North of England Partners Singaporean Medtech Accelerator

A strategic deal between the Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA) and Zicom MedTacc will see Singaporean medtech companies come to the North of England when developing and internationalising new medical technology.

The memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by both organisations, provides a route through the NHSA, for the companies to pursue British clinical validation and economic impact assessments. The relationship will provide the North with access to innovative new technologies and treatments and will help support the growth of the North’s already thriving medtech sector.

The long-term aim is to support high skilled-jobs and investment in the Northern region which has seen health innovation identified nationally as a key economic strength.

Dr Hakim Yadi OBE CEO of the NHSA said: “We have been working with Zicom MedTacc for the last two years, this MoU formalises our existing working relationship and will support us in establishing a more enduring partnership.

“This partnership offers practical commercial opportunities for both MedTech companies and life science researchers in Singapore as well as in the North of England. We hope it encourages collaboration between the two countries which will enable companies from both geographies to expand into their reciprocal international markets.

“This means Northern medtech diagnostic and digital health companies will be able to use our strategic partners in Singapore as a launching pad into the Singaporean and wider Asia Pacific markets, both of which are growing phenomenally quickly.”

The NHSA is an alliance of the top eight universities, NHS teaching Trusts and four Academic Health Science Networks in the North of England covering a 15 million population.

Zicom MedTacc is a part of the Zicom Innovations Group, an Integrated Medtech company with decades of engineering, regionalisation and manufacturing expertise.

NHSA CEO Dr Yadi visited Singapore during January to meet with executives from Zicom MedTacc including Chief Executive Sim Kok Hwee where the MOU was signed.

Mr Kok Hwee said: “We have forged a close partnership with the NHSA and are confident through the NHSA, we will be able to help Singaporean healthcare and medical technology companies which are interested in establishing a presence in the North of England.

“Likewise, we are extremely delighted to be able to provide support to UK companies coming to Singapore to explore opportunities be it research and clinical collaborations or as a launchpad for breaking into the Singapore or other Asian markets. We look forward to more companies in both countries being able to expand their global footprint via such collaborative efforts between the NHSA and Zicom.”

Peter Ellingworth, CEO of the Association for British Healthcare Industries said: “The Government has highlighted the importance of international trade in ensuring the success of Brexit. Support for UK HealthTech companies will enable access to emerging markets and we look forward to working with NHSA on international activities to deliver this.”