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Guernsey’s first digital healthcare event, MedVention, is taking place today, with a keynote speech from one of the UK’s leading healthcare innovators.
Dr Farid Khan is active in the UK’s healthcare innovation community and was instrumental in developing the Isle of Man’s biomed offering.
The event, which aims to raise the profile of the medtech sector amongst Guernsey’s business and investor community, will see presentations from 14 start-ups throughout today at the Digital Greenhouse, at Market Place.
The medtech sector, which has been identified as one of the 20 action points in the Economic Development Strategy published earlier this year, includes life sciences, biotech and the digital delivery of clinical and medical services.
The 14 firms represented at the event include three Guernsey-based projects: SynapCon, a clinical trial software innovation company; EaseeDo, a health app for carers of people with autism, and a depression test which is in trial phase locally.
Other companies, all of which are at various stages of business development, include Holoxica’s holographic 3D model used for medical procedures; dubbed as a ‘top player’ alongside Google and Microsoft in the global volumetric video market.
Other innovations include a home monitoring appliance for drug compliance, a surgical blood recovery system and an internet of things wearable device, developed by Tarilian Laser which is already on track for FDA approval.
"Medical innovation typically creates high volume, low footprint business, which is a perfect fit for Guernsey. The island is an ideal test bed for trialling medical innovations and with good access to policymakers, this is an excellent environment to accelerate medtech businesses," said Anita Kilby, the MedVention organiser.
Mrs Kilby said, "with the quality and variety of medtech firms presenting, we expect to attract a range of delegates including angel investors, local digital and innovation experts. We hope to spark more interest in this sector locally."
As well as inspiring local medtech innovation, a number of the concepts being presented have local applications that they said could improve the Bailiwick’s health services and save money.
Each company will have eight minutes to present and take questions. The schedule for the day will also include a case study on innovation in life sciences from Dr Farid Khan, Chairman of Protein Technologies Ltd. Based at the Manchester Science Park, Dr Khan holds a research associate position at The University of Cambridge and The University of Manchester.
Nik Patel, neurology and spine surgeon, investor and entrepreneur, and Ivor Gilbe CEO of Bioinduction will also provide delegates with an introduction to investing in digital healthcare innovation.
The lunch and networking session is sponsored by Barclays Eagle Labs, an initiative that supports start-up and scale-up businesses. The Eagle Lab network has hubs across the UK and recently launched in Guernsey.
Pictured top: The Digital Greenhouse which is hosting today's MedVention.
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