Connect with our health and wellbeing innovation ecosystem
Build meaningful relationships and unlock opportunities in health and wellbeing innovation through collaboration, shared expertise and regional support.
Want to accelerate your impact in health, wellbeing, or life sciences through collaboration and sector expertise?
Our ecosystem supports new, growing and established organisations with a genuine focus on health and wellbeing innovation. Members benefit from access to academic expertise, NHS contacts and commercial opportunities. Whether you're testing, scaling, or co-developing solutions, we can help you make meaningful connections.
We welcome start-ups, growing enterprises, larger businesses, clinicians, investors, and others actively contributing to the region’s health innovation landscape through sector-specific events, shared ideas and collaboration.
What you will gain:
- Collaboration opportunities with clinical, academic and innovation partners
- Visibility across the health innovation ecosystem
- Access to networking events
- Strategic support for collaboration and market access
- Opportunity to apply for tailored business support programmes*
Our membership is designed for:
- Pre- and early-stage start-ups developing innovative solutions to improve health and wellbeing.
- Growing enterprises looking to develop new products or services in health and wellbeing.
- Clinicians or academics with innovative ideas looking to commercialise research or launch ventures in health, wellbeing, or life sciences.
- Organisations in health and wellbeing looking to expand or relocate into West Yorkshire.
- Companies exploring co-development and partnerships to support health innovation.
- Companies and individuals with proven expertise in health, wellbeing, or life sciences who can support the growth and innovation of sector-focused organisations.
Looking for more tailored support?
We also offer dedicated business support programmes to help health and wellbeing businesses thrive, from those just starting out to those that are seeking to grow.
Start
Support for early-stage health & wellbeing businesses
Thrive is a tailored support programme for pre-start and early-stage businesses with up to 5 employees. Perfect for shaping and launching your health and wellbeing business idea.
What’s included:
- Interactive workshops
- Peer support networks
- Expert-led clinics
- One-to-one mentoring
- Business networking opportunities
Eligibility for Thrive is subject to criteria. Find out more here.
Grow
Support for growing health & wellbeing businesses
A growth-focused programme for growing innovative health and wellbeing businesses with up to 50 employees. Ideal for businesses ready to grow, diversify, or enhance their impact in the health and wellbeing sector.
What’s included:
- Tailored support to develop new products or services that improve patient care or streamline NHS services*
- Access to the Health Innovation Makerspace with 3D printers, testing equipment, and more*
- Mentoring to accelerate your business growth*
- Co-working space available across three Huddersfield locations*
- Curated events to help grow your business
- Connections to key partners including the University of Huddersfield, Business Kirklees, NHS, and other health and wellbeing organisations
- Signposting to stakeholders and investors to support growth and funding opportunities
(*subject to criteria and availability)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any business join the Huddersfield Health Innovation Incubator?
We welcome a wide range of organisations involved in health, wellbeing, life sciences and digital health. If you are a start-up, growing business, academic spinout, NHS partner or investor, you can join our network. If you are committed to collaboration and innovation in the sector, we’d love to hear from you. All memberships are subject to a short eligibility check.
What are the benefits of joining the network?
As a member of the network, you will gain access to:
- Access to expertise within the University of Huddersfield, NHS and other health and wellbeing partners
- Events & workshops
- Networking events
- Access to like-minded businesses within health and wellbeing for collaboration
It is a great way to raise your profile and plug into the region’s growing health innovation ecosystem.
Is there a cost to join the Incubator?
No – membership is currently fully funded for the first two years for eligible organisations. We are committed to supporting innovation and collaboration without financial barriers. However, some additional services and membership may be chargeable after the initial funded support period.
What types of organisations are part of the Connect network?
Members range from early-stage start-ups, growing businesses in health and wellbeing to university researchers and social enterprises. We also engage with investors, NHS stakeholders and support organisations who want to contribute to West Yorkshire’s health innovation landscape.
How do I express interest in partnering or collaborating?
We’re always looking to facilitate new connections. If you are interested in partnering, collaborating, or co-developing a project, simply apply for membership or get in touch with our team. We will arrange an informal conversation to learn more about your goals and how we can help connect you with the right people.
How do I stay informed about upcoming events and opportunities?
You can stay updated by following us on LinkedIn. We also send regular updates to members about events, funding calls and collaboration opportunities relevant to the health and wellbeing sector.
As a member, can you help me find clinical or academic partners for a project?
Yes – one of our key strengths is helping to broker partnerships between businesses, researchers, and clinicians. While we can’t guarantee connections, we may be able to support access to trial opportunities, academic expertise, or NHS engagement depending on the relevance and readiness of your product or service.
Is access to co-working space part of the membership and how often can I use it?
Co-working is available to HHII members through an application process.
Our co-working is for members who are actively innovating or starting new ventures in health, wellbeing or life sciences. Eligible members can apply to select one of three venues – The Glass Box, 3M BIC, or HBIC – as their designated ‘Hub’. Access is subject to approval and requires signing a form with terms and conditions, managed by your chosen hub.
Approved members may access up to 3 days of co-working per week. We operate a fair-use policy and recommend booking in advance.
Get In Touch
Based in West Yorkshire and working in – or moving into – health and wellbeing innovation?
We’d love to hear from you. Whether you are just starting out or want to collaborate and grow, HHII has the expertise and connections to help you succeed.
The Huddersfield Health Innovation Incubator (HHII) is being delivered as a partnership between Kirklees Council, the University of Huddersfield and 3M Buckley Innovation Centre. It is being funded through the West Yorkshire Investment Zone, a set of funding schemes that focus on developing innovation infrastructure and support programmes in the region.
