MedTech Super Connector becomes the latest multi-university scheme to secure CCF funds, this time to build a UK medtech hub that encourages researchers to commercialise their ideas.

MedTech SuperConnector, a new UK-based tech transfer accelerator led by Imperial College London (ICL) in partnership with seven other institutions, has secured almost £5m ($7m) from the UK government’s Connecting Capability Fund (CCF).

MedTech SuperConnector will be positioned as a UK medtech hub with the ability to commercialise clinical products, tempt more early career researchers into business and ultimately induce growth in the UK’s medtech sector.

The bid was supported by ICL’s tech transfer affiliate, Imperial Innovations, which will lend MedTech SuperConnector its expertise in scientific commercialisation and access to professional contacts.

The other participating institutions are Buckinghamshire New University, Queen Mary University of London, Royal College of Art, Royal College of Music, Royal Veterinary College, Francis Crick Institute and Institute of Cancer Research.

SuperConnector will also utilise other industry partners and feedback from the UK’s National Health Service.

Several cohorts will be brought onto the program to learn different commercialisation techniques.  Participating businesses can also access three of the university’s incubator hubs – Imperial White City Incubator, Queen Mary BioEnterprises Innovation Centre, and Royal Veterinary College’s London Bioscience Innovation Centre.

Meanwhile, the tech transfer offices from each institution will share experiences gained from the accelerator to formulate an evidence-based blueprint for conducting knowledge exchange.

MedTech SuperConnector is one of 14 research projects to be funded by the first tranche from CCF, a $125.5m scheme administered by government-run Research England to stimulate collaboration between higher education institutions.

Surbhi Gupta, senior healthcare licensing executive at Imperial Innovations, said: “The MedTech SuperConnector is an ambitious project that could take the UK’s expertise in healthcare research and engineering, and turn it into new clinical treatments for patients, while also developing a knowledge-base for commercialising research.

“By creating and strengthening a network around SuperConnector, we hope to establish a sustainable community of universities, innovators and industry for the medtech sector.”