West Midlands Academic Health Science Network
Health Innovation West Midlands (formerly West Midlands Academic Health Science Network) is an NHS England-established network connecting NHS trusts, academia, industry, and local authorities to spread healthcare innovation across the West Midlands region through funding, advisory, and programme delivery.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersEdgbaston, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What West Midlands Academic Health Science Network does
West Midlands Academic Health Science Network, now operating as Health Innovation West Midlands (HIWM), is one of 15 Health Innovation Networks established by NHS England across England. Founded in 2013 and headquartered within the Institute of Translational Medicine at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital campus in Edgbaston, Birmingham, HIWM connects NHS trusts, academic institutions, local authorities, third-sector organisations, healthcare industry partners, and citizens to accelerate the adoption of healthcare innovation across the West Midlands region. Its statutory mandate is to spread innovation at pace and scale, improving health outcomes and generating economic growth through the coordinated translation of medical discoveries into clinical practice.
HIWM's portfolio centres on programme delivery rather than commercial product sales. Core offerings include the West Midlands Health Innovation Fund, which provides investment capital to regional health-innovation projects; the Innovator Engagement programme, which supports companies in navigating NHS market access via the NHS Marketplace and value-proposition development; Active Programmes addressing specific health priorities such as obesity care transformation, MedTech adoption, and opioid harm reduction; and an annual Impact Report documenting measurable outcomes. In June 2026 the network helped secure a share of £85 million in national obesity-care funding, illustrating its role in channelling external capital into regional priorities.
As a publicly funded entity under NHS England, HIWM generates no commercial revenue through pricing models or product transactions. Its 11–50 staff deliver a regional coordination and convening function, distributing services through direct engagement with NHS trusts, healthcare innovators, and partner organisations. Distribution relies on field-based relationship management, programme-funded initiatives, and event-based engagement such as webinars and workshops targeting healthcare innovators, rather than transactional sales channels.
West Midlands Academic Health Science Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- West Midlands Academic Health Science Network
- Legal name
- Health Innovation West Midlands
- Website
- https://wmahsn.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Health Innovation West Midlands (formerly West Midlands Academic Health Science Network) is an NHS England-established network connecting NHS trusts, academia, industry, and local authorities to spread healthcare innovation across the West Midlands region through funding, advisory, and programme delivery.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
West Midlands Academic Health Science Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Healthcare Innovation Services
- NAICS
- Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
- SIC
- Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Health Systems Strengthening & Global Health Technical Assistance (BPADAEAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Health Workforce Development & Capacity-Building (HLAJAKAM)
Keywords
Where West Midlands Academic Health Science Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edgbaston
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
West Midlands Academic Health Science Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
West Midlands Academic Health Science Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Health Innovation West Midlands (HIWM) operates a regional health innovation network that connects NHS trusts, healthcare providers, academic institutions, local authorities, third-sector organisations, industry partners and citizens to spread healthcare innovation across the West Midlands. It delivers the West Midlands Health Innovation Fund (investment support), an Innovator Engagement programme (NHS market access advisory), active programmes targeting specific clinical priorities (obesity care, MedTech adoption, opioid harm reduction), and Impact Reports documenting outcomes.
Product overview
Health Innovation West Midlands (HIWM) operates as one of 15 Health Innovation Networks across England, established by NHS England to accelerate innovation in health and care. The organization functions as a coordination and support hub rather than a software product company, offering a portfolio of programmes including the West Midlands Health Innovation Fund (providing investment), the Innovator Engagement programme (connecting innovators to NHS Marketplace), Active Programmes addressing specific health challenges (obesity care, MedTech adoption, opioid harm reduction), and Impact Reports documenting outcomes. These offerings are interconnected: the Health Innovation Fund provides financial support to projects, Innovator Engagement provides advisory services and market access, Active Programmes deliver specific health interventions, and Impact Reports measure success across all initiatives.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- West Midlands Health Innovation Fund
Quantifiable outcome
- Helped secure share of £85m national investment to transform obesity care
Companies that use West Midlands Academic Health Science Network
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
West Midlands Academic Health Science Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
West Midlands Academic Health Science Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- NHS EnglandcoreNHS England established the Health Innovation Network, including Health Innovation West Midlands, as one of 15 regional networks to connect health and care organizations and spread innovation at pace and scale across the NHS.
- Health Innovation Network (National)coreHealth Innovation West Midlands is one of 15 Health Innovation Networks across England that form a national network for sharing innovation best practices and coordinating healthcare transformation initiatives.
- West Midlands Health and Care OrganisationscoreHealth Innovation West Midlands connects NHS trusts, hospitals, and healthcare providers across the West Midlands region to support innovation adoption and transformation of health and care.
- Academic Organisations (West Midlands)corePartnership with universities and academic institutions in the West Midlands to support research translation and development of healthcare innovations.
- Local Authorities (West Midlands)coreCollaboration with local authorities across the West Midlands to improve public health and social care through innovation.
- Third Sector (West Midlands)coreEngagement with charitable and non-profit organizations in the health and social care sector across the West Midlands.
- Healthcare Industry PartnerscorePartnership with MedTech, pharmaceutical, and healthcare technology companies to facilitate innovation development and NHS market access.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
West Midlands Academic Health Science Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Imperial College Health Partners: Health innovation partnership covering North West London. Closely comparable to HIWM as an officially recognised health innovation network connecting NHS, academia and industry.
- Health Innovation South West: One of the 15 NHS Health Innovation Networks serving the South West of England. Functions as a direct structural peer to HIWM under the national Health Innovation Network model.
- Eastern Health Innovation Network: One of the 15 NHS Health Innovation Networks covering the East of England. Directly comparable as a regional innovation intermediary operating under the same NHS England framework.
- Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber: Another of the 15 NHS England Health Innovation Networks, covering Yorkshire and the Humber. Closely comparable in mandate, structure and stakeholder mix to HIWM.
- Health Innovation Manchester: One of the 15 NHS England Health Innovation Networks serving the North West. Directly comparable as a regional NHS-mandated network spreading innovation and supporting MedTech adoption across its geography.
- UCL Partners: An academic health science partnership covering North Thames and recognised as one of the NHS-recognised health innovation bodies. Comparable as a multi-stakeholder health innovation intermediary closely tied to a major university.
- Cambridge University Health Partners: NHS-recognised academic health science partnership anchored on the Cambridge biomedical cluster. Comparable in operating as a translational medicine intermediary between major research institutions and the NHS.
- Kent Surrey Sussex Academic Health Science Network: Former AHSN in the Kent, Surrey and Sussex region that transitioned into the NHS Health Innovation Network. Comparable regional health innovation intermediary model to HIWM.
- Oxford Academic Health Partners: An NHS-recognised health science partnership for the Oxford region. Comparable to HIWM in acting as an intermediary between Oxford-based academic research and NHS adoption.
Regional players
- South West London Health Innovation Network: An NHS-recognised regional health innovation partnership serving South West London. Comparable in mandate and stakeholder mix, though operating in a different part of England than HIWM.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
West Midlands Academic Health Science Network social profiles
Digital presenceWest Midlands Academic Health Science Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
West Midlands Academic Health Science Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
West Midlands Academic Health Science Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
West Midlands Academic Health Science Network M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments4 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about West Midlands Academic Health Science Network
What does West Midlands Academic Health Science Network do?
Health Innovation West Midlands (HIWM) operates a regional health innovation network that connects NHS trusts, healthcare providers, academic institutions, local authorities, third-sector organisations, industry partners and citizens to spread healthcare innovation across the West Midlands. It delivers the West Midlands Health Innovation Fund (investment support), an Innovator Engagement programme (NHS market access advisory), active programmes targeting specific clinical priorities (obesity care, MedTech adoption, opioid harm reduction), and Impact Reports documenting outcomes.
Is West Midlands Academic Health Science Network a public or private company?
West Midlands Academic Health Science Network is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was West Midlands Academic Health Science Network founded?
West Midlands Academic Health Science Network was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is West Midlands Academic Health Science Network based?
West Midlands Academic Health Science Network is headquartered in Edgbaston, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
Who are West Midlands Academic Health Science Network's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Imperial College Health Partners, Health Innovation South West, Eastern Health Innovation Network, Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, Health Innovation Manchester, UCL Partners, Cambridge University Health Partners, Kent Surrey Sussex Academic Health Science Network and Oxford Academic Health Partners. South West London Health Innovation Network is listed as a regional player.
Does West Midlands Academic Health Science Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for West Midlands Academic Health Science Network.
What industry is West Midlands Academic Health Science Network in?
West Midlands Academic Health Science Network's product category is Healthcare Innovation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAEAH, Health Systems Strengthening & Global Health Technical Assistance, with a secondary code of HLAJAKAM, Health Workforce Development & Capacity-Building. Its NAICS code is 5417 and its SIC code is 8090.