Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland, 3 Dargan Crescent, Belfast (2025)

20/10/2025

Now open! a further £1.2 million of Northern Ireland health and life sciences Innovate UK Launchpad funding has been released for businesses with an ambition for growth and working in, or aiming to work in, life and health sciences.

For further information and application support:

Join an UK Research and Innovation briefing webinar on October 23rd at 1pm, register here: https://lnkd.in/eQ8Au5GG

Invest Northern Ireland will also hold 1 to 1 support clinics at their Northwest and Belfast offices on October 28th (register at https://lnkd.in/e2axZRkG).

And we, the Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland (HIRANI) will host an online clinic on October 29th, to book a spot, register your interest here: https://lnkd.in/eewfjsGN

Over 30 NI companies have already received nearly £6 million of funding since 2024.

Minimal Financial Assistance funding available will be between 25K and 100K.
As the local cluster management organisation, HIRANI will be providing sector specific expertise.

Companies can apply for funding for projects focusing on a range of subjects including:

Diagnostics, therapeutics and biomarkers
Data, digital and medical devices
Innovations in health service delivery
Artificial intelligence, machine learning, quantum
Advanced therapies, novel formulation or delivery
Regulation or ethics
Supporting innovation in skills development
For information on eligibility go to https://lnkd.in/eryn9336 or https://lnkd.in/e2axZRkG

The competition will close at 11am on 26th November.

17/10/2025

Opening day two of the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme Belfast Pitstop, Lucy Dentice, programme manager welcomes all the UK and Ireland delegates.
And fresh from their session at , Jack Porter, Co-Director of the NHS Innovation Accelerator along with Taz Aldawoud, founder at Doc Abode; Dr Dom Pimenta M.D. CEO at TORTUS and Frances Duffy, founder and CEO 6D-Dementia are here at the Clayton Hotel with nearly 100 health entrepreneurs who are presenting on products and services impacting healthcare challenges globally. We are hearing now from communication coach, Jon Torrens on confident communicating.

16/10/2025

We are delighted to announce a further £1.2 million of Innovate UK Launchpad funding is to be released this month for businesses with an ambition for growth and working in, or aiming to work in, life and health sciences.
The competition will open on Monday 20th October and close on 26th November 2025.
Over 30 NI companies have already received nearly £6 million of funding since 2024.
HIRANI would also invite anyone wishing to apply, to register their interest here https://lnkd.in/eewfjsGN
“It is our distinctive capabilities in precision diagnostics, biomarkers and AI that help to set us apart from the rest – with world-class assets on our doorstep. These latest grants and support from Innovate UK will be transformational to help health and life sciences businesses of all sizes to unleash their full potential – and create quality, highly skilled jobs, growth, and training opportunities for our region,” said HIRANI CEO, Joann Rhodes.

Minimal Financial Assistance funding available will be between 25K and 100K.
As the local cluster management organisation, HIRANI will be providing sector specific expertise.

For information on eligibility go to https://lnkd.in/eryn9336 on Monday 20th October.

15/10/2025

The Innovation zone is still going strong on the mezzanine, Ballygowan Suite at . Come and join us to hear how our life science leaders are making such a huge impact.

15/10/2025

"Working in partnership, we can ensure the solutions being presented by our entrepreneurs aligns and reflects the needs and challenges of our health service," Paul Rice, Chief Digital and Information Officer at the Department of Health NI joins us at the Health Innovation & Economy Network Zone, Ballygowan Foyer Mezzanine, at the La Mon Hotel, Belfast, where we are discussing accelerating partnership, innovation, and economic growth at the Northern Ireland Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) conference.
Come and talk to some of NI’s most forward-thinking health and social care entrepreneurs, who have the solutions to many of the challenges we face and stand ready to develop solutions to solve system pressures.
Hosted by Entrepreneur-in-Residence at The Amp, Jennifer Neff, and HIRANI Launchpad Innovation lead Sean O'Connor PhD, the ‘On-the-Sofa Conversations’ are interviews with a range of leaders and entrepreneurs on how we can maximise progress.
This morning we have heard from Catherine K.ing, Founder, LifeCells NI; David Branagh MBA, Founder & CEO, Raidmed; Professor Ian Young, NI Chief Scientific Advisor; Alexander Davey Davey, Founder, Digital Care Systems Limited; Ian Snowden, Permanent Secretary, Department for the Economy NI; Professor Jim McLaughlin, Centre for Digital Healthcare Technology Lead, Ulster University and many more.
Driving the conversations this afternoon will be our CEO, Professor Joann Rhodes MBA; Brendan McGuigan, Director of Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, Invest Northern Ireland; Professor Aaron Peace, Chief Executive, C-TRIC; Professor Judy Bradley, Director of iREACH Health, Queen's University Belfast; Professor Victor Gault, Professor of Experimental Medicine and Associate Dean for Research and Impact (Life and Health Sciences), Ulster University; Dr .Paul Beaney, Head of Projects Delivery; Professor Michael Scott MBE, Director, MOIC - Medicines Optimisation Innovation Centre; Dr Glenda Fleming, Deputy Director, MOIC; Julie McCullough, Industry Engagement Manager, HSCNI Industry Engagement ; Karen Bailey, Chief Executive, Business Services Organisation (BSO); Stephen Liggett, Director, Future Medicines Institute and many more industry partners from across the life and health sciences ecosystem.
Find the entire conference agenda at https://lnkd.in/e-3jpDxY

15/10/2025

Do you work, or are you a student, in health and social care in NI? Join an information webinar on November 10th to find out the information you need to apply to this years NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme.
The NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme (CEP) will begin accepting applicants for its next cohort on 3rd November.
Two transformative programmes will empower individuals with bold ideas to improve patient care, health outcomes, and system efficiency.

The two distinct programmes available:
• Clinical Entrepreneur Programme – For all HSCNI staff and students with ideas to enhance patient outcomes and service delivery.

• Dementia Innovators Programme – For those developing impactful solutions for people affected by dementia.

Successful applicants will gain access to expert mentoring, tailored education, and a powerful network of healthcare leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors.
These programmes aim to help turn ideas into scalable, sustainable innovations that deliver real-world impact.
Applications will open from the 3rd to the 28th of November 2025.
For more information and how to apply, visit: www.nhscep.com or join the Northern Ireland prep session on 10th November here: https://lnkd.in/eseNjKpz questions can be directed to andrea.cartmill@hira-ni.com or cep@aru.ac.uk.

The NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme is designed to support and empower HSCNI staff by fostering innovation within the healthcare system and plays a significant role in retaining and empowering NHS staff, enabling them to develop and implement transformative healthcare solutions while remaining within the HSCNI workforce.
The clinical entrepreneur programme (CEP) plays a role in supporting, retaining and empowering staff by fostering innovation within the healthcare system.
For Northern Ireland, the programme represents a unique opportunity to accelerate solutions to health challenges and areas of priority, to retain skilled staff, and strengthen the life and health sciences sector.

14/10/2025

In association with the James Lind Alliance, HSC Research and Development Division have launched a new initiative ‘Involvement Matters’, which aims to strengthen, improve and understand the priorities for PPI in Health and Social Care research across Northern Ireland.
The aim is to work collaboratively with people across Northern Ireland to identify and share a list of priorities for action to help improve PPI practices in Health and Social Care research.
If you are a PPI contributor, researcher, health and social care professional, from the community and voluntary sector, or interested in being involved in research, complete the survey below before 25th November.
If you need the survey in an alternative format, please contact: Alan McMichael (PPI Lead for Health and Social Care Research) Email: Alan.McMichael@hscni.net or phone 07591448603.

https://lnkd.in/ehwKD6ci

14/10/2025

We are at Dundalk Institute of Technology today for the life science cluster tour as part of the TCI Global Conference 2025 https://lnkd.in/ezchxGJa
This morning we have heard from Dr Diarmuid O'Callaghan (DkIT President)
giving an overview of island of Ireland healthtech, medtech, pharma and life science ecosystems.
Deirdre O'Neill, Client Adviser, Life Sciences & Health Tech, Enterprise Ireland and Dr .Paul Beaney, Head of Project Delivery, Centre for Digital Healthcare Technology, Belfast discussed the all island opportunity followed by presentations from cluster leads across Ireland, including Breanndán Casey from the Connected Health & Wellbeing Cluster, Joann Rhodes MBA from Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland (HIRANI), Katie Nolan, interim manager at MedLink Galway and Jamie Meehan, PhD from MET.

Robert Kelly, Founder of Heart Rhythm International, Tim Jones, Co-Founder and CEO, SymPhysis Medical, Antony Murphy, CEO Causeway Sensors Limited and Jason McLaughlin COO of TPS then joined a panel to discuss what clusters do on the island of Ireland
Themes included:
Collaborative Funding in Clusters (All-Island, EU, Global)
SME / FDI Partnership
Workforce transformation, training, technology and innovation
Market Access & International markets
We are looking forward to this afternoons break out sessions focusing on themes including: cluster business model opportunities; accelerating commercialisation and value proposition via stakeholder empowerment; collaborate to compete; expanding a region’s value proposition via clusters and innovative synergies for enhanced patient care and outcomes.
The TCI 2025 conference is looking at current technological advancements, climate urgency, geopolitical shifts, and global interdependence and how clusters and collaborative networks are rising to the challenges as catalysts of transformation: fostering resilience, driving green innovation, and building bridges across borders to keep our economies open, dynamic, and competitive.

13/10/2025

The NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme (CEP) is thrilled to announce that the Dementia Innovators Programme will be returning for its second year!

From 3rd to 28th November 2025, the Dementia Innovators Programme, delivered by the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme in partnership with Alzheimer's Society, is accepting applications for its next cohort.

This specialist initiative is designed to support both NHS and non-NHS health and social care staff who have ideas to enhance the lives of those affected by dementia, aiming to equip entrepreneurs with the skills, knowledge, and contacts to bring their ideas to life and scale them effectively.

Why Join?
Completely Free: A one-year, fully flexible programme designed to fit around your everyday life.
Educational Opportunities: Attend educational events, webinars, and workshops tailored to support your entrepreneurial journey.
Mentorship and Expertise: Access high quality mentorship, subject matter expert sessions, and business planning opportunities.

We’re seeking innovative solutions that address every aspect of dementia, from early detection and diagnostics to assistive technologies, personalised care platforms, and community-based support systems.

If you have an idea that could improve the lives of people living with dementia and their families, we’d love to hear from you. Visit our website to find out more https://lnkd.in/eRJ54_3Y

For specific questions, contact our dedicated team at cep@aru.ac.uk

09/10/2025

The South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (SEHSCT) is leading regional innovation through its Heart Failure at Home programme, delivered in partnership with Feebris, BT Group, and Queen's University Belfast (QUB). Launched in October 2024, the programme enables patients with heart failure and palliative-care needs to receive hospital-level care at home, supported by digital monitoring, structured clinical review, and multidisciplinary coordination.
HIRANI were thrilled to be at an in-person learning event this week at the QIIC Hub, bringing together clinical and academic partners, digital developers, and service users to share insights from the programme’s first year. Speakers included Ruth Gray and Dr Fiona Dixon (SEHSCT), Professor Michael Quinn (QUB), Dr Elina Naydenova (Feebris), and Frank Doherty, who gave the vital patient and public involvement perspective.
Read more here: www.hira-ni.com

08/10/2025

How is Northern Ireland delivering against MRC’s strategic priorities?
Through todays session, we heard from researchers and leaders in Northern Ireland about their innovative work, and how it aligns with key Medical Research Council priority areas and how our universities act as catalysts for innovation, economic growth and improved health outcomes with numerous examples of cross university, health and industry partnerships.

02/10/2025

We are hearing this morning from David Hourican, Chief Financial Officer at British Business Bank along with our CEO Joann Rhodes MBA and Adam Hardy from Pioneer Group welcoming and setting the scene for delegates who are joining our annual business finance week event with a focus on health and life sciences.
Looking through the NI lens at our first panel session are Samana Brannigan, Head of Health Technologies at Innovate UK; Cheryl Wallace, Life Science Lead, Invest Northern Ireland our colleague at Department for Business and Trade, Cathy Bradin with Tim Brundle, Director of at Ulster University and CEO of INNOVATION ULSTER LIMITED.

Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland

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