We were delighted to host a pivotal roundtable event at Life Sciences Hub Wales, in collaboration with the Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI) and Imperial College London.
Naomi Joyce
Head of Partnerships
The gathering brought together local HealthTech companies, officials, clinicians and academics involved in translational activities to discuss strategies for advancing HealthTech innovation, with a focus on collaborative solutions and policy recommendations.
This Cardiff roundtable forms part of a national series of workshops by ABHI and Imperial, targeting HealthTech areas across the UK to localise the recommendations of the sector strategy, recognise regional strengths and advance strategies that not only accelerate innovation but also support economic growth and the UK’s global competitiveness.
Delegates shared a common goal: to accelerate innovation and partnerships, and forge stronger ties between NHS, industry and academia to create a health and care system that’s more responsive to emerging technologies and better positioned to deliver long-term societal and economic impact.
A key focus of the event was the collaborative work between ABHI and Imperial College London, and the recent publication of A Sector Strategy to Transform the Economic and Societal Benefits of UK HealthTech. The report calls for action to help the UK’s HealthTech sector grow and thrive, recommending practical solutions, collaboration, and faster adoption to make the NHS more efficient and innovative. Peter Bannister, and Neil Mesher, both Non-Executive Directors at Life Sciences Hub Wales, co-author the report, alongside Andrew Davies (Executive Director - Digital Health, ABHI), Richard Devereaux Phillips, (Executive Director- Policy and Partnerships, ABHI), Daniel Green, (Principal Entrepreneur Imperial College London), and James Moore, (Bagrit Chair in Medical Device Design, Imperial College London), highlighting the HealthTech sector’s potential. It contributes £13bn GVA to the UK economy, yet is constrained by limited capital, skills shortages, and disjointed adoption pathways.
Julian Moore, Imperial College London emphasised the critical link between HealthTech and broader economic growth, within his talk. Highlighting the sector’s role in improving the UK’s global competitiveness and delivering long-term, sustainable impact.
Andrew Davies, Executive Director, Digital Health, ABHI, outlined the organisation’s commitment to sector-wide growth through stronger regulation, investment in digital and diagnostic technologies, and fostering a culture of collaboration. He emphasised the need for a unified industry effort to navigate the complex UK HealthTech environment, where processes like clinical trials and regulatory approvals remain time-consuming, and difficult.
Vaughan Gething, MS, delivered a powerful address, emphasising the urgent need for faster innovation. Vaughan highlighted the importance of collaboration, ownership, and purpose in driving change. There was a strong emphasis on seizing current and upcoming opportunities – including the investment summit, the industrial strategy, and the upcoming election as pivotal moments for shaping the future of healthcare and life sciences in Wales. Vaughan echoed the event’s central themes of optimism, ownership, and strategic planning, and making the most of Wales’ strengths while proactively preparing for the future.
Rhodri Griffiths, our Director of Innovation, also spoke at the event and said:
“Thinking ahead and unlocking the future-facing potential of the NHS and HealthTech collaboration will see profound benefits - not just for health, but for the economy and national productivity.”
Further discussions brought together a diverse cross-section of the HealthTech ecosystem. From start-ups like Corryn Biotechnologies, represented by Luke Burke, to NHS leaders such as Mark Briggs, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, and Tom Powell, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board. These stakeholders provided candid perspectives on the barriers to innovation, particularly in Wales, including geographical disparities in funding access, challenges in early clinical engagement, and the need for a cultural shift within the NHS towards proactive innovation.
It was inspiring to see such strong conversations across the sectors. We look forward to continuing to work together with ABHI and Imperial, building on this momentum to turn ideas into action and deliver real impact in Wales.
Interested in collaborating? Get in touch at hello@lshubwales.com.