UK launches new innovation and R&D-promotion network
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The UK's Department of Health (DH) today announced the go-ahead for a network of Health Innovation and Education Clusters (HIECs) designed to "combine the expertise of industry, health and education to promote innovation in the NHS". The 17 regional HIECs will seek to achieve this by "speeding up the adoption of research", according to the DH. The government has committed £11m ($17.8m) within the 2009-10 financial year to the initiative, plus almost £10m more for the following year. The scheme was mooted earlier this year, with the creation of a HIECs project board.