Building interdisciplinary bridges

By capitalising on Cambridge's rich history of scientific discovery and collaboration, Connect: Health Tech was set up to build and operate a highly effective bridge between two University of Cambridge research hubs with different disciplines, West (Science and Technology) and South (Biomedical).

The bridge will bring together and integrate a community of stakeholders from across the University, research institutes, the NHS, industry, investors, local government, and beyond with the aim of mobilising the collective knowledge capital to address societal and economic-led challenges.

Vision for Connect: Health Tech University Enterprise Zone Project

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This diagram outlines how Connect: Health Tech aims to create positive interventions around the health tech axis. Unlocking the potential of the cluster in identified areas, stimulating a world-class ecosystem that connects research and development for greater outcomes that benefit society.

Through Connect: Health Tech, a number of positive interventions have been developed and tested to increase connections that deliver impact at the interface between physics, technology, engineering, biology and medicine. Such as:

Strengthening two core research incubation hubs in Cambridge: Strengthening two core research incubation hubs in Cambridge, encompassing the disciplines of biomedical sciences, healthcare and therapeutics with physical sciences, manufacturing, technology and engineering. Each hub provides access to purpose-built, state of the art laboratory spaces to attract a diverse range of tenants, from researchers, to start-ups and accelerators;
Testing and integrating interdisciplinary models of incubation: Testing and integrating interdisciplinary models of incubation across the University’s West and South Campuses, to support the strategic aim of creating transformative healthcare technologies and therapies in the future. Harnessing and providing access to space which fosters interdisciplinary and cross-sector working practices. Catalyse academic/industry project ideas and research exchange around industry-led challenges;
Transforming Connect: Health Tech from a physical University Enterprise Zone: Transforming Connect: Health Tech from a physical University Enterprise Zone to a digital one through an online interdisciplinary community;
Pioneering and operationalising new ways of working across sectors: Pioneering and operationalising new ways of working across sectors to create an effective ecosystem where Connect: Health Tech acts as a bridge and conduit for collaborations and future working practices;
Providing increased access: Providing increased access to knowledge sharing and best practice, existing and newly funded facilities, events and networking.