Innovation and Market Development Unit (IMDU)
Latest News:
SBRI: Dynamic Resource Optimisation – NIAS – Scope:
The overall aim of this Phase I SBRI Project is to identify potential solutions to develop an affordable and effective tool to triangulate NIAS databases of information and planning tools to deliver the most effective, safe and optimised journey for patients. It is anticipated the solution/s will provide the most effective resource allocation both in terms of NIAS’s management of the resource and patient experience.
More Information European Dynamics – Welcome to eTendersNI
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‘Delivering Innovation and Collaboration’
What we do
IMDU team support the procurement of innovation. The team improve engagement with internal and external stakeholders across the region. To support HSCNI, the team remain informed and keep up-to-date with industry developments.
Collaboration is a key focus for IMDU; the team work closely with HSC staff, industry stakeholders, government agencies, academic institutions and other partners to encourage a culture of innovation within Health in Northern Ireland.
IMDU aims to improve patient care, support HSC employees, drive innovation, support businesses and provide monetary savings in Northern Ireland.
How we work
IMDU are a small team that delivers the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) programme within health. The team also provide support to existing innovations and suppliers helping them to work with Health and Social Care (HSC).
| Name | Job Title | |
| Rachael Adams | IMDU Senior Manager | rachael.adams@hscni.net |
| Gillian Best | IMDU Manager | gillian.best2@hscni.net |
| Steven Cinnamond | IMDU Project Support | steven.cinnamond@hscni.net |
Also contact the team at:
Find more information at: IMDU PR Leaflet
What is Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI)?
SBRI is a Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) programme which provides innovative solutions to current challenges faced by the public sector. SBRI leads to better public services and an opportunity for local enterprises to develop new products for the market. SBRI is a phased competitive process with solution design and testing typically happening over a 2 or 3 phased programme.
How does SBRI work?
SBRI competitions are open to all organisations that can demonstrate a route to market for their solution and comprise various phases:
- Phase 1 is intended to show the technical feasibility of the proposed concept. Also, successful Phase 1 suppliers are normally required to plan their feasibility study/ research trial protocol including research governance and ethics approval prior to application to Phase 2.
- Phase 2 is intended to develop and evaluate prototypes or demonstrators from the more promising technologies in Phase 1 via a feasibility study/ research trial. Phase 2 is only open to organisations that have completed Phase 1 and will follow a similar selection process.
- Phase 3 may be required in some types of SBRI and is designed to enable extended trialling to robustly evaluate technology. Phase 3 is only open to organisations that have completed Phases 1 & 2 and will follow a similar selection process.
All competitions are advertised on eTendersNI:
https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps/home.do
Information on SBRI from UKRI:
Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) – UKRI
What do suppliers think of SBRI?
“SBRI has been instrumental in getting us off the ground. As a young start-up, having an SBRI contract has been beneficial not only financially but also in getting a foot into Health Trusts who would otherwise not entertain small businesses who may have untested yet promising solutions” – SBRI Phase 1 Supplier.
To date IMDU, BSO has undertaken 11 SBRI/ PCP projects. Three examples below:
CHAT SBRI – optimising the provision of speech and language therapy to meet the NICE guidelines following a stroke.
Cancer Challenge
The BSO PaLS Innovation and Market Development Unit is collaborating on a first of its kind Cancer Challenge with SBRI Centre of Excellence in Wales
The challenge seeks innovations that lead to earlier, faster diagnosis, reduction in waiting times, improvements to the efficiency and efficacy of treatment and support palliative care and is jointly funded by Department for the Economy NI, Welsh Government Innovation and SBRI Centre of Excellence.
More Information https://sdi.click/cancerchallenge3
NIAS
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Dynamic Resource Optimisation Challenge SBRI is seeking to achieve a ground-breaking innovation that could optimise the utilisation of resources to improve real-time deployment and contribute to longer-term decision-making
More Information European Dynamics – Welcome to eTendersNI
Find more information at: SBRI Flyer
What is Existing Innovation?
The IMDU team assists with procurement of products which are existing innovation i.e. established products and services which HSC hasn’t yet been aware or availed of. There are three ways in which these products can be identified, supplier direct contact, HSC employee contact and also IMDU horizon scanning for products being used in healthcare elsewhere. The team can support in many ways including signposting, socialising products/ services with HSC employees, focus groups and trials.
Find more information at: EI Flyer