SBRI Healthcare, an NHS England funded initiative to develop innovative products that address unmet health needs, has launched the latest SBRI Healthcare competition which aims to accelerate development and NHS adoption of new technologies. In the second tranche of funding this year, a further £2.5 million is on offer to companies working in the priority healthcare areas; Brain Injury; Child and Adolescent Mental Health; Diabetic Foot Ulcers; Imaging; and Outpatient Services.

The Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Healthcare works with leading healthcare players to identify priority areas where technology can be applied to address major healthcare challenges. The programme focuses on clearly identified NHS needs, bringing clinicians and business together at an early stage to harness the expertise of SMEs to develop effective solutions. Successful projects are fully funded through three phases of development - proof of concept, product development and delivery in the marketplace.

"The SBRI Healthcare is creating new jobs, helping to develop strong businesses and bringing new solutions to solve identified NHS challenges that aren't currently being met," commented Karen Livingstone, Director of SBRI Healthcare. "It is fantastic to see such promise at a relatively early stage in the development cycle of many of the new technologies. Early evaluation of this approach shows the products developed save lives and NHS resources and we look forward to seeing the fuller impact of the programme as more products reach the patient."

The competition theme areas have been chosen in partnership with Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs), and supporting bodies, across England. For this programme these are; Brain Injury - North East & North Cumbria AHSN with Eastern AHSN and the Brain Injury Health Technology Cooperative; Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services - West of England and Imperial AHSNs; Diabetic Foot Ulcers - Knowledge Transfer Network with East Midlands AHSN; Imaging - UCL Partners AHSN with Cambridge University Health Partners; Outpatients Services - Yorkshire & Humber AHSN.

The competition closes on 09 December 2014, with winners announced in March 2015. Briefing events for business to learn about the competition will take place on 11 November (London) and 13 November (Leeds). To find out more visit www.sbrihealthcare.co.uk