Dame Joan Bakewell, Government's official voice for older people, has helped to launch an innovative research institute which is championing a national initiative to provide better community healthcare products and services for the elderly and people with disabilities.
Dame Joan attended a special event at Coventry University this week to officially open its pioneering Health Design and Technology Institute (HDTI), which is bringing the university’s research expertise in community based therapy into direct contact with businesses to develop new ‘assistive’ technology.
The new facility, which has been funded through a capital investment of £4.5million from regional development agency Advantage West Midlands, includes a mock-up area where companies can test prototypes, a usability suite where new products can be evaluated by users, seminar rooms, a design studio, workshop and office space for healthcare businesses.
Dame Joan said about the HDTI: "This really is an excellent initiative by Coventry University and it arrives at just the right time. Combining research with entrepreneurial skills, the HDTI will have the capacity to make a real impact on the lives of those who need it most. I welcome the new facility and look forward to the important rewards it will deliver."
The HDTI links small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs), larger corporate businesses, healthcare practitioners, and patients and users to develop new products and services for the self-management of improved health and well-being.
HDTI Director Simon Fielden said: “Our focus is on developing assistive technologies for the individual, rather than medical devices for surgical intervention or use in hospital settings. The new building presents a significant opportunity for us to develop our work in areas such as building and vehicle adaptations, walking aids and wheelchairs, consumer health products and healthcare technology. We are absolutely thrilled that Dame Joan has agreed to open the building and we look forward to welcoming her to Coventry."
Philip Roberts, Partnerships Director at Advantage West Midlands, said: “This is fantastic news for Coventry and Warwickshire as well as for the West Midlands economy.
“Advantage West Midlands has supported this project from the start. The Agency’s £4.5m capital investment in the HDTI reflects our commitment to supporting innovation – a key priority of the West Midlands Economic Strategy – and supports the work of the Agency-backed medical technologies cluster.
“The West Midlands has become a recognised force in the medical technologies world. The Region is leading the way in support for medical technologies and in particular for the commercialisation of healthcare related technologies and services.
“Despite difficult times in the last year we have seen the sector go from strength to strength, offering great opportunities for our region’s industry. The HDTI will help build on this strength and support firms in this region to develop, access and make the most of these emerging opportunities.”
For more information about the Health Design and Technology Institute visit www.coventry.ac.uk/hdti