Health technologies

The Yorkshire and Humber region contains the largest concentration of orthopaedic and medical device companies in the UK, with over 360 companies and a combined output of around £550 million.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is the largest in the UK, treating a million patients a year with a budget of £873 million. St James’s University Hospital, part of the Trust, is the largest teaching hospital in Europe. St James’s houses the landmark £220 million Yorkshire Cancer Centre, opened in 2008, the largest of its kind in Europe.

The Enterprise&Innovation Office at the University of Leeds works with public and private sector partners to commercialise research and innovation in the field of healthcare and medical technology.

The University of Leeds is home to two Centres for Industrial Collaboration of particular interest to the healthcare technologies sector.

The Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering CIC, gives the region’s firms access to university expertise and facilities in orthopaedics, woundcare, cardiovascular surgery, dentistry and urology. The Particles CIC offers businesses access to expertise in pharmaceuticals and biotech.

Recent investments in new research facilities include Leeds Dental Institute’s state of the art research clinic, dedicated to the delivery of world class translational and clinical research in dentistry. The unit is the first of its kind in the UK.

The University of Leeds, with its private sector partner Tectran, has helped a large number of spin-outs to emerge from the university and is currently responsible for 16 such firms in Leeds. The spin-outs include the award-winning Photopharmica, Tissue Regenix Ltd and Syntopix. 

Other award-winning companies based in Leeds include Surgical Innovations, Brandon Medical, Xiros plc and Medasil Surgical Ltd.

Leeds is home to one of the highest concentrations of healthcare technology companies in the UK, with over 100 companies specialising in medical devices, health-related biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.

Close to 3,500 people are employed in the sector in Leeds, providing a range of key services and products to the 56 large hospitals in Yorkshire and the Humber.

The majority of medical technology firms in the city are small independents employing between 20 and 50 people. They produce a diverse range of products within the main sub-sectors of medical and surgical equipment, orthopaedic prosthetics, personal appliances, dental materials and appliances.

Medilink (Yorkshire&Humber) Ltd acts as a gateway for national and international clients interested in developing commercial, research or clinical relationships with the region’s medical technology companies, hospitals and universities.

Leeds is home to Medipex Ltd, the NHS innovation hub for the Yorkshire and Humber region, considered to be one of the most successful hubs in the UK.

A bioincubator with serviced office and laboratory accomodation, is situated within the University of Leeds campus. The facilities attract interest from major multinationals and local companies alike.

[Last update 13/7/10]