New initiative to accelerate product development for West Yorks health and wellbeing enterprises

A new health and wellbeing business support programme, created to accelerate new product and service development across West Yorkshire, has officially launched.

Designed to kickstart new and emerging enterprises in health and wellbeing, the Huddersfield Health Innovation Incubator (HHII) is being delivered as a strategic partnership between Kirklees Council, the University of Huddersfield and the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre (3M BIC).

It is one of three Incubators that form part of the West Yorkshire Health Innovation and Digital Tech Investment Zone.

The Huddersfield Health Innovation Incubator (HHII) was unveiled on Tuesday at the pioneering Daphne Steele Building on the University of Huddersfield’s National Health Innovation Campus.

Key stakeholders in attendance included the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Kirklees Council, the University of Huddersfield, the NHS, regional health innovation partners and local health and wellbeing innovators.

Open to all with an interest in health and wellbeing innovation, HHII offers a fully funded, inclusive membership that unlocks access to expert networks, events and collaboration opportunities.

Eligible members can also apply for tailored support designed specifically for early-stage start-ups and growing businesses in health and wellbeing (subject to criteria).

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “Bringing together our world-class universities, dedicated NHS partners and innovative businesses, the new Health Innovation Incubator is our Investment Zone in action and how we’re growing our local economy.

“By nurturing innovation right here in Huddersfield, we’re creating skilled local jobs and developing life-changing medical technologies.

This is how we’ll tackle health inequalities and cement West Yorkshire’s reputation as a global leader in healthtech.

Operating across three key sites in Huddersfield – The Glass Box, 3M BIC and the upcoming Health Business Innovation Centre (HBIC) – HHII connects members to a vibrant ecosystem of academic, clinical and industry partners, as well as co-working and opportunities to rent commercial office and lab space.

The Health Business Innovation Centre (HBIC), due to open early 2026, will house state-of-the-art offices and labs, co-working, meeting and event space and a dedicated Maker Space for health and wellbeing product and service development.

It will be based in the Emily Siddon Building on the National Health Innovation Campus (NHIC), co-locating alongside the NHS, diagnostic and dentistry expertise.

An interim Maker Space is currently being operated out of the 3M BIC.

The HHII builds on the success of the Huddersfield Health Innovation Partnership (HHIP) and Business Kirklees’ Thrive programme, both funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). Combined, the programmes supported over 400 businesses to start and grow in the health and wellbeing sectors.

By uniting this support into one cohesive offer, HHII will continue to provide tailored and in-demand support for early-stage and growing firms in the health and wellbeing sector, aligning with wider strategies to enhance health innovation throughout West Yorkshire.

The HHII will also act as a feeder into wider regional initiatives, including Propel@YH, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Local Growth Plan and other national innovation programmes.

Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet member for Finance and Regeneration at Kirklees Council, said: “Huddersfield is fast becoming a powerhouse in the North of England for innovation, health and digital tech and product development.

“The HHII creates the optimal environment for our start-up businesses to create, learn, connect, grow and thrive.

“We are proud to lead the way in health innovation and are committed to driving that forward for many years to come.”

Professor Tim Thornton, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Huddersfield, added: “This new Incubator is directly addressing a longstanding gap in our region for dedicated start-up to scale-up support in the health and wellbeing sector by helping early-stage innovators access the resources they need to succeed to develop new products and services.

“By nurturing these ideas from concept to market, we’re not only supporting entrepreneurs and innovators but also strengthening the region’s capacity to deliver impactful, user-centred health and wellbeing solutions.”