Health Business Innovation Centre opens at Huddersfield University

The hub is part of the National Health Innovation Campus and has been designed to explore the relationship between health and economic prosperity, with a focus on how improving wellbeing can support West Yorkshire’s growth.

Situated on the top floor of the Emily Siddon building on the campus and managed by the award-winning team behind the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre, the HBIC is designed to support emerging health, life sciences and wellbeing organisations to develop, test, and scale new products and services that improve health outcomes.

Completed in December last year, the Emily Siddon building forms part of the university’s wider National Health Innovation Campus, designed to accelerate health-tech across West Yorkshire.

HBIC has been developed to attract organisations seeking high-quality, specialist workspace with close links to academic and clinical expertise.

Facilities include flexible office and laboratory space, meeting and event areas, a dedicated Health and Wellbeing Innovation Maker Space, and access to a wider community of innovators.

HBIC is being delivered by the University of Huddersfield and was part funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

The National Health Innovation Campus is a major long‑term initiative to improve health and wellbeing through education, research and collaboration. It brings together healthcare professionals, researchers and industry partners to address key health challenges and drive innovation in care, technology and service delivery.

In April, Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber moved into the HBIC as its anchor tenant, signalling strong early confidence in the wider Campus and its ambition to support and scale regional innovation.

Once complete, the University’s seven-acre National Health Innovation Campus will become the UK’s only ‘WELL At Scale’ site.

The Daphne Steele building – the first of seven planned developments – was delivered by BAM and designed by AHR Architects to the Platinum WELL Building Standard.

Named after the NHS’s first black matron, the £75m facility was conceived as a model hospital to support the training of nurses, midwives, paramedics and other health professionals.

The Emily Siddon building, the campus’s second major development, was delivered by Kier and AHR. It is named after the Kirklees-born suffragette and children’s health advocate.

Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin said: “Getting access to the right space and equipment is vital for Healthtech businesses to thrive. The National Health Innovation Campus gives innovators the tools they need to test their ideas and rapidly build life-saving and life-changing technologies.

“Our Investment Zone makes us a magnet for the next generation of Healthtech businesses and is further proof that devolution equips regions to compete on the world stage, keeping West Yorkshire at the heart of the NHS and at the forefront of tomorrow’s health innovations.”

 Prof Tim Thornton, deputy vice-chancellor, University of Huddersfield, said: “The Health Business Innovation Centre marks an important investment in Huddersfield’s innovation landscape, strengthening the University’s role in research, innovation and supporting local and regional business growth.

“By co-locating businesses alongside academics, clinical partners, specialist facilities and expertise on the wider campus, it provides a unique environment for collaboration and real-world application. We are already seeing strong interest in the Centre and look forward to attracting organisations committed to delivering meaningful impact in the sector.”

Richard Stubbs, chief executive of Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, said:

“It is a perfect fit for us to be part of the National Health Innovation Campus, where we can work closely with researchers, innovators, the NHS and industry to develop cutting edge new technologies and other solutions.

“The population of Yorkshire and the Humber experiences some of the biggest health challenges in the country, with the third lowest life expectancy for both men and women.  Aligning so many brilliant assets and people in one place gives us a fantastic opportunity to be a leader in developing innovations which transform and extend lives, for our own communities and worldwide.

“This is a great venue for our successful Propel Healthtech programme and businesses who see the benefits of being co-located with leaders in innovation, may choose to move in and grow here.”

David Shepherd, executive director for place at Kirklees Council said:

“Across Huddersfield, major investment in infrastructure, culture, and an ambitious rollout of town centre regeneration schemes are underway, all creating an inclusive, dynamic economy, with the HBIC, NHIC and upcoming Ignition Works, playing a vital role.

“The Huddersfield Health Innovation Incubator, which we are delivering in partnership with the University of Huddersfield and the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre, will create a pipeline of innovative start-ups and growing businesses.

“This will help drive demand for the Health Business Innovation Centre, strengthening occupancy and supporting the long-term success of Ignition Works and Huddersfield’s wider Station to Stadium Enterprise Corridor and Investment Zone.”