University gains funding approval boost for Health Business Innovation Centre
The ambitious plans of the University of Huddersfield and its partners that will help local health and wellbeing businesses has taken a significant step forward following approval for funding from the Government’s Investment Zone initiative.
The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) will provide Kirklees Council with revenue grant funding of just over £2,000,000 via the initiative to help deliver the Huddersfield Health Innovation Incubator (HHII) programme.
Integral to the programme is the Health Business Innovation Centre (HBIC), which will be located in the Emily Siddon Building on the university’s National Health Innovation Campus.
Businesses in the health, wellbeing and digital sectors that are seeking to start-up or expand will have access to office and co-working spaces in HBIC on the fourth floor of the Emily Siddon Building, currently under construction and due to open in early 2026. The nearby Glass Box business centre and the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre will also make office and co-working spaces available as part of the same initiative.
Specialist business facilities and entrepreneurial makerspace
The HBIC will feature state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and a dedicated health innovation makerspace - one of the few such specialist spaces in the UK - providing entrepreneurs with access to professional equipment and expert guidance to design, test and validate new products.
Professor Liz Towns-Andrews, the Regional and Business Lead for the National Health Innovation Campus at the University of Huddersfield, said, “The programme builds on highly successful business development programmes which have established the foundation of a vibrant Health & Wellbeing ecosystem associated with the campus.
“The Huddersfield Health Innovation Incubator programme offers a portfolio of support for start-up and well-established businesses to enable growth which will impact on our local economy and wellbeing of our citizens.
“The University is proud to partner Kirklees Council and the 3M BIC teams to deliver this important WY Investment Zone funded programme.”
Councillor Graham Turner, Kirklees Council Cabinet Member for Finance and Regeneration, added, “The programme will give businesses in health, wellbeing, and digital the support they need to start up or grow. Along with our partners, we are looking forward to providing tailored advice, workspaces, events, and networking opportunities to build a vibrant community of innovators. From businesses and academics to clinicians and professionals we will all be working together to improve health and care outcomes and drive business growth.
“Building on successful projects like the Thrive initiative, the programme will complement the University’s pioneering National Health Innovation Campus and contribute to the wider regeneration of the Station to Stadium Enterprise Corridor.”