Benefits

Effective digital platform with in-built navigational functionality and up-to-date repository of information will make the knowledge of the University and the wealth of collaborators and connectors from across the Cambridge cluster accessible 24/7.

Increased efficiency in identifying collaborative partners in different sectors or research disciplines. Easier navigation and flow of projects and ideas. An abundant selection of high quality research projects and people benefiting from shared facilities, capital and infrastructure.

Strengthened interaction of physicists, material scientists, chemists, engineers, biotechnologists, biologists and clinicians across academia and industry leading to increased interdisciplinary research funding and projects initiated in health tech.

Increased diversity of participation in the business and enterprise community (e.g. non-traditional working styles remove barriers to participation such as those who are carers or who have difficulties travelling).

Harness the power of the community in one place. Increased access to people, space, expertise and knowledge.

Increase in networking and virtual events that stimulate inter-disciplinary collaboration towards global and real-world challenges will support the University’s mission to create a better world and contribute to society.

Capabilities and skills built in entrepreneurship, mentorship, commercialisation, research operations and management, collaboration and partnership. Common language established across disciplines and sectors.

Expansion of the ecosystem geographically to engage expertise from further afield. Scalable solutions to include other Universities and clusters nationally and internationally. Functionality of solutions developed in collaboration with users and partners to ensure end-user benefit and use.

Increased inward investment. Rich pipeline of start-ups and SMEs generated and supported to grow in health tech. Significant rise in interdisciplinary research projects funded and commercialised.

Increase in companies scaling-up across the region and increased flow of companies out to key strategic areas of economic growth in the region and the UK. Significant return on investment through bolstering the world-leading position of the cluster in health tech.

Large group of beneficiaries from industry, academia and the wider cluster including the NHS, entrepreneurs, start-ups and SMEs. Beneficiaries from innovation and increased inward investment include local and central government, councils, angel investors, venture capitalists and funders.

Digital elements creating lower transaction costs associated with forming the connections – less time and difficulty associated with finding the right connections. Proposed hybrid model (digital and human) adds value and longevity.