ONLINE EVENT: NIHR i4i Connect 9 - Launch Webinar
2025-02-11 10:00 - 11:30 (Europe/London) | Online
The NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) programme is a translational research funding scheme aimed at supporting SMEs to de-risk early-to-late stage medical devices, in vitro diagnostics and high-impact patient-focused digital health technologies for ultimate use in the NHS or social care settings.
The NIHR i4i Programme will launch the 9th round of its Connect awards on the 18th of February 2025.
Offering up to £150,000 per project over a 6-12 month period, its primary aim is to help SMEs get to a point where they can apply for further funding or to support projects at any stage of the translational research and development pathway to further de-risk them for follow-on investment.
Agenda
10:00 – 10:30: Introduction to the Connect call, specification and application process
Pippa Gledhill, Senior Programme Manager NIHR i4i
10:30 – 11:25: Live Q&A
An opportunity for the audience to ask questions to the NIHR i4i Programme Team.
To register your place, please click here.

IN-PERSON EVENT: Digital health business networking event: How is health data research driving better care?
2025-03-03 09:00 - 15:30 | Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference Centre, 53 Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham, B15 2RS
The West Midlands is a hub for life sciences that draws on the skills, capabilities and expertise of the University of Birmingham to access and analyse data to inform health service provision and outcomes that improve people’s lives.
Interested in exploring collaboration? Join us for an exclusive opportunity to connect with world-leading health, technology and data research experts and clinicians and discuss how health data research can unlock the region’s life sciences potential, improving health outcomes for all. From using health data research to improve healthcare products so they are ready to go to market to how AI and data-science is driving real-world evidence generation.
Confirmed speakers include:

Professor Alice Turner, Professor of Respiratory Medicine, Honorary Consultant Respiratory Physician
Professor Elizabeth Sapey, Head of School of Medical Sciences, Director of PIONEER the Health Data Hub in acute care, Consultant in Respiratory Medicine and General Internal Medicine
Professor Alastair Denniston, Chair of Regulatory Science and Innovation, Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist
Professor Dipak Kotecha, Professor of Cardiology and Cardiac Imaging, Consultant Cardiologist
Professor Joht Singh Chandan, Clinical Professor of Public Health, Health Inequalities Lead at Birmingham Health Partners, Honorary Public Health Consultant
Professor Luigi Martini, Chief Executive Officer, Precision Health Technologies Accelerator, PHTA Ltd
Dr Palak Trivedi, Associate Professor and Honorary Consultant Hepatologist, Clinical Research Director for Industry Engagement

To register your free place, please click here.

IN-PERSON EVENT: West Midlands Life Sciences Week Launch
2025-03-14 14:00 - 15:30 | Hotel du Vin Birmingham, 25 Church Street, Birmingham, B3 2NR
Be part of the inaugural WM Life Sciences Week Launch event, the region’s flagship event celebrating innovation, collaboration, and the future of life sciences. As a key milestone in the West Midlands Business Festival, this event will showcase why the West Midlands is a powerhouse for medical research, biotechnology, and healthcare advancements.
Hosted in the stunning internal courtyard of Hotel du Vin, a landmark Victorian building in the heart of Birmingham. Once an eye hospital built in 1884, this beautifully restored venue provides the perfect setting to celebrate the power of innovation and collaboration in life sciences in the West Midlands.
What to Expect:
Fireside Chat & Panel Discussion
Join an engaging panel discussion, compèred by Gary Sambrook, co-founder of WM Life Sciences Week and an 18 year history of political and campaign experience, including serving as MP for Birmingham Northfield. Gary will lead a thought-provoking conversation with esteemed speakers:
Professor Gino Martini, CEO of PHTA Ltd
Gino joined PHTA Ltd from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) where he held the role of Chief Scientist for more than three years. With extensive experience in oncology, rare and infectious diseases, and drug development, Gino also brings expertise in policy development and external advocacy to his appointment in Birmingham. An experienced academic, Gino has also held senior development and advisory positions within industry, including GSK, Roche and SmithKline Beecham.
Melanie Davidson, CEO of Medilink Midlands
Melanie brings a background of industrial research and business development from West Pharmaceutical Service’s Drug Delivery Division. She also broadens our bioscience reach having studied Animal Science at The University of Nottingham. Before joining Medilink, Melanie gained valuable experience in economic development and international investment at the East Midlands Development Agency (emda).
More speakers to be announced.
Why Attend?

Gain insights into what WM Life Sciences Week will entail whilst rubbing shoulders with key players in the field
Hear some latest breakthroughs in medical research and innovation.
Learn how to get more involved and explore collaboration opportunities across academia, industry, and government.
Position your organisation at the heart of the UK’s life sciences revolution.
Connect with industry leaders, researchers, investors, and entrepreneurs driving change in life sciences.

Agenda:

14:00 Doors open and networking
14:30 Welcome, importance of Innovation in Life Sciences in our region, launch WM Life Sciences Week 2025 and confirm the format of 15th – 19th September
14:45 Fireside Chat & panel discussion
15:30 Closing Remarks & Networking

Whether you’re an SME, startup, large business, or entrepreneur, this is your opportunity to engage with a dynamic ecosystem that fosters innovation and investment.
Please click here to register.

Venturefest West Midlands 2025
2025-03-19 | Eastside Rooms, Birmingham, B7 4BL, United Kingdom
Medilink Midlands are proud to be Gold Sponsors for Venturefest 2025.
Venturefest West Midlands provides investors, innovators and entrepreneurs the chance to meet, engage and exchange ideas for co-operation and collaboration, particularly in the fields of science and emerging technologies.
Being supported locally by business, universities, science parks and business support organisations, Venturefest is a leading conference supporting the region’s innovative entrepreneurs and businesses to flourish.
Venturefest is a free event which will take place on Wednesday 19 March 2025 at the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham.
This year’s programme will include a keynote from Terry Monkton from Simworx and delegates will have the opportunity to join panel discussions, workshops and network in the exhibition area.
Key themes this year include:

Entrepreneurship for all – breaking the mould to develop different models and
opportunities
Future landscape for Business and Innovation support in the region – a public-private
mix
Unlocking Startup Potential through Alternative Equity Models and Corporate
Collaboration
The Value of creative in your business – the importance of design and brand
Showcasing WM Innovation Accelerator business successes

For more information, and to register your place, please click here.
Running alongside Venturefest West Midlands for another year will be Minerva Birmingham Pitch Up, a pitching competition for business owners, giving a unique opportunity for businesses to raise their profile both in the West Midlands and in front of a national audience of investors. Business owners are invited to present their ideas in a pitch for investment and stand a chance of winning one of several awards.
Please note catering and accessibility requirements will be shared with the venue on 28 February. Venturefest may be unable to accommodate any special requirements after this date.
Your information may be shared with other partners and organisations in relation to this event. For more information visit: https://www.wmca.org.uk/policies

UKHAIC funding call Q&A
2025-05-08 14:00 - 16:00 | Online
Key Details of the Funding Call
Application Deadline: 1st June 2025
Funding Amount: £15,000 with UKHAIC covering 80% FEC.
Eligibility Criteria: All researchers, technical professionals or other staff from BBSRC-eligible organisations  who are members of UKHAIC at the time of applying. If not yet a member you can join here: UKHAIC Membership Form
Application Process:

Download and complete the application form on our website
Send your application to ukhaicenquiries@ntu.ac.uk

If you have any questions before, during or after you fill out the form, please email us at ukhaicenquiries@ntu.ac.uk.
For more information on the call you can visit our website here: Consortium Funding – UK Healthy Ageing Innovation Consortium

Key details of Q and A
We will hold an online Q&A session via Microsoft Teams on Thursday the 8th of May 14:00-16:00. This session will be recorded and uploaded to our website for those unable to attend live and a frequently asked questions page will also be published.
Who is it for: Anyone who is interested in applying for the funding or would like to fund a project. However you must be a member of the consortium at the time of applying.
This session will provide an opportunity to address any questions you may have regarding the funding process and application requirements.
You can visit our website here for more and all info on our call: Consortium Funding – UK Healthy Ageing Innovation Consortium
The Q and A is a teams invite, therefore if they would be interested in attending and is not a member, they can either email UKHAIC at ukhaicenquiries@ntu.ac.uk or sign up to become a member, UKHAIC Membership Form from this we can then send them the calendar invite.

Unlocking the Power of AI & Automation. Why Hire When You Can Automate?
2025-06-05 17:00 - 20:00 | Arise Chelmsford Innovation Hub, Alan Cherry Drive, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1QT, United Kingdom
Arise Innovation Hubs are delighted to host meet DWIGHT’s ‘Unlocking the Power of AI & Automation.’ evening. This includes a talk on using AI to save teams time, reduce errors, and focus on more important work. Sponsored by meet DWIGHT.
Business networking will start at 5pm. This is ideal for those businesses and entrepreneurs who would like connect with those working in the HealthTech and MedTech sectors.
This event supports our focus on Innovation, particularly in Health, Performance & Wellbeing areas.
We will be hearing from Tim Elman, Sales Director at meet DWIGHT, who will host a talk on reducing manual work at a fraction of the cost of a full-time employee.
Tim says ” Automation and AI are changing the way businesses handle time-consuming admin work. In my talk, I’ll show how digital workers like DWIGHT can take over repetitive back-office tasks like data entry, invoicing, payroll, and compliance. DWIGHT works 24/7 and costs just a fraction of a full-time employee, making automation a smart move for companies looking to cut costs and boost efficiency. No matter the industry, this session will show how AI can free your team to focus on more valuable work”
Many thanks to meet DWIGHT for sponsoring this event.
meet DWIGHT helps companies by taking over boring, repetitive tasks in the back office. Their tool, DWIGHT, is a digital worker bot that runs 24/7 to automate tasks like onboarding, compliance, timesheet management, and system integrations. By reducing manual work at a fraction of the cost of a full-time employee, DWIGHT lets teams save time, reduce errors, and focus on more important work.
CLICK TO BOOK YOUR PLACE
Arise BOOST is Arise Innovation Hub’s rolling business support. All businesses and innovators are welcome. You do not need to be an Arise Member and there is no commitment or requirement to attend multiple events or in any order.
Arise is an Innovation Hub for businesses specialising in the Health, Performance and Wellbeing sectors, and is part of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU). With Hubs strategically located in Chelmsford and Harlow, members can enjoy tailored business support, including access to grant funding, networking opportunities and serviced office facilities.
Arise is supported by the expertise and resources of ARU, providing skills, talent, innovation and business support. Arise is a partnership between ARU and Essex County Council with support from Chelmsford City Council and Harlow Council. This partnership aims to promote business growth in Essex.
Tickets are limited, please book your place by Friday 30th May.

Madrid Investment Forum: Madrid: Your Next Growth Chapter Unlock European & LatAm Opportunities
2025-07-01 09:30 - 12:00 | The Eastside Rooms, 2 Woodcock Street, Birmingham, B7 4BL, United Kingdom
1 July 2025
The Eastside Rooms
2 Woodcock Street, Birmingham, B7 4BL, United Kingdom
Why Madrid?
Madrid is Spain’s economic and cultural hub, offering international businesses a strategic location,
innovation-driven environment, and easy access to the EU and Latin American markets.
About the Session
This forum is ideal for UK companies exploring growth opportunities in Spain. Learn how Invest in
Madrid can support your expansion — from setting up operations to long-term development — and
arrange B2B meetings to discuss your investment plans directly.
Programme
09:30 | Arrival & Registration
10.00 | Welcome speeches – Mr. Andy Lawton-Smith, Fieldfisher Corporate Partner
Mr. Andy Smith, International Engagement Manager, Department for Business and Trade (DBT)
10.10 | Spain overview – Mrs. Laura Garcia Alfaya, General Consul of Spain in Manchester,
Embassy of Spain in United Kingdom
10:20 | Why Madrid? – Mr. Diego de Aristegui, Investment director, Invest in Madrid
10.45 | Fieldfisher A success story
11.00 | Establishing a subsidiary in Madrid: discover the types of subsidiaries, legal requirements, and tax implications
Mr. Rodrigo Martos, Fieldfisher Co-Managing Partner, Spain – Mr. Talmac Bel, Fieldfisher Co-Managing Partner, Spain
11:15 | Accounting policies – BookGest Solutions, Mr. Talmac Bel, Fieldfisher Co-Managing Partner, Spain
11:30 | Q&A Session
11:45 | Networking & Coffee
Spots are limited – Register your interest now to receive full event details and reserve your place.
[Register Interest]
Brought to you by Invest in Madrid and How2Go

Madrid Investment Forum: Madrid: Your Next Growth Chapter Unlock European & LatAm Opportunities
2025-07-02 09:30 - 12:00 | Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, White Room, Elliot House, 151 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3WD, United Kingdom
2 July 2025
Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, White Room
Elliot House, 151 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WD, United Kingdom

Why Madrid?
Madrid is Spain’s economic and cultural hub, offering international businesses a strategic location,
innovation-driven environment, and easy access to the EU and Latin American markets.
About the Session
This forum is ideal for UK companies exploring growth opportunities in Spain. Learn how Invest in
Madrid can support your expansion — from setting up operations to long-term development — and
arrange B2B meetings to discuss your investment plans directly.
Programme
09:30 | Arrival & Registration
10.00 | Welcome speech – Mr. David Bowcock, Fieldfisher Corporate Partner
10.10 | Spain overview – Mrs. Laura Garcia Alfaya, General Consul of Spain in Manchester,
Embassy of Spain in United Kingdom
10:20 | Why Madrid? – Mr. Diego de Aristegui, Investment director, Invest in Madrid
10.45 | Fieldfisher A success story
11.00 | Establishing a subsidiary in Madrid: discover the types of subsidiaries, legal requirements, and tax implications
Mr. Rodrigo Martos, Fieldfisher Co-Managing Partner, Spain – Mr. Talmac Bel, Fieldfisher Co-Managing Partner, Spain
11:15 | Accounting policies – BookGest Solutions, Mr. Talmac Bel, Fieldfisher Co-Managing Partner, Spain
11:30 | Q&A Session
11:45 | Networking & Coffee
Spots are limited – Register your interest now to receive full event details and reserve your place.
[Register Interest]
Brought to you by Invest in Madrid and How2Go

Made in the UK, Sold to the World Roadshow - Southern England
2025-07-16 08:30 - 16:30 | The Kings Centre, The Kings Centre, Osney Mean,, Oxford,, OX2 0ES, United Kingdom
Made in the UK, Sold to the World Roadshow – Southern England
Oxford, Southern England
Wednesday 16th July 2025
Spotlight on Life Sciences

Make meaningful international connections on the fourth stop on the all-sector, Made in the UK, Sold to the World Roadshow, which will be held in Oxford in the South East of England.
Oxford has a rich history of medical advancements dating back to the 1600s, these early contributions laid the foundation for Oxford’s continued excellence in medical sciences, making it a world leader in the field and the ideal location to Spotlight on exporting in the Life Sciences sector.
Learn how to enhance your export potential, improve your global competitiveness, and meet the growing demand for sustainable products. You could also benefit from:

Opportunity to meet relevant, overseas Life Sciences buyers* for a 1-2-1 meeting
1-2-1 meetings with sector/market specialists (from UK embassies and consulates overseas)
1-2-1 meetings with sector specialist International Trade Advisers

Peer learning sessions

Workshops focusing on overseas markets and developing your international strategy

Networking opportunities

An inspiring and informative seminar programme

* Meetings with buyers are invite only via request from buyer
Whether you are a Life Sciences business or sit in another sector, join us at the Made in the UK, Sold to the World Roadshow.
If your company is selected for a place on this prestigious roadshow, details of the online platform and login details will be sent to you prior to the event.
To express your interest in joining the roadshow, click to register

UK Healthy Ageing Consortium Networking Event: Healthy Ageing Innovation Starts Here
2025-07-17 10:00 - 15:30 | Northumbria University, The Great Hall, Northumberland Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8JG, United Kingdom
Healthy Ageing Innovation Starts Here: Explore, Connect & Access up to £15,000 in Funding
The second UKHAIC Networking Event will be held at Northumbria University.
The aim of this event is to foster a rich exchange of knowledge through cross-sector collaboration, providing all attendees with the chance to generate and nurture new ideas, build relationships, and uncover new opportunities. This will be a fantastic opportunity for professionals from various industries, career pathways, research and academia to connect, share insights, and explore potential collaborations.
Key Details:
Date: Thursday 17 July 2025
Time: 10am-3:30pm
Location: Northumbria University, The Great Hall
Whether you’re from industry, academia, healthcare, public services, or third sector organisations, this is your opportunity to:

Explore real-world challenges and innovative solutions in healthy ageing
Build connections across disciplines and sectors
Shape ideas into collaborative projects
Tour of University facilities
Learn how to access up to £15,000 in project funding – applications open March 2026

Don’t miss this chance to grow your professional network and gain valuable insights. We look forward to seeing you there!
Secure your free place here: UKHAIC Networking Event Registration Form
Please note: You must be a member of UKHAIC in order to attend the networking event. If not yet a member you can join here: UKHAIC Membership Form

HDR UK Midlands Annual Conference 2025 - Data for Digital Health: Next Generation
2025-09-11 13:00 - 2025-09-12 16:00 | Charnwood Campus Loughborough, LE11 5RB, Charnwood Campus Loughborough, Loughborough, LE11 5RB, United Kingdom
Data for Digital Health: Next Generation
Date: 11 – 12 September 2025
Highlights include:

Global Opportunities for the UK
HDR UK National Update
Regional Health and Care Datasets
Opportunities for Data Sharing
Regulation of Devices
Adoption Across the NHS
Funding and Investment Opportunities

Why attend?
The United Kingdom is uniquely positioned to unlock the transformative potential of health data, thanks to the NHS and its wealth of cradle-to-grave records for over 65 million people. Over recent years, we have seen firsthand the profound impact that health data can have in advancing medical knowledge, revolutionizing treatments, and delivering radical improvements to the lives of individuals across the country.
Yet, despite these significant strides, we know that much more can be achieved through the power of large-scale data, advanced analytics, and innovative developments in data governance.
The HDR UK Midlands Annual Conference will be a two-day in person event, celebrating the progress we’ve made and allowing us to come together and continue to build momentum in the health data research revolution.
Conference schedule:
Day 1 = 1pm – 5pm
Day 2 = 10am – 4pm
A full conference draft programme will be released soon.
Venue: Charnwood Campus Science, Innovation and Technology Park, Bakewell Rd, Loughborough, East Midlands, LE11 5RB.

Event details & Registration information:
Places are limited, so please ensure that you register early to secure your place.
Please pass this invitation onto any members of your teams, or to any other colleagues who may be interested in attending.
Registration for this event is now open!
Medilink Midlands will be exhibiting at the event, we hope you’ll join us there!

EMERGE RehabTech | Impact Acceleration Fund Round 1 Announcement
2025-09-30 | Online
We’re excited to announce the launch of the first funding call from EMERGE RehabTech, a new £2.5 million Place-Based Impact Accelerator Account, led by NTU. This programme supports projects that use rehabilitation technologies (RehabTech) to improve health outcomes, promote wellbeing, and grow the East Midlands RehabTech economy.
Round 1 opens on 4 August 2025 and includes two funding streams:

Concept Impact Accelerator – Up to £100k per project

Flagship projects focused on accelerating innovation and commercialisation of RehabTech products or services. This includes advancing through technology readiness levels, developing proof-of-concept demonstrators, and conducting market validation.
Expected start date: 1 March 2026 | Duration: Up to 18 months

Feasibility Impact Primer – Up to £50k per project

Smaller, exploratory projects to test the feasibility of new RehabTech concepts. These should identify unmet clinical needs and market demand.
Expected start date: 1 January 2026 | Duration: 6–12 months
Projects should tackle key regional challenges such as health inequalities, engagement in rehab programmes, and the gap between research and industry.
Key Dates

30 September – Submission deadline

Detailed call guidance is found here.
Join our events to support the development of your proposal:

Learn about the call scope, eligibility, application process, and review criteria. Register here.
5 September, 11.00 – 12.30 – Online Matchmaking Workshop

An opportunity for researchers to pitch project ideas and connect with potential collaborators from industry and healthcare.
Complete the Expression of Interest here

The Stroke Technology Symposium
2025-11-13 09:30 - 16:00 | All Nations Centre, Cardiff, Sachville Ave, Cardiff, CF14 3NY, United Kingdom
This event will bring together clinical and technology professionals to look at ways of addressing common barriers to delivering stroke care and consider innovative digital tools that could make a difference.
There is funding available to support small projects in partnership with businesses and companies can learn how to apply for it by attending the Symposium.
You can learn more about this event here: https://mediwales.com/event/stroke-tech-symposium-2025/

BioWales in London
2026-03-18 | Pioneer Group – Victoria House, Bloomsbury Square, London, Victoria House – Pioneer Group Bloomsbury Square London WC1B 4DA, United Kingdom
MediWales will be holding their annual BioWales in London conference, in collaboration with the BioIndustry Association, on the 18th March 2026.
BioWales in London is supported by Browne Jacobson and kindly hosted by Pioneer Group at Victoria House.
This conference will bring together industry and health to showcase Welsh innovation in life sciences, including MedTech, diagnostics and NHS collaborations. Delegates will have the chance to discuss the latest breakthroughs and advancements in these fields while exploring new opportunities for growth and collaboration.
The day will feature presentations from a variety of Welsh companies at various stages of their investor journey. There will also be an expert investor programme, helping delegates to understand more about funding avenues and how to navigate them.
Additionally, the programme will highlight NHS innovation and research collaboration opportunities, with our session ‘Working with the Welsh NHS’ covering clinical access, adoption and clinical trials.
The BioWales in London conference is kindly supported by Welsh Government and NHS Wales.

*BioWales in London is free to attend for MediWales members, with a discounted delegate rate available for partner organisation members.

RCS England Future of Surgery Festival
2026-04-20 - 2026-04-21 | ICC Birmingham, 8 Centenary Square, Birmingham, West Midlands, B1 2EA, United Kingdom
Join over 1,000 surgical professionals in Birmingham, 20–21 April 2026, for two days of connection, inspiration and innovation. The Festival brings together every surgical specialty and career grade to connect, share and shape what’s next for the profession. Explore sessions on innovation, workforce and training, diversity, equity and inclusion, global surgery, wellbeing and more. Blending practical advice and cutting-edge innovation with ample networking opportunities, this is more than an event. It’s a celebration.
CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION

IN-PERSON: UK SCALE Symposium 2026
2026-06-25 09:30 - 17:30 | Hollywell Conference Centre, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom
Hope not hype – Effective digitalisation for better supply chain solutions

Hosted by the UK SCALE Centre, part of the world-renowned MIT Global SCALE Network, the Symposium brings together leaders from industry, academia and policy to explore the future of supply chains and the transformative impact of digitalisation and AI.
Supply chains have evolved from the industrial to the digital revolution, with new technologies now advancing at unprecedented speed. Organisations face the challenge of embracing innovation to boost productivity, resilience and sustainability, or risk being left behind.
The 2026 UK SCALE Symposium will deliver honest dialogue on AI, separating hype from real solutions, and providing practical insights to shape the next generation of supply chain excellence.
What to expect?
Hear from renowned thinkers and practitioners on digitalisation and AI in supply chains. Join interactive sessions to co-create strategies, explore opportunities and risks, and get answers to your most pressing questions.
Why attend?
By attending the UK SCALE Symposium, you will join likeminded experts from around the world and play an essential role in shaping the direction of supply chain innovation.  Over the course of the day, you will:

Gain insights into cutting-edge research and real-world innovations
Take part in strategic conversations bridging industry, academia and policy
Connect with leaders and innovators driving resilient, sustainable supply chains
Contribute to shaping the future with the UK SCALE Centre at the heart of this ecosystem.
