Image source: Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is planning an investment of almost £10 million in a new Civic HealthTech Innovation Zone (CHI-Zone).
It will be led by the University of Liverpool with the aim of developing new health and social care technologies and boosting the local economy.
The combined authority will be asked to approve the spending this month, with an additional £2.5 million to come from other sources including the university.
The CHI-Zone will provide a base for research and development on the efficient and trusted use of data and AI in health and social care. This will involve support for university researchers to turn their innovations into successful businesses, and directing local healthtech innovations towards supporting the city region’s own care systems.
The latter effort will involve input from residents to help design solutions.
Design studio and testbed
The initiative will include the development of a HealthTech Design Studio and a related care technology testbed, and drawing on the university’s expertise, facilities – including its Civic Health Innovation Labs – and access to research.
It is all expected to generate more than £10 million of further investment in the city region, create at least 365 new jobs and provide training for at least 1,140 people. It will also support more than 125 businesses and entrepreneurs and is forecast to lead to the creation of at least 10 new businesses in the digital health and social care sector.
The project is part of the 10-year Liverpool City Region Life Sciences Innovation Zone programme, which is expected to attract up to £800 million of public and private investment and create 8,000 new skilled jobs.
At heart of progress
Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram said: “This innovative project will place the Liverpool City Region at the heart of global advancements in health and social care technology. It’s another critical step towards tackling health inequalities, driving investment and creating skilled, well paid jobs for our residents.
“Through cutting edge AI and data driven solutions, we’re not only shaping the future of healthcare, but also fostering a thriving digital economy that will benefit people and businesses for years to come.”
Professor Iain Buchan, W.H. Duncan chair in public health systems and director of Civic Health Innovation Labs (CHIL), said: “The Civic HealthTech Innovation Zone will spearhead the use of artificial intelligence and other data driven technologies to improve healthcare, social care and wellness – while growing the region’s life sciences and digital economy, with and for our residents. CHI-Zone will build on the city region’s civic data foundations to establish a world leading civic AI cooperative.
“This is an exciting moment for the University of Liverpool and supports our ambitions as a civic institution to break new ground in science and technology that can address our society’s pressing needs and shape the future.”
