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Discover how the Accelerate programme supported some of the innovate finalists for the 8th Welsh Health Hack.

The MediWales Innovation Awards took place online on Wednesday 2 December to celebrate the outstanding achievements across industry and health and social care in Wales.

New figures reveal that Welsh industry’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic has generated millions of pounds for the Welsh economy and supported the creation and safeguarding of hundreds of jobs across the country.

A Welsh company has nearly doubled its permanent workforce to 127 staff in just four months after switching part of its operations to create personal protective equipment (PPE) in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Welsh Government and Life Sciences Hub Wales are supporting plans to build a 200 strong team of specialists at Wales’ soon to be launched Lighthouse Lab, which is set to create additional capacity for the UK’s Covid-19 testing strategy.

A £1.5 million investment by Hardshell is set to see the UK’s first medical-grade mask-making facility established in Wales, creating over 40 jobs and boosting business opportunities in the region.

As the Covid-19 pandemic sparked unprecedented global demand and competition for personal protective equipment (PPE), a Denbighshire-based protective equipment specialist has leveraged its international supply chains to ensure Wales has access to sources of essential equipment. 

Face shields to protect NHS staff, designed and 3D printed by an Accelerate and Swansea University team, have been awarded the CE safety mark allowing for large scale manufacturing for hospitals.

Swansea University’s Healthcare Technology Centre has played a key role in developing an award-winning communication aid for frontline health staff forced to wear face masks during the pandemic.

Five digital health initiatives have been awarded funding as part of a £150,000 call to action for new and innovative ways to use digital technology in response to coronavirus and beyond. The call to action was coordinated by Digital Health Ecosystem Wales, a collaboration between Life Sciences Hub Wales and the NHS Wales Informatics Service (NWIS).

An advanced laboratory dedicated to leading Wales’ national Covid-19 testing has been established in Cardiff, thanks to collaboration between Public Health Wales and one of the world’s leading diagnostics companies.

The accelerated adoption of innovation has never been more critical than it is today. How can we give innovators the tools they need to lead adoption at scale in the aftermath of Covid-19?

A Caerphilly company has switched up production at its factory to create millions of sustainable face shields that will be used worldwide by frontline staff as well to support employees returning to the workplace.

Welsh Government have announced a new funding competition for digital solutions to help fight Covid-19. The competition is being supported by Digital Health Ecosystem Wales and funding is available for between five and eight projects to rapidly pilot products and solutions.

In early April, Life Sciences Hub Wales made a national industry call out for companies to support Wales’ work to comba

The Welsh Health Hack returned for an online event this past week, this time focussing on the challenges which health and social care services in Wales are facing due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Businesses from across Wales have been adapting and innovating at an unprecedented scale and pace to combat the spread of Covid-19 and help treat those affected by the virus.

The onset of the coronavirus pandemic has placed an unprecedented demand on the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for frontline health and social care workers.

A Welsh manufacturer that can trace its life-saving work to the trenches of the Crimean war is now working to ensure that NHS Wales has the supplies it needs in the battle against Coronavirus.

The Accelerate programme partners are closely monitoring the Welsh Government advice relating to the Coronavirus, and working to minimise the effect the virus is having on the delivery of the programme.

Health Technology Wales (HTW) is working with partners in health and social care to support the response to the Covid-19 pandemic. This report has been produced to assist the Welsh Government, and Health and Social Care in Wales, in their response to the pandemic.

On Monday, 20 April 2020 during our virtual team briefing, we were joined by special guest - Dr Jamie Roberts, Wales International Rugby star, and current innovation fellow at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.

Life Sciences Hub Wales has developed an online portal to enable industry to upload offers of support for the health and social care sectors for consideration by NHS Wales.

Health Technology Wales (HTW) is working with partners in health and social care to support the response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Ysbyty Calon y Ddraig, the temporary hospital based at the Principality Stadium has been opened today, Monday 20 April 2020, by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales.

First Minister Mark Drakeford and NHS Wales are appealing to the Welsh public to download a new COVID Symptom Tracker app to help the NHS response

Following the roll-out of digital appointments for GP surgery’s across Wales, a further £2.8m has been invested to extend the scheme to all of secondary and community care.

Welsh gin distilleries have produced and given away more than 200,000 bottles of desperately needed hand sanitiser to frontline services, essential workers and community care providers since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic.

NHS Wales want to hear from any staff who think they have spotted a smarter way of working or have come up with innovative new practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.