Welsh Assembly funds remote healthcare technology
Companies developing the latest technologies to improve healthcare in Wales - ranging from remote monitoring of patients to accessing medical records from a mobile - are set to benefit from a new innovation centre in Swansea.
The E-Health Industries Innovation (EHi2) Centre for Wales has received £446,002 funding from the Welsh Assembly Government under the EU backed Academic Expertise for Business (A4B) programme.
Its work covers a wide area and includes technologies to help the elderly remain in their own homes rather than move into care homes; monitoring support to enable people manage health conditions like diabetes.
It can involve developing mobile solutions for GP and nurses visiting patients in their homes; remote diagnosis of conditions through telemedicine and the development of clinical information systems.
Products and services developed for the e-health sector can involve complex system and data integration challenges that require research and sophisticated technologies.
The centre based at Swansea University's Medical School will be able to offer companies access to a unique combination of clinical, software and systems development, NHS data, clinical trials and evaluation expertise.
It will provide companies with a range of support to develop, test and validate new products and services to satisfy the demands of the NHS and clinical users.
Lesley Griffiths, deputy minister for science, innovation and skills, said, "Our investment in this centre will support businesses across Wales to target what is a rapidly expanding global market.
"It gives Welsh companies a competitive edge creating significant growth and employment opportunities while also developing innovative products and technologies to improve healthcare.
"We have a raft of expertise and world class facilities in our universities and FE colleges and it is vital they work in partnership with industry to ensure companies are in a position to maximise every business opportunity as it arises."