Europe’s First Fully Integrated Healthcare System Visits U.S. to Promote Partnerships and Investment

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 27, 2017 -- As Europe’s only city to integrate health and social care, and with devolved control of its $8 billion budget, Manchester UK represents one of the most exciting opportunities for U.S. partnerships and investment in life sciences. 

To promote these opportunities, the Health Innovation Manchester delegation – a partnership of UK government with local health service trusts, universities, industry and research bodies – is hosting a 5-day U.S. roadshow starting at The MedTech Conference in San Francisco on September 25-27, 2017 and continuing with standalone Manchester symposiums in San Francisco on Wednesday, September 27, 2017 and in Boston on Friday, September 29, 2017. Sponsored by Virgin Atlantic and Delta Air Lines, the symposiums are part of the UK government’s wider GREAT Britain campaign, designed to showcase Greater Manchester. 

“Manchester is steeped in a history and reputation for innovation. From the industrial revolution to computer science and the recent isolation of graphene, the North of England has always had a pioneering spirit,” said Sir Richard Leese, Leader, Manchester City Council. “With the strength of our world-class universities in medical research, and having Europe’s first integrated health and social care system, Manchester is a highly-attractive business destination for U.S. companies. As the best city to live in the UK, our city region is a great place to study, work and invest.” 

As Manchester continues to explore new R&D collaborations in MedTech, digital health, precision medicine and research and health informatics, dozens of likeminded and U.S.-owned life science companies have already taken up residency in Manchester, including Hologic, Waters Corporation, Allscripts and Hematogenix. Global corporations Qiagen, Chiesi, Hitachi and Intertek. 

U.S. life science businesses are provided with an ideal location for testing and fast-track adoption of innovative treatments, services and pathways thanks to Manchester’s ground-breaking devolution of power from national government. This has enabled Manchester to develop integrated decision-making structures and a partnership of exceptional academic and clinical assets giving life science companies direct access to the largest integrated National Health Service (NHS) cluster in the UK. 

“U.S. businesses looking to seize this opportunity will be joining an existing cluster of over 260 biomedical companies in Manchester, whose universities produce over 13,000 life science graduates a year adding to an existing workforce of more than 157,000 health and social care workers overall,” said Tim Newns, chief executive officer, MIDAS, Manchester’s inward investment agency. “This partnership will deliver unrivalled access for US life sciences and healthcare companies to a large-scale, real-world test bed for innovation, covering the full spectrum of health and social care, which is underpinned by a proven world-leading digital health platform.”

Health Innovation Manchester will be in the U.S. from September 25-29, 2017 with a delegation of experts including:

• Professor Jackie Oldham, Director, Corridor Manchester;
• Thomas Renn, Managing Director, Manchester Science Partnerships; 
• Professor Carol Haigh, Professor in Nursing, Manchester Metropolitan University;
• Suzie Ali-Hassan, Business Development Manager, Northern Health Science Alliance;
• Professor Martin Gibson, Chief Executive, NorthWest EHealth;
• Naomi Chandler, Business Engagement Officer, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Manchester; 
• Richard Preece, Executive Lead for Quality, Greater Manchester Health & Social Partnership; 
• Stephen Dobson, Interim Chief Digital Officer, Greater Manchester Health & Social Partnership;
• Gary Leeming, Chief Technology Officer, Connected Health Cities Hub;
• Tim Newns, Chief Executive Office, MIDAS, Manchester’s inward investment agency;
• Matt Lee, Head of Sales, Manchester Science Partnerships;
• Kay Faulkner, Business Development Manager, Manchester Metropolitan University.

“We are excited to spend time in San Francisco and Boston – the leading life science hubs in the U.S., which will provide us with the opportunities to connect with key decision makers, entrepreneurs, start-ups, and academia in other cities,” said Thomas Renn, Managing Director for Manchester Science Partnerships. “Events like this are perfect to share knowledge and explore how we revolutionise healthcare through the disruptive power of digital technology on both an international and global scale and to explore opportunities for partnerships.” 

For more information and to RSVP for these events in San Francisco and Boston, please visit: San Francisco and Boston. 

Media Contacts: 
Ashton Shurson
Grayling PR
319-430-9094 

About Marketing Manchester 
Marketing Manchester is the agency charged with promoting Manchester on the national and international stage. As part of the Manchester Growth Company, Marketing Manchester undertakes marketing and communications on behalf of the group in support of the Greater Manchester Strategy.  For more information please visit: www.marketingmanchester.com.