Buckinghamshire New University joined the MedTech SuperConnector at its inception in 2018 as a project partner. The traditionally practical university, with its focus on vocational and practical education, has been unique in comparison to other research-focus partners.

Nearing the end of the three-year experiment, MedTech SuperConnector (MTSC) is now collating the learnings and impact on the partner institutions and venture development from participating in this experiment. In this piece, we look at how Buckinghamshire New University (Bucks) has grown its entrepreneurship offering over three years, launching and developing the Digital and Health Tech Hubs and Bucks HSC Ventures in conjunction with its role in MTSC.

Bucks HSC Event

Through the consortium partnership of the MTSC, staff and students from Bucks got the opportunity to develop a medical technology to commercialisation through the accelerator programme. Bringing in over £200,000+ in funding to the institution through the support of three projects over two Challenge-led Accelerator Programmes. Their technologies, which included digital solutions for mental health & wellbeing and a new design for caps which reduced joint pain for those with arthritis, solved pressing health problems.

Coggi App Icon

Whilst completing an MSc in Applied Positive Psychology, Ms Pepita Stonor participated in Cohort Two of MTSC, after successfully pitching at a Hackathon as part of the selection process to join the programme. Over the accelerator programme she refined her idea and began developing Coggi, an application which uses augmented reality and positive psychology to promote positive mental health & wellbeing in children. Graduating from the programme just over a year ago Ms Stonor has recently been awarded a place on Bucks HSC Ventures, benefiting from specialist support for digital and healthcare businesses available as part of the programme and continuing to develop through the wider ecosystem.

Richard Harlow, the most recent entrant from Bucks, is currently on Cohort Four developing a child resistant bottle cap which also reduces pain for those with joint or muscular chronic pain. His aims on the programme are to patent the design and ready it for testing & mass production.

The case study explores how membership of the consortium has allowed Bucks to develop its entrepreneurial capacity and exchange best practice with a network across London, including the journeys of its participants and support it has given to others.

Read the case study