On 3 December, the West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator (WMHTIA) proudly hosted its flagship event, the WMHTIA International Assembly – Exhibition, Conference & Brokerage Event.

This showcase brought together nearly 300 UK and international health tech innovators, researchers, suppliers, and sector specialists at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.

The event offered valuable insights from industry leaders, facilitated global networking opportunities, and highlighted funding programmes such as Horizon Europe, EUREKA, and the European Innovation Council (EIC).

Delivered in collaboration with the WMHTIA consortium, Innovate UK, and supported by the Department for Business & Trade (DBT), the Assembly began with an opening address by Alex Toft, Mayoral Policy Adviser at the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

Expert presentations and international perspectives

Keynote speakers included Professor Neil Hanley from the University of Birmingham, Richard Phillips from the Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI), and WMHTIA Chair, Jo Pisani.

Representatives from exemplary WMHTIA-supported companies – Cytecom, ICountcorrect/Eureka Inventions, and Black Space Technology – shared highlights of their journeys and the accelerator’s impact on their innovations.

The plenary session also featured international insights from:

Kenth Söderström, Livsmedicin, Sweden

Professor Hsu-Wei Fang, Taipei Technical University, Taiwan

Fabian Scheugenpflug, Plug and Play – an international VC firm and WMHTIA partner

Delegates also had an opportunity to observe two panel discussions, which brought together the diverse expertise of the keynote speakers.

Practical workshops, regional expertise and international interest

To demonstrate the breadth of the WMHTIA’s support, consortium partners delivered nine interactive workshops.

Topics ranged from securing investment – led by partners Azets, Shoosmiths, and Forresters – to one-to-one sessions with regulatory experts from SPARK The Midlands (Aston University) and Advena Limited.

Workshops also focused on highlighting the region’s strengths as a hub for health tech innovation.

Health Innovation West Midlands (HIWM) and the West Midlands Health & Wellbeing Innovation Network shared insights on working with the NHS. While Medilink Midlands and the West Midlands Growth Company showcased the region’s established strength and advantages for prospective health and life sciences businesses looking to land in the West Midlands.

International attendees expressed enthusiasm for the Assembly and the region’s potential.

Chiara Viani from Esteco, Italy, said:

“My first WMHTIA International Assembly was impressive, with a welcoming atmosphere, excellent organisation, and engaging sessions. A highlight was the Brokerage Event which sparked great ideas for future projects,. I’d gladly attend again!”

Rozabela Singh from Arnora, Sweden, said:

“The Assembly was insightful and a wise use of time, offering workshops, one-to-one meetings, and in-depth panel discussions. We gained meaningful takeaways, a deeper understanding of the West Midlands innovation ecosystem, and valuable benchmarks for the Nordics.”

Brokerage Event and International Assembly impact

The Assembly concluded with the Health Tech Brokerage Event, led by Innovate UK’s Business Growth team, which provided an opportunity for delegates to set up one-to-one meetings with likeminded innovators, market players and industry experts in attendance. A resounding success, the Brokerage Event hosted over 200 meetings with representatives from more than 15 countries.

Following recent announcements of continued financial support for Innovation Accelerators across the UK, the WMHTIA International Assembly highlighted the critical role of regional innovation programmes in driving commercial growth, attracting investment, and empowering businesses to develop new products, processes, and services.

The International Assembly not only helped showcase the region and the impact of WMHTIA, but was unique in helping the cohort of West Midlands businesses to tap into specialist global market and innovation support delivered through strategic partners Innovate UK Business Connect, Innovate UK Business Growth, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN).

This inaugural showcase event sets the stage for the WMHTIA at a pivotal moment, as the next phase of the accelerator is anticipated in the upcoming year.

Acknowledgments

The WMHTIA International Assembly was made possible through the support of our compere, Sue Saville, WMHTIA consortium partners, Innovate UK, and the Department for Business and Trade. Special thanks to all contributors who ensured the event’s success.

To hear about future exclusive workshops, events, and support opportunities, join the WMHTIA community here.

For all other updates, follow us on LinkedIn: West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator – WMHTIA.

For more information about the WMHTIA International Assembly or the West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator, contact wmhtia@contacts.bham.ac.uk.

WMHTIA is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK and the West Midlands Combined Authority.