Are you a creative innovator ready to make a real-world impact?

Join us for an exciting project where your digital, data-driven, and immersive technologies skills can revolutionise healthcare in Greater Manchester. This is your opportunity to collaborate with Health Innovation Manchester (HInM) and the MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub (MITIH), driving meaningful change.

What’s the problem to solve?

The core problem the fast-track innovation project aims to solve is enhancing patient engagement and transforming healthcare services in Greater Manchester.

Imagine a future where healthcare is proactive, personalised, and truly accessible.

In Greater Manchester, we’re on a mission to make this vision a reality. But we need your help. We’re facing a challenge: how can we better connect with patients, increase the uptake of screening and diagnostic services, empower them to take control of their health, and make healthcare services more effective and efficient?

The answer lies in innovation. Health Innovation Manchester (HInM) and the MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub (MITIH) are joining forces. We’re launching a fast-track project to develop groundbreaking digital solutions to transform people’s healthcare experience.

Project Scope: A Two-Month Sprint to Innovation

This project is a fast-paced, collaborative effort to develop digital solutions to enhance patient engagement and transform healthcare. We are bringing together the creative and healthcare sectors to address key challenges and improve people’s lives. We will achieve this by using data-driven insights and immersive technologies.

• Health Innovation Manchester (HInM): A key stakeholder in healthcare innovation, HInM is driving this project with the aim of improving the lives of local people through innovation.
• Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub (MITIH): MITIH fosters a dynamic ecosystem where cutting-edge immersive media technologies converge, empowering businesses and creatives to collaborate, experiment, and pioneer the future of storytelling and interactive experiences, ultimately driving economic growth and establishing the region as a global leader in the field.

What We’re Asking From You:

We’re seeking talented individuals and businesses within the creative sector who have a special interest and skill set in:

• Digital Innovation
• Data-Driven Solutions
• Immersive Technology (AR/VR)

Your challenge will be collaborating on designing and developing innovative solutions that address healthcare needs using cutting-edge technology, creative design and innovative thinking. Solutions should also include;

Develop Engaging Educational Materials – Create approachable, valuable, and community-focused educational content that emphasises the importance of engaging in screening and diagnostic services. This will support early detection and disease prevention while encouraging active participation and attendance.

Create Effective Communication Assets – Develop resources such as reports, journal publications, posters, media content, and conference presentations to disseminate findings and insights effectively.

Key Engagement Dates:

• Introduction Webinar on the 10th of March. This will provide the scope of opportunity and the essential context and background about the specific challenges.
• Hack Day: 21st March at MITIH, MediaCity.
  • Participate in an intensive day of collaboration to generate innovative ideas, with the best ideas being selected at the end of the day, leading to the proof of concept work in the following week. Each idea will receive seedcorn funding to help consolidate and add substance to each approach.
• Successful solutions will go through to a Proof of Concept Week: Week of 24th March.
  • At the end of this sprint, the most promising ideas will be funded to further develop into prototypes. This will include a full prototype proposal, a budget and schedule of delivery and Patient engagement plan. Prototype Delivery: 29th March onwards
  • Working prototypes delivered and tested with real-world audiences.

We aim to procure at least one prototype as a working product in 2025.

What’s In It For You?

• Impact: Directly improve healthcare for millions of people in Greater Manchester.
• Collaboration: Work alongside healthcare experts and leading creative innovators, expanding your professional network.
• Innovation: Be at the forefront of technological advancements, applying your skills in a meaningful context.
• Funding: Opportunity to have your ideas developed and funded, with the potential for further development. We will take several ideas and solutions to a proof of concept stage, which will receive seedcorn funding.
• A small number of ideas and solutions will be taken to the prototype phase and will be funded.
• Recognition: Your innovative contribution will be part of a widely reported project, enhancing your professional reputation.
• Professional Development: Develop new skills and experiences through the fast-paced hack day and collaborative project development.

Project Goals:

• Develop innovative digital solutions that enhance patient engagement and improve healthcare services.
• Use people-centric, systemic design, data-driven and AI approaches to create efficiency and more personalised healthcare.
• Utilise immersive technologies to transform the patient experience and healthcare delivery.
• Create tangible prototypes that can be tested and implemented within the healthcare system.

Ready to Transform Healthcare?

This is a fast-paced opportunity for creative professionals to use their expertise to make a real difference. If you are a business or individual within the creative sector and are passionate about digital, data-driven, or immersive technologies, we want you to join our community.

Contact us today to learn more and secure your place on the briefing webinar on the 10th of March 2025.

Contact for the process and opportunities: Mario Dubois, Project Lead, MITIH

Contact for Clinical information: Communications@healthinnovationmanchester.com