The programme, unveiled by West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin, targets up to 240 small and medium-sized enterprises operating in the health technology sphere. These businesses will receive intensive support and specialised guidance over the next four years, helping them navigate complex regulations, access new markets, and overcome traditional barriers to growth.
Regional economic catalyst
West Yorkshire currently serves as home to more than 300 healthtech companies that collectively contribute £3 billion to the regional economy. The sector has already produced significant innovations, including technology to support cancer patients during chemotherapy, software to improve paramedic response times, and AI-powered blood tests that can predict cancer likelihood as a percentage.
Mayor Brabin announced the flagship support scheme at the Yorkshire Bio-Partnering 2025 conference hosted by the University of Bradford and Bionow, the North’s leading life sciences membership organisation. The timing aligns with the recent launch of the region’s £7 billion Local Growth Plan, which emphasises accelerating development in fast-growing sectors such as health technology.
“The first priority of our Local Growth Plan is to boost our region’s fastest growing business sectors, because we know that’s how we’re going to drive investment, create jobs and put more money in people’s pockets,” Mayor Brabin stated during the announcement. “This will help with access to finance, skills and workspace to bolster collaboration with hospitals and universities, boosting growth and helping us build a stronger, brighter West Yorkshire.”
Strategic partnership approach
The programme will operate in partnership with Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, creating a peer-to-peer network of hundreds of companies that can provide guidance, mentorship and knowledge-sharing. This approach builds upon the successful Propel programme which has operated in Leeds since 2019.
Richard Stubbs, Chief Executive of Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, highlighted the strategic importance of the investment: “This landmark investment recognises the incredible potential of West Yorkshire’s healthtech sector to drive innovation, improve patient care, and stimulate our regional economy. We understand that there is a clear and vital link between good health and economic productivity, and this investment recognises that connection.”
The programme will prioritise businesses committed to growing within the region, creating quality local jobs, and developing solutions that benefit local patients. By focusing support on these criteria, the initiative aims to create a virtuous cycle of innovation that serves both economic and healthcare objectives.
Infrastructure development at core innovation sites
Beyond direct business support, the Investment Zone will fund infrastructure development at three flagship innovation sites where businesses can work closely with universities and hospitals:
The Digital Health Enterprise Zone at the University of Bradford will receive £900,000 to acquire new equipment and expand services to the healthtech sector. This builds upon the university’s business arm of a £4.8 million Research England investment into its Centre for Digital Innovations in Health & Social Care, which has already supported more than 40 businesses over the past 18 months.
The National Health Innovation Campus at the University of Huddersfield will benefit from £3.6 million to support construction of collaboration space in the Emily Siddon Building, which will house purpose-built diagnostic facilities including MRI and CT scanners. An additional £2 million will fund a new business incubator scheme designed to help early-stage startups access finance, skills and workspace.
The Leeds Innovation Village will receive £730,000 to transform Fairfax Hall at Leeds Beckett University into a co-working space for firms developing health and sports technology. This development forms part of the broader £2 billion Leeds Innovation Arc, which aims to deliver 4,000 jobs and £13 billion of economic benefit.
Transport integration supports growth strategy
Mayor Brabin’s proposed Mass Transit system would further enhance the Leeds Innovation Arc by connecting these innovation hubs. The envisaged tram route would run along the spine of the Innovation Arc, linking Leeds station and the South Bank to Harehills, bringing sustainable transport to the heart of the development zone.
Adrian Hall, Chief Executive Officer of Brandon Medical, a Leeds-based designer and manufacturer of operating lights that employs 75 local workers, welcomed the announcement: “We’re really pleased to see this kind of backing for healthtech in West Yorkshire. It shows real commitment to the type of innovation that makes a difference — not just to businesses like ours, but to the NHS and the patients it serves.”
The Investment Zone programme exemplifies a coordinated approach to regional economic development, combining direct business support with strategic infrastructure investment. By focusing on a sector where West Yorkshire already demonstrates competitive advantage, the initiative leverages existing strengths while addressing specific barriers to growth.
With funding secured from the government for the first £80 million of the planned £160 million Investment Zone, the programme creates a foundation for long-term development that aligns with both regional growth priorities and national healthcare objectives.