Technology Strategy Board to address healthcare challenges

8 November 2007

The Technology Strategy Board is to bring together government, business and the research community in an initiative to address healthcare challenges caused by the impact of living longer, the increasing demand for care for people with long-term conditions and the need to prevent the development of health problems such as obesity.

The impact of living longer, the quality and potentially increasing cost of care for those with chronic long term conditions, and preventing health problems like obesity, which can lead to diabetes, are all major challenges for the 21st century.

To address such challenges the Technology Strategy Board today launched the Assisted Living Innovation Platform, which will bring together Government departments and engage with business and the research community to help identify appropriate technology, action and policies.

The Assisted Living Innovation Platform will look at how technology can be harnessed to help address these societal challenges, and will support the development of new technologies.

The Innovation Platform's work programme will range from conventional collaborative R&D, and single company support for small companies R&D, to work in standards, research fellowships in business models, specific projects in user centred design and a potentially ground breaking future care technology 'test suite'.

The first phase of work has been called Delivering Innovation in Assisted Living - User Perspectives (DIAL - UP). Commencing with a competition for shorter term R&D in subjects like home based intelligent processing, and value added services for well being, and health management - the patient portal.

The work programme is supported by the Department of Health, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Economic and Social Research Council. Initial funding of about £12m is being made available.

Science and innovation Minister Ian Pearson said 'This is one of the most interesting and important new areas of work for the Technology Strategy Board. Bringing together government, business and researchers to help address such major societal challenges is of vital importance to UK society. Finding innovative solutions through technology, while aligning policies and government procurement, is key to the success of meeting such long-term challenges.'

Professor Sally C. Davies, Director General of Research and Development at the Department of Health said 'This excellent initiative fills a real need. It fits well with our existing research programmes under the National Institute for Health Research, and in particular the NIHR Invention for Innovation programme. We can follow up the links to Whole System

Demonstrators for Long Term Conditions and the NHS can start to plan now for the future procurement of proven new technologies.' Professor Davies added that 'there is considerable potential for these technologies to contribute to an improvement in the quality of care for our ageing society in a cost-effective manner'.

Notes to Editors

Technology Strategy Board; Innovation Platforms The Technology Strategy Board is a business-led executive non-departmental public body, established by the government. Its mission is to promote and support research into, and development and exploitation of, technology and innovation for the benefit of UK business, in order to increase economic growth and improve the quality of life. It is sponsored by the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS).

Innovation Platforms are a new way of working for government and business. Each focusing on a specific area of opportunity, innovation platforms are designed to address major policy and societal challenges. They bring together government stakeholders and funders and engage with business and the research community to identify appropriate action. In this way, policy, regulation and government procurement are aligned in support of innovative solutions.

Through this approach, Innovation Platforms aim to deliver a step change in UK performance, in the quality of public services and the ability of UK businesses to provide solutions for the global marketplace.

There are three other existing Innovation Platforms - Intelligent Transport Systems, Network Security and Low Carbon Vehicles. A fifth, Low Impact Buildings, is currently in preparation.

For further information about Innovation Platforms please visit http://www.dius.gov.uk

Department of Health

The Department of Health's budget for health research for 2006-07 is £753m. Of this, £50m is allocated for capital funding; the rest is allocated to research through a portfolio of national research programmes.

The funding supports clinical research in the NHS, research commissioned for policy development, and the NHS costs incurred in supporting research funded by other bodies such as the Research Councils and charities. Some funding is provided to increase capacity to undertake research, and to underpin the UK Clinical Research Collaboration and priority disease research networks.

National Institute for Health Research The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) was launched on the 1 April 2006 following the publication of the Government's strategy Best Research for Best Health: A new National Health Research Strategy in January 2006. The strategy outlines the direction that NHS research will take to build a vibrant and world-class research environment in England.

The Institute is being established on a phased basis as each of its key work areas are introduced. It will provide the framework through which we will position, manage and maintain the research, research staff and infrastructure of the NHS in England. Its work will focus on meeting the needs of the research community, patients and the public.

Visit the National Institute for Health Research at http://www.nihr.ac.uk

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