The organisations behind the NHS Innovation Service

Together these organisations can offer advice and support for variety of healthcare innovations at all stages in development. So whether your product is digital, physical, pharmaceutical, education and training, PPE or AI, we’ll be able to match you up with a support organisation that can help.

Department for Business and Trade (DBT)

Help UK life sciences companies to do business overseas and support foreign life sciences companies to invest in the UK. Visit the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) website for more information.

Health Innovation Network (previously Academic Health Science Network)

A network of 15 regional organisations established by NHS England to spread and adopt innovation at pace and scale across health and social care, and connects NHS and academic organisations, local authorities, the third sector and industry. Visit the Health Innovation Network website for more information.

Health Research Authority (HRA)

Making it easy to do research that people can trust. An arm’s length body reviewing and approving innovative health and social care research studies that involve people, their tissue or their data. Visit the HRA's website for more information.

Health Technology Wales (HTW)

A national body working to improve the quality of care in Wales. They collaborate with partners across health, social care and the technology sectors to ensure an all-Wales approach and cover any technology or model of care and support in health and social care that is not a medicine. Visit the Health Technology Wales (HTW) website for more information.

Life Science Hub Wales (LSHW)

Support collaboration between innovators, NHS Wales, social care and academia accelerating the development and adoption of innovation. Visit the Life Science Hub Wales (LSHW) website for more information.

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)

An executive agency sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Care, which regulates medicines, medical devices and blood components for transfusion in the UK. Recognised globally as an authority in its field, the MHRA plays a leading role in protecting and improving public health and supports innovation through scientific research and development. Visit the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for more information.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)

NICE produce evidence-based guidance and advice for the NHS, public health and social care practitioners to improve outcomes for people using the NHS using these services. They also develop quality standards and performance metrics for those providing and commissioning health, public health and social care services, and provide a range of information services for commissioners, practitioners and managers across health and social care.

NICE also coordinates the management of the AI and Digital Regulations Service, which brings together regulations, guidance and resources for AI and digital technologies in health and social care.

Visit the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) website for more information.

National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)

UK’s largest funder of health and care research, working in partnership with the NHS, universities and local government. Visit the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) website for more information.

NHS England Specialised Commissioning

Specialised services are commissioned by NHS England to deliver cutting-edge care for rare disorders and complex medical conditions, and are a catalyst for innovation, supporting pioneering practice in the NHS. Visit the NHS England Specialised Commissioning website for more information.

NHS Supply Chain

Part of the NHS family, NHS Supply Chain manages the sourcing, delivery and supply of healthcare products, services and food to the NHS and healthcare organisations in England and Wales. Our long term vision is to make it easier for the NHS to put patients first through being easy to work with, driving healthcare value, excelling in procurement, connecting supply chains, and being guided by data. Visit the NHS Supply Chain website for more information.

Scottish Health Technology Group (SHTG)

National health technology assessment (HTA) agency providing advice to NHS Scotland on the use of new and existing health technologies (excluding medicines) that are likely to have significant implications for people’s care. Visit the Scottish Health Technology Group (SHTG) website for more information.