Link to full publication.

Date of publish: 20.01.26.

Overview

Innovations in HealthTech are essential for the sustainability of the UK NHS, yet systemic fragmentation, regulatory complexity, and funding hurdles frequently stifle product development and adoption, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funded 14 HealthTech Research Centres (HRC) as national centres of excellence to accelerate the development of medical devices, digital technologies, and in vitro diagnostics, and in September 2024, launched the HRC Network using a federated operational model. This article examines how the federated approach functions as an organisational innovation designed to unify distributed expertise without sacrificing the autonomy of individual centres. Unlike centralised hub-and-spoke models, the HRC Network employs shared leadership and cross-cutting functions to coordinate strategy, influence national policy, and streamline the innovation lifecycle. While acknowledging challenges regarding performance measurement and balancing coordination with agility, the article argues that federation offers a viable solution to ecosystem fragmentation. By leveraging collective influence and resources, the HRC Network supports the NHS 10 Year Health Plan’s objectives, shifting towards digital, community-based, and preventive care, while improving navigation for innovators and driving economic growth within the UK Life Sciences Sector.