The United Kingdom has the biggest population of children in Europe, and there are 1.8 billion young people in the world today. The impact that we have on the health and well-being of children and young people will have a lasting impact on the future population's health, wealth and prosperity.
Part of the mission to support this cause is the development of a new National Centre for Child Health Technology (NCCHT), which will be a leader in the world of paediatrics, creating the most advanced and integrated healthcare system for children. Located at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, the centre will bring together industry, academia, clinicians, patients and families to create high-value products at pace to impact and improve the future and long-term health of children and young people.
The NCCHT will offer a range of crucial services, one of which is KidsUP a Children & Young People’s HealthTech Accelerator. The accelerator launched in the autumn of 2024 tasked with providing an opportunity to emerging businesses to deliver ground-breaking medical technologies for children.
Professor Paul Dimitri and the Sheffield Children’s NHS Trust are the driving forces behind the NCCHT and UP is delighted to have designed and delivered the first in a rolling roster of innovation and accelerator programmes.
A stellar group of Partners and Affiliates support the initiative. These include Sheffield Children’s NHS Trust as the key sponsor, Par Equity, SYMCA, Sheffield City Council and Brabners LLP. Other associate partners include The Olympic Legacy Park, Dell For Startupsand Nvidia.
Underpinned by a world-class 12-week immersive acceleration programme, the KidsUP challenge is designed for HealthTech entrepreneurs who want to create a real impact by improving young people's lives through purpose-driven innovation. This is not another MBA-style accelerator – it is laser-focused on accelerating the adoption of products and services throughout the NHS that have been designed for new & existing pathways to scalable and profitable adoption that will unlock new private sector investment.
Based in Sheffield, the programme is delivered by coaches, entrepreneurs, investors and clinicians who continue to make and do in the real world. Each of the three programme phases pushes participants to challenge their existing thinking, improve all aspects of their business and put the customer experience first. The challenge brings together a host of expert advisers who each have a unique insight into developing and scaling breakthrough HealthTech products and services.
This is a unique mission with an international scope. UP are now inviting helathtech innovators, contributing partners and sponsors to help shape the future of children’s health and medical technology for years to come.