhancing Health Logistics through Innovation

The North of Tyne Combined Authority (NOTCA) Digital Cluster programme has paved the way for a new partnership between two innovative companies: Clinicabin and Airbridge.

Through our support, we identified a complementary fit between the two companies, helping Airbridge access a critical part of their delivery model and enhancing healthcare logistics in the North East and North Cumbria.

What is Airbridge and how did HI NENC support?

Airbridge specialises in creating advanced, autonomous drone platforms for secure, efficient delivery. Their drones, guided by unmanned traffic management (UTM) technology, operate within controlled airspace to navigate routes safely and avoid obstacles.

These drones are designed to deliver items like medical supplies directly to secure lockers without human intervention, making the process faster and more efficient for healthcare settings. The system’s design allows for rapid, contact-free delivery – a feature particularly valuable for urgent deliveries like medication or medical equipment, especially in remote or hard-to-reach areas.

However, Airbridge initially faced challenges in sourcing the secure storage units necessary for this model. HI NENC stepped in to support Airbridge by connecting them with Clinicabin, another healthcare innovator who we worked with during the pandemic. With Clinicabin’s secure storage technology, Airbridge’s drones can now autonomously deliver supplies directly into these secure units, which are then managed by robotics for final distribution.

HI NENC has provided valuable support by helping Airbridge access funding, offering intellectual property guidance, conducting market research, and refining their NHS value proposition. This collaboration reflects HI NENC’s ongoing commitment to fostering innovation across the North East and North Cumbria, helping connect innovators to create impactful healthcare solutions.

Bonny Gray, Chief Medical Officer and Head of Strategy at Airbridge said: “We are thrilled to be collaborating with Clinicabin, a partnership facilitated by HI NENC. By combining Clinicabin’s expertise in modular building solutions and knowledge of clean working space with Airbridge’s advanced technology, Airbridge has been able to advance innovative and sustainable solutions for healthcare and logistics. This collaboration is a testament to the power of innovation and the potential of strategic partnerships.”

NOTCA Programme

This collaboration marks one of the final milestones of the NOTCA Digital Cluster programme, which concluded recently. Funded by the North of Tyne Combined Authority and delivered in partnership with Innovation SuperNetwork and Dynamo North East, the NOTCA programme has played a significant role in accelerating health tech innovation for businesses in the North East and North Cumbria.