Health and Growth Accelerator

North East and North Cumbria ICB Health and Growth Accelerator

INNOVATION CALL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HI NENC

Health Innovation North East North Cumbria is working with the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) to find innovations from across the country to support people living in our region to remain economically active.

Evidence links poor health and economic inactivity. By preventing ill health in the first place, or helping keep people healthy, we can support people to remain in work. There are three sites that have been allocated funding, including the North East and North Cumbria, as part of a £45m NHS England 12-month pilot scheme.

 

Background

The Accelerator focuses on improving health and reducing economic inactivity in the following ways:

Finding Innovations which support people of working age who are impacted by these health conditions:

• Musculoskeletal (MSK)

• Mental health

• Menopause

• Cardiometabolic-related conditions such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes

Supporting people who have risk factors for poor health associated with:

• Obesity

• Smoking

• Alcohol

 

Progress so far

HI NENC conducted thorough due diligence for existing innovations and, following a regional and national call for applications, in collaboration with partners from across the system, received an impressive 88 national and 35 regional submissions.

A comprehensive judging process was then undertaken by a multi-disciplinary team to create a shortlist of innovations that, if chosen as part of the accelerator, can make a tangible difference to patient outcomes.

On Thursday, 19th June 2025, HI NENC hosted a showcase event, which invited this shortlist of innovators to attend a “dragon’s den” style interview process in front of a panel of key decision makers across the region. This included clinical leads, programme leads, and more from across NHS England, ICB and others.

Following this showcase, an announcement will be made revealing which applicants have been successful and will be moving forward with the programme.