Medilink Midlands

Leicestershire Innovation Clinics
2025-12-10 00:00 (Europe/London) | Charnwood Campus Loughborough, LE11 5RB, Charnwood Campus Loughborough, Loughborough, LE11 5RB, United Kingdom
Date: Wednesday 10th December 2025

Venue: Charnwood Campus, Bakewell Road, Loughborough, LE11 5RB
A partnership between Medilink Midlands, The Institute for Precision Health – University of Leicester and Charnwood Campus Science Innovation and Technology Park offers expertise support to individuals or companies already in, or transitioning into, the life sciences, medtech, health tech sector within the locality of Leicester and Leicestershire.
We are delighted to be able to feed into the new Leicestershire Academic Health Partners Health Innovation Hub, which will widen our ability to provide clinical insight into the value and delivery of new innovations.
First launched in October 2022, the Innovation Clinic programme successfully provided innovators access to expertise across the University, NHS and business innovation support network, to supply a clear pathway on how to grow and develop their innovations
To continue supporting pioneering innovation ideas across the region, a new series of clinic sessions has been launched.
Hosting these sector-specific workshops collaboratively, enables innovators to benefit from confidential discussions regarding the development of new products, from advice on funding and product development all the way through to engaging with the NHS, without having to engage with each organisation separately.
Expertise will include:
Academic, clinical, IP, regulatory, clinical adoption, innovation test beds, signposting and sectoral networking opportunities.
Who should apply?

Are you a student, health professional or company, developing new products or services?
Do you need insight on how to develop your research idea into a tangible product?
Looking to understand how to approach the NHS?
Want to know what funding is available?
Need guidance on PPI, value proposition, and/or cost/benefit analysis?
Looking to increase your competitive advantage?

Booking information:
If you would like to discuss your innovation project, new product development or understand the landscape, please complete this short online application form here.
These workshops have proved extremely popular, so early booking is recommended.
Note: Applications will be kept open until further notice as there will be ongoing support mechanisms.
Please note individuals/companies can only attend one innovation clinic session throughout the series. This programme is supported by the Leicestershire Academic Health Partners Health Innovation Hub, consisting of:

Health Innovation East Midlands
Leicestershire Academic Health Partners
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust
Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board
University of Leicester

Funded through the University of Leicester’s Medical Research Council Impact Accelerator Account.

WMHTIA - Prevention: Innovating for a Healthier Future
2026-01-13 10:00 - 12:15 | Online via GoToWebinar
Date: Tuesday 13th January Time: 10:00am – 12:15pmLocation: Online (Goto Webinar)
We’re excited to announce the third in a series of three WMHTIA Cluster Events taking place over the coming months. Focusing on helping innovators navigate digital transformation in alignment with the NHS 3 Radical Shifts 10 year plan.
WMHTIA Cluster Event – Prevention – Innovating for a Healthier Future – Helping innovators navigate digital transformation in light of the NHS 10-Year Plan
Event Agenda
10:00 AM – 10:05 AM
Welcome & Housekeeping
10:05 AM – 10:25 AM
Insight 1: Navigating Regulation Between Wellness and Medical Devices
Speaker details to follow
Understand the blurred line between wellness products and regulated medical devices — including what innovators must know to avoid compliance risks and bring credible, safe products to market.
Q&A: 10:25 – 10:30
10:30 AM – 10:50 AM
Insight 2: Engaging with the Wellness and Mindfulness Market
Speaker details to follow
Explore consumer trends in preventive health and wellbeing — including strategies for building trust, creating value, and scaling solutions that resonate with modern health-conscious users.
Q&A: 10:50 – 10:55
10:55 AM – 11:15 AM
Insight 3: NHS Perspectives on Preventive Innovation
Speaker details to follow
Gain insight into how the NHS is thinking about prevention, and how innovators can align with health system goals, pilot initiatives, and secure support for upstream interventions.
Q&A: 11:15 – 11:20
11:20 AM – 11:30 AM
Open Networking Break
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Interactive Workshop: Overcoming Barriers in Preventive Health Innovation
Join a collaborative discussion to unpack common challenges, such as:

Evidence & Evaluation: Proving value and impact of early-stage preventive solutions.
User Engagement: Building lasting user adoption and trust in low-touch interventions.
Funding & Commissioning: Finding sustainable business models for products that prevent rather than treat.
Regulatory Ambiguity: Managing grey areas between consumer wellness and clinical claim
Equity & Access: Ensuring solutions are inclusive and reach underserved populations.

12:00 PM – 12:15 PM
Reflections & Closing
Wrap-up of themes, key learnings, and how to continue the conversation beyond the event.

This event forms part of the West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator (WMHTIA) event series. Medilink Midlands are one of a consortium of delivery partners for the WMHTIA, a project funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Innovate UK and West Midlands Combined Authority (part of City Regions).

SEHTA - Breaking into the U.S Market: From access to Adoption Masterclass
2026-01-19 08:30 - 2026-01-20 18:00 | Hill Dickinson, Broadgate Tower, 20 Primrose Street, London EC2A 2EW, Hill Dickinson, Broadgate Tower, 20 Primrose Street, London, London, EC2A 2EW, United Kingdom
Date: Monday 19th & Tuesday 20th January 2026
Time: 08:30 – 18:00 (GMT)
Venue: Hill Dickinson, Broadgate Tower, 20 Primrose Street, London EC2A 2EW
This 2-day programme is designed to give European healthcare innovators, from start-ups through to Series A and B companies, the best possible chance of entering and scaling in the U.S. market.
Its unique approach focuses on U.S. Healthcare Market Access and Reimbursement: how to navigate CMS, private payers, coding systems, and regulatory dynamics. Alongside these technical essentials, delegates will also explore two critical enablers of adoption:

Marketing and brand clarity: How to communicate value in a noisy U.S. market using purpose, positioning, and the EmotivData™ methodology.
Education and KOL engagement: How to design structured education and stakeholder programmes that drive confidence, trust, and adoption.

Together, these three strands provide participants with a comprehensive roadmap, from securing access to building adoption and sustainable growth.
Not a member of SEHTA? Register here for FREE basic membership
Please click here to complete our Expression of Interest
Ticket Prices
SEHTA/Medilink Members – £1,600 +VAT
Non-Members – £1,900 +VAT
Additional Delegates: £500 +VAT pp
To Secure Your Place:

IN-PERSON EVENT: Community - Driving Local Innovation to Meet Regional NHS Community
2026-01-29 10:00 - 13:00 | Arise Innovation Hub, Harlow Innovation Park, Maypole Boulevard, Harlow, Essex, CM17 9TX, United Kingdom
Tackling community health challenges through innovation.
Medilink Midlands are delighted to be collaborating with Arise Innovation hubs in a series of events for autumn and winter 2025/26. The second of these looks at an overarching theme in the NHS’s current 10-year plan, which aims to make the NHS fit for the future.

We will look at the barriers and opportunities for working with the community addressing the following questions:

How can innovators effectively engage with local systems?
What strategies support trust-building and uptake at the community level?
How can businesses co-design solutions with communities and health systems?

Speakers
TBC

IN-PERSON EVENT: Doing Business with China
2026-02-05 16:00 - 19:00 | Mills & Reeve, Botanic House, 100 Hills Road, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Join us for an insightful and practical event designed for those in the Med-tech and Life Sciences sector looking to expand their operations into the world’s second-largest economy. This event will equip you with the essential knowledge, strategies, and cultural understanding needed to navigate the complexities of the Chinese market successfully.
During the event, delegates can expect to be provided with firsthand knowledge and insights through a series of focused presentations, an industry case study, and a lively panel discussion. The event will conclude with a dedicated networking session, allowing you to build valuable connections.

AGENDA
4pm Arrival & Registration
4:30pm Welcome Introduction
4:45pm Focused Presentations

Legal and IP issues
Understanding the Chinese Business Mind/ Culture – Lily Lin (Co-Founder and CEO of Excellence first Enterprise Consultancy)
Case Study

5:15pm Q&A Panel Discussion
6pm Networking
7pm Depart

Speakers

Lily Lin – Co-founder and CEO of Excellence First Enterprise Consultancy (EFEC)
A UK–China advisory firm established in 2006 to build strategic partnerships across business, innovation and culture. Her work includes contributing to cross-ecosystem initiatives such as the Lingang–Cambridge Network and partnering with Medilink Midlands to support organisations engaging with China. She is currently leading the rollout of two new EFEC initiatives launching in 2026 to mark the organisation’s 20th anniversary: the EFEC UK–China Life Sciences Innovation Hub, which identifies, pairs and facilitates collaboration between leaders of like-minded innovation ecosystems in both countries, and CognateUK, a talent pipeline platform developing globally minded professionals.

James Fry – Partner and Head of Life Sciences, Mills & Reeve
James leads our full-service life sciences practice, and advises on IP and IP licensing, strategic contracting and cross-border transactions. He has deep expertise in licensing and partnering, research collaborations, supply chains and the development and distribution of life sciences products, including medical devices and pharmaceuticals. James has notable experience working on deals involving life sciences companies in China, particularly in research collaborations and licensing, and has advised on a number of high profile in-licensing and out-licensing transactions involved Chinese biotechs and pharma companies. His clients include biotech and pharma companies, medical device companies, universities, medical research charities and government bodies.

Business Awards 2026
2026-04-23 18:30 - 23:30 | Derbyshire
Save the date!
Join Medilink Midlands for our annual Business Awards 2026 – venue TBC with more details to follow.
