Welcome to the latest news update, keeping you informed about the health and life sciences initiatives we are progressing, highlighting relevant sector events and funding opportunities, and updating you on the exciting things that are happening in and around the county.
Cluster Activities
 West Sussex Health and Life Sciences Cluster Directory
The latest version of the cluster map and directory have now been published online.
We have now identified over 140 life science related companies in West Sussex.
If you are aware of companies that we have not included, please let us know. We would also be delighted to hear your comments and suggestions. Please email Rachael.merriman@westsussex.gov.uk
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 Apprenticeship Skills Reform and Science Industry Partnership Webinar
On August 8th, WSHLSC partnered with Cogent Skills, the sector skills body for the science industries, to deliver a free webinar to support companies with the recent skills changes.
Information covered in the webinar is applicable to both apprenticeship levy paying organisations and non- levy paying organisations.
The webinar covered the following topics:
- what the apprenticeship reforms mean
- the apprenticeship levy and how funding works
- the transition from frameworks to standards
- using apprenticeships for workforce development
- setting up DAS account & adding apprenticeship starts
If you missed the webinar, you can listen to the recording for free by clicking here.
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 The Big Bang Fair South East
The Big Bang Fair South East took place on June 28th. 8,900 students and teachers attended the day. Regional employers, HE and FE organisations, and professional bodies provided 262 interactive activities, stands, shows and workshops.
Cluster members including GSK, Edwards Vacuum, BSE3d and BOC all delivered engaging activities. We would like to thank everyone that participated in making the day a success.
A short video of the day has been produced and can be found here.
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 ERDF Sector Support Call
On June 30th, an ERDF sector support call was released for the Coast to Capital area (of which West Sussex is part). The call contains a life sciences element which is split into two lots:
Lot 1- supporting innovation across niche sectors
Lot 2- meeting the skills needs of the life sciences cluster
Potential partners were brought together for a project scoping and idea generation workshop facilitated by the West Sussex EU Resources project.
Unfortunately due to tight timeframes arising from a September 8th deadline, and the added challenge of the summer holiday period, it is unlikely that bids will be submitted this time. However a positive consortium of potential partners has been warmed up, with the intention of developing robust projects in advance of any rereleases of the call.
If you have any thoughts on stimulating innovation across the sector, or there is specific innovation support that your organisation would benefit from, please emailRachael.merriman@westsussex.gov.uk
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Events
 Brighton University Placements Event
University of Brighton invites you to exhibit at their Science Careers & Placements Fair at 1-3pm onWednesday 11th October 2017. This will be an exciting event to showcase the work you do and speak with students looking for placements and careers in the science industry. This fair is aimed at undergraduates from the following areas: Biomedical Science; Biological Science; Chemistry; Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences; Ecology.
If you would like to exhibit please complete the online form by going to -https://brighton.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/pabs-oct-2017-exhibitor-booking. There is no charge for this event
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Brighton Science Festival
In 2017, the British Science Festival will be held in the city of Brighton, co-hosted by the University of Brighton and the University of Sussex.
The festival delivers lots of exciting talks and activities over 5 days at venues across the city. For a timetable of events click here.
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 Getting to Grips with the New Health App Endorsement Process Event- September 26th, Southampton
NHS England, The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), and Public Health England have worked together to develop an App Endorsement Process, launched earlier this year.
Diarmaid Crean (Deputy Director of digital at Public Health England), has been instrumental in putting this process into action. At this free event, Diarmaid will talk through the App Endorsement Process, covering who, why, how, when and will take questions.
This is a key opportunity for all those involved in health related app development. Further details can be found here.
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 KSS Diabetes Medical Technology Collaborative – Launch event
This event is a collaborative approach to enhancing clinical outcomes and quality of life for adults with Type 1 diabetes by improving access and use of medical technology.
The Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS) Diabetes Medical Technology Collaborative is a KSS AHSN project, led and developed in partnership with the South East Clinical Network. Industry partners with KSS AHSN are Dexcom and Animas.
Organisations involved in the development of the project are KSS AHSN, SECN, INPUT, Paula Carr Trust, Diabetes UK, ABCD IPN-UK, clinicians and commissioners.
The event takes place in Crawley on October 18th. Full details of the event can be found here.
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 National 5G Testbed Workshops
The Digital Catapult in Brighton will be hosting a national 5G testbed and are inviting digital businesses to explore the opportunities 5G enables in the following workshops:
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 Accessing the NHS & Care Sector Surgery – 4th October 2017
SEHTA is continuing work with the Mayor of London andMedCity, to help SMEs understand the process of engagement with the NHS & Care sector, and are holding an Accessing the NHS & Care Sector Surgery which will take place on Wednesday 4th October at City Hal, London. SEHTA will be offering a series of 1hr 1:1 meetings that will cover developing value propositions, commercialisation of technology and understanding NHS and Care sector markets.
Click here to access the full details and pre event questionnaire assessment.
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National
 AHSNs to be relicensed as NHS ‘centrepiece for innovation’
On July 21 NHS England confirmed its intentions to relicense the 15 Academic Health Science Networks. The detailed relicensing process will continue throughout the summer and the new 5-year licence period will start in April 2018.
The Kent, Surrey and Sussex Academic KSSAHSN Health Science Network is the AHSN for this region. KSSAHSN is a membership organisation that works for NHS, higher education, local government and industry organisations in Kent, Surrey and Sussex to spread innovation, improve health and generate economic growth.
Click here to find out more about KSSAHSN and email enquiries@kssahsn to join their mailing list.
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 Call for evidence -The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee launches an inquiry into Life Sciences and the Industrial Strategy
The Government set out in its Industrial Strategy Green Paper its intention to create a new Life Sciences strategy to make the UK the best place in the world to invest in life sciences.
This inquiry will investigate issues such as whether the Government has the necessary structures in place to support the life sciences sector; how the NHS can use procurement to stimulate innovation in the life sciences; and the content of the new Life Sciences industrial strategy, when published
The Committee is inviting written evidence on the issue, to be received by Friday 15 September 2017, and will start taking oral evidence on the inquiry in October
Further details can be found here.
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Life Sciences Industrial Strategy Released
The strategy provides recommendations to government on the long term success of the life sciences sector. It has been Life Science’s Champion Professor Sir John Bell in collaboration with industry, academia, charity, and research organisations.
The report covers 7 themes:
- Health Advanced Research Programme (HARP) proposal
- reinforcing the UK science offer
- growth and infrastructure
- NHS collaboration
- data
- skills
- regulation
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Funding
SBRI Healthcare Call Now Open- Cancer: Screening, Earlier Diagnosis & Faster Diagnosis
SBRI Healthcare is an NHS England initiative led by the Academic Health Science Networks to develop technology solutions for known healthcare challenges.
Launched on the 25th July the next funding round on cancer focuses on finding innovative solutions with the ability to transform screening and facilitate both earlier and faster diagnosis of cancer. Applications are welcomed from companies with innovative solutions.
A full competition brief can be found here.
The deadline for the competition is September 6th at noon.
The Digital Health Technology Catalyst
The Digital Health Technology Catalyst is a new £35 million funding programme to be funded through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund over the next 4 years.
Feasibility projects must range in size from total project costs of £50,000 to £75,000 and you must complete your project within one year.
Industrial research and experimental development projects must range in size from total project costs of £500,000 to £1 million and you must complete your project within 3 years
A recording of the competition briefing can be found here and the full details, here.
The deadline for the first round is noon October 11th.
Biomedical Catalyst Round 3: early stage
Micro, small or medium-size UK companies can apply for a share of £10 million to work alone or with others on solving healthcare challenges.
This is an early-stage competition. They are looking to fund projects that enable SMEs to complete a data package sufficient to support the subsequent testing of their product or process in a clinical setting (or other relevant environment). The early-stage project can include:
- experimental evaluation (lab scale)
- use of in vitro and in vivo models (but not studies in humans or patients) to evaluate proof of concept and safety testing to appropriate regulatory standards
- exploration of potential production mechanisms
- early-stage prototyping
- product development planning
- intellectual property protection
Projects should last between one and 3 years and range between £250,000 and £4 million.
Further details on the funding can be found here. The competition closes on October 11th at noon.
Biomedical Catalyst Round 3: feasibility studies
Micro, small or medium-size UK companies can apply for a share of £2 million to work alone or with others on solving healthcare challenges.
This is a feasibility competition. They are looking to fund projects that explore and evaluate the commercial potential of innovative scientific ideas by:
- reviewing research evidence and identifying possible applications
- assessing business opportunities
- investigating the intellectual property position
- validating initial concepts or existing pre-clinical work through experimental studies
- identifying areas for further development
Projects can range in size up to £200,000. Projects should last no longer than 12 months.
Further details on the funding can be found here. The competition closes on October 11th at noon.
NIHR i4i Connect for SMEs
Expressions of Interest are invited for i4i Connect, an NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) funding stream aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in need of a funding boost to reach the next stage in the development pathway. The i4i programme is a translational funding scheme advancing healthcare technologies, devices and interventions for patient benefit in areas of existing or emerging clinical need. The aim of i4i Connect is to de-risk projects, making them attractive to follow-on funders and investors, potentially providing a pathway into a full programme of i4i funding.
This fund offers between £50,000-£150,000 over a 6-12 month period.
Further details on the funding can be found here. The call closes at 1pm on September 13th.
Trade
Diabetes & Oncology trade mission to India.
A call has been made for the best British digital healthcare innovators to take part in the Department for International Trade’s Diabetes and Oncology events in India this year.
The mission will take place 3 – 13 November 2017, in Bhubaneshwar, Chennai, Bengaluru and Mumbai. The full details can be found here.
Expressions of interest need to be made to Madhukar.bose@trade.gov.uk bySeptember 6th.
