Cardiff and Vale UHB's support unit for innovators across the system.

Innovation

Transforming healthcare through innovation

The Innovation function was established to empower colleagues, collaborators, and partners in identifying, developing, and implementing impactful solutions that address our collective needs. We are committed to fostering collaborations with industry, internal and external partners, to learn, benchmark, and create positive solutions that will benefit our patients, staff, and the broader healthcare community in Wales.

Peter Drucker

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.”

What is innovation?

Innovation is the process of transforming ideas into new or improved products, services, or processes that create value for individuals, organisations, and society. It involves creativity, risk-taking, and a willingness to challenge the status quo.

We can provide bespoke advice, training and support to innovators working on the cutting edge of healthcare. We work closely with Universities, Welsh Government and national innovation networks such as The Life Sciences Hub Wales, Bevan Commission, UK Research and Innovation, AGOR IP in order to support all aspects of the innovation process.

Colleagues in the private or industry sector can contact the Innovation Team by submitting a business enquiry here:

Submit an innovation business enquiry

What we offer

A single point of access.

We know that scores of staff across the UHB are working on innovative ideas all of the time, but they do not always know to turn to take their work to the next stage.

We're offering a single point of access to CAV staff working on innovations for a range of support available including access to a broad network of experts in Innovation from IP to clinical expertise and implementation.

Effective cross-sector collaboration

We facilitate collaboration and partnerships between Cardiff and Vale UHB and external partners such as other NHS organisations; Industry and membership organisations; Academia, [Welsh] Government, Life Sciences Hub Wales, Bevan Commission, the third sector and other innovation associated organisations and agencies (including funding/resource support).

See more in our service directory

Signposting

In a system where everyone is very busy, we’re here to listen to your innovative ideas, solutions and needs. We do this to gather information to provide support, guidance and signpost to help our colleagues.

We can help you find different sources of funding or other support from organisations across multiple sectors and systems.

Intellectual Property

We can help you to protect your intellectual property (IP). The type of protection you can get depends on what you’ve created. You get some types of protection automatically, others you have to apply for such as trademarks, registered designs, and patents.

Innovation Multi-Disciplinary Team

Anyone with an innovation can deliver a short presentation to the IMDT board of experts. In response they will receive tailored support and advice with an aim to accelerate the transition of clinical innovation into implemented solutions.