Involving young people in the new Sheffield-based HealthTech Accelerator
Wednesday 30 October 2024
Young people are helping to shape the new Sheffield-based health technology accelerator programme, KidsUP, that will support innovative startup companies to deliver innovative paediatric medical technologies.
This October, UP Ventures announced the launch of the new Children and Young People’s (CYP) HealthTech Accelerator, a 12-week programme that will support a cohort of startup companies in their journey to develop medical technologies designed for children and young people, fast-tracking them through the NHS and into international markets. This programme will be delivered through a partnership between Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Par Equity and local authorities in South Yorkshire.
The KidsUP programme aims to address a gap in the level of research, innovation, and investment in adult and paediatric healthcare. While CYP represent a quarter of the UK population, only five percent of national research funding is dedicated to paediatric research and innovation. This accelerator aims to springboard the development of digital solutions and technologies that meet unmet needs in the healthcare of CYP and families.
Creating technology for children and young people, with children and young people
At the NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Paediatrics and Child Health, we are dedicated to ensuring the voices of CYP and their families are placed right at the centre of the research and medical technology development that we support. As such, we are delighted to be supporting the KidsUP accelerator by creating and facilitating the involvement of young people, in partnership with the University Technical College (UTC) Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park. Following a competitive application process, 10 UTC students were selected to form a Young Advisors Panel. Our fantastic Young Advisors range in age (from 13-18) and discipline (with students specialising in Health and Social Care, Computer Science or Sports Science). Through the duration of the accelerator programme, the Young Advisors will be given opportunities to take part in bespoke coaching sessions (for example building their skills in critical thinking, design approaches, and more), as well as provide crucial insights and feedback for the startup companies involved.
Dr Gemma Wheeler, Senior Project Manager at the NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Paediatrics and Child Health, says:
“I have been blown away by the enthusiasm and support for the Young Advisors Panel initiative from the UTC Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park staff and students. It is clear that young people today are passionate about contributing to the lives of future generations, and they have important insights into the development of health technologies to support this. It’s also fantastic to see startup companies truly engaging with young people right at the start of their KidsUP Accelerator journey, and it’s clear that this programme will be a unique opportunity for everyone involved.“
Find out more about the CYP HealthTech Accelerator and University Technical College using the links below.