Region’s healthtech businesses gather to hear from Shoosmiths and others as part of West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator drive

Law firm Shoosmiths has collaborated with businesses in the region to support the West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator (WMHTIA) with its aim to build a life sciences and healthtech ecosystem so businesses in the sector can thrive.

The aim of WMHTIA is to tackle the challenges companies face when bringing new technologies to the market. The programme unites a collaborative network of expertise across industry, NHS and universities that will help pioneering businesses navigate the key stages of medical translation. Through a centrally coordinated series of activities, this government-funded initiative will streamline the process of converting technologies from concept to real-world implementation.

As such, Shoosmiths co-hosted an event with Forresters and national health technology business support network Medilink, at its 103 Colmore Row home, to provide valuable insight and guidance to the region’s healthtech companies to support them in navigating important issues such as patents, designs, IP strategy, ‘protecting your brand’ and ‘commercialising your IP’. Following the event, Shoosmiths provided focused IP clinics with attendees to discuss specific IP concerns that they had.

Andrew Brennan, Partner and Head of Intellectual Property at Shoosmiths said: "We are thrilled to support this event by offering Health Tech companies the knowledge and strategies they need to protect and leverage their intellectual property in a fast, evolving industry. 

“Technology is a chosen market for Shoosmiths and is a sector where it excels and is growing. Hosting this event as part of its involvement with WMHTIA exhibits our commitment to help build a life sciences and healthtech ecosystem in the West Midlands.”

Antony Craggs, IP partner, Shoosmiths

Dr Luan Linden-Phillips, WMHTIA programme manager said, “I am delighted to see the region’s innovators benefitting from the expertise of our legal partners Shoosmiths and Forresters at the recent Intellectual Property Workshop held in conjunction with Medilinks Midlands, a testament to the collaborative strength of the WMHTIA. Protecting an innovation’s IP from the outset is crucial to ensuring the West Midlands can capitalise on the region’s health tech potential.”

The WMHTIA is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, in partnership with Innovate UK and the West Midlands Combined Authority. Along with Medilink, other organisations helping to deliver on the challenges that arise when bringing new technologies to market include University of Birmingham, Aston University, Bruntwood, MTC, Technology Supply Chain, NHS University Hospitals Birmingham, The University of Warwick and West Midlands Growth Company.