A Partnership 25 Years in the Making

Yorkshire MedTech was proud to sponsor the Partnership between Academia and Business Award, which recognises collaborations that have enhanced service delivery or created new ways of delivering healthcare.  The shortlist this year drew entries from across the North, including the pioneering collaboration between GE Healthcare and the POLARIS Group at the University of Sheffield, as well as the University of Bradford’s work with InViva Digital Healthcare.

DePuy Synthes UK and the University of Leeds scooped the award, in recognition of a collaboration that has changed the way joint replacements are developed and tested over the past 25 years.  The work has been led by Professor Sophie Williams and Professor Ruth Wilcox of the Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, whose focus on improving pre-clinical evaluation of joint replacements has had a tangible impact on patient outcomes.

Professor Williams said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have received this recognition for work we have done in this partnership, improving pre-clinical evaluation of joint replacements, and would like to thank everyone who has helped make it such a success over the last 25 years.”

Yorkshire’s Dynamic Start-Up Scene

The Start-up Award went to Mitotype Precision Labs, a University of Sheffield spin-out whose success exemplifies both the institution’s strength in translational neuroscience and the broader depth of early-stage life sciences activity in the region.

Mitotype Precision Labs was founded by Professor Heather Mortiboys, harnessing over a decade of research to form this specialist CRO dedicated to patient-derived drug discovery.

Excitingly, four of the five companies who made the shortlist for this highly competitive category are founded and based in the Yorkshire region. including Leeds-based Asclepius MedTech and ClotProtect Therapeutics, plus Sheffield spin-out NANOncolytics.  With this award geared towards newly-established companies in the healthcare sector that show a promising future – it’s further evidence of an equally promising future for life sciences in Yorkshire.

Yorkshire: At the Heart of MedTech

The event underlined the breadth of Yorkshire’s contribution to the UK MedTech sector — not concentrated in a single field, but spread across complementary areas of strength that together make the region a significant centre for healthcare innovation.

JRI Orthopaedics won the Innovation Award for their approach to joint reconstruction — a reminder that Yorkshire’s orthopaedic expertise runs from academic research through to clinical application and manufacturing.

Lablogic Group Holdings took the Export Achievement Award, reflecting the international reach of what the region’s life sciences businesses are producing and the quality that underpins it.

Abingdon Health received the Sustainability Award for developing alternatives to single-use plastics in diagnostic testing — a different field entirely, and one that illustrates how Yorkshire’s MedTech activity spans diagnostics, materials, and sustainability alongside its better-known strengths in orthopaedics and medical devices.

Whilst COVVI won the One-to-Watch Award for their work developing strong, robust, and personalised bionic hands — advanced prosthetics that add another dimension to a region whose MedTech credentials continue to grow.

Thirty Years of Medilink

For Medilink, the evening also marked its 30th anniversary — three decades of connecting businesses, supporting collaboration, and helping life sciences companies across the UK to develop and grow.  Medilink began as a University of Sheffield spin-out, making it the longest standing healthcare start-up still based in the city.  The strength of the Medilink team, known for their expertise, dedication and passion was highlighted by Professor Tracey Moore, Vice-President and Head of the Faculty of Health, as she presented a commemorative award recognising three decades of impact.

Tom Elliott, Chief Executive Officer at Medilink, said: “This year’s high-profile awards event was exceptional. Nearly 300 delegates gathered in a full ballroom at the Cutlers’ Hall in Sheffield for an unforgettable evening, marking our 30-year milestone while celebrating the achievements and innovative progress across the healthcare community. Congratulations to all the shortlisted organisations, especially to this year’s winners — and thank you to all our sponsors, especially the support from Equans Sci-Tech.”

The ceremony was hosted by magician Paul Martin. Sir James McKey, CEO of NHS England, opened the evening with a welcome address, and keynote speaker Professor Shafi Ahmed — cancer surgeon, innovator, and humanitarian — spoke on the future of healthcare and technology.

For more information on the Medilink Awards and the full list of shortlisted companies and winners visit: https://medilink.co.uk/healthcare-business-awards/