What if the next big health tech breakthrough didn’t come from Oxford, Cambridge or London – but from Leeds, Sheffield or York?
It’s not a long-shot. It’s already happening.
From the repurposing of Leeds’ Grade II*-listed Old Medical School into a cutting-edge innovation space, to the growing footprint of Sheffield’s Olympic Legacy Park, Yorkshire is one of the UK’s most promising health tech hubs. At the heart of it? A rare alignment between the public, private and academic sectors – turning big ideas into real-world change.
That’s the question more investors and policymakers are asking. And the answer comes down to a mix of practical and strategic advantages: available space, civic ambition, deep-rooted sector expertise and a strong appetite to not just create innovation – but keep it here and help it grow.
Scarborough Group International is one of the players helping drive that change. We’re not just developing buildings – we’re helping shape the ecosystem.
Deb Hetherington, Director of Innovation Ecosystems at SGI, commented:
“We’re curating spaces designed to bring people together – start-ups, researchers, clinicians, policy-makers and investors – all under one roof, Yorkshire’s always had strong research and health credentials. Now the focus is on turning that into real, scalable impact.”
This isn’t just about shiny new buildings. There’s real policy muscle and financial commitment behind the vision.
In April 2025, Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, announced a £4.5 million investment to launch the West Yorkshire Health Tech Accelerator. Funded through the region’s new Investment Zone, the programme will support up to 240 health tech innovators between now and 2029.
Building on the success of Propel@YH, the accelerator will offer targeted business support, masterclasses, and hands-on help to scale innovations into the NHS – while also attracting investment and boosting regional growth.
Because in this space, one thing is clear: innovation without adoption is just theory.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:
“The first priority of our Local Growth Plan is to boost our region’s fastest growing business sectors, because we know that’s how we’re going to drive investment, create jobs and put more money in people’s pockets.
“We launched our growth plan and our investment zone with new, wrap-around support for our world-leading health technology firms, which already generate £3 billion for our economy but could go even further with the right backing.
“Our flagship Health Tech Accelerator will support these businesses with finance and skills, and our investments in new workspaces will bolster their collaboration with hospitals and universities, boosting their growth and helping us build a stronger, brighter West Yorkshire.”
One of Yorkshire’s biggest strengths? It’s starting to act like a single, joined-up region.
Take the White Rose Agreement – a rare cross-county pact signed by the mayors of West, South and North Yorkshire. It’s more than a handshake. It signals a real shift in mindset: moving from competition to collaboration.
That kind of alignment is unlocking shared investment in skills, infrastructure and digital capability – all essentials if health tech is going to thrive here long term.
Yorkshire’s health tech approach isn’t just about copying what’s worked elsewhere – it’s about adapting smart ideas to local strengths.
Deb Hetherington, for example, recently explored what places like Oslo Science City are getting right. The takeaway? Purposeful design, good governance and spaces that break down silos matter – a lot.
“Oslo is a great example of how shared vision and design can foster a culture of connected innovation, we’re applying the same principles here – but making them work for Yorkshire.” she added.
That means creating environments where a clinical researcher might bump into a machine learning expert in the café, or where a health start-up can quickly find a testbed in the NHS.
Professor Phil Wood, Chief Executive, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said:
“Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has a long history of working in close collaboration with partners to deliver exciting health tech innovation. We already have a well-established Innovation Pop Up which supports the latest advances in science, research and technology into real-world solutions and we’re taking this even further with the redevelopment of the Old Medical School which will be transformed into a new cutting-edge health innovation hub, connecting innovators and delivering significant economic benefit.”
There’s a familiar story in UK innovation: a great idea is born, incubated… then scaled in London or overseas.
Yorkshire is flipping that script.
That’s why the region is investing in the full lifecycle – from student-led spinouts and lab prototypes, to high-growth ventures looking for long-term space and funding.
Projects like the Old Medical School in Leeds and Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park aren’t just short-term showcases – they’re built for the long haul.
“We’re building a pipeline that retains both talent and value, so businesses don’t feel they have to leave the region to grow.” Deb added.
Professor Nick Plant, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation at University of Leeds said:
“The Old Medical School as a health tech innovation hub exemplifies Leeds’ place-based innovation strategy. Investment in this area will help bring together a wealth of talent to develop exciting technologies to address some of society’s biggest healthcare problems. It will build on the University’s international track-record in health tech and strong relationship with the NHS Trust, streamlining the path to clinical translation with the potential for far-reaching global impact. The funding will enable collaboration between industrial, academic and clinical partners and will help transform Leeds into a world leader in connected, innovation-driven and challenge-led health tech.”
What could success look like five years from now?
Ed Whiting, Chief Executive of Leeds City Council said:
“Our ambition is clear: to make Leeds a globally recognised centre for innovation, one that not only drives economic prosperity but also delivers measurable and meaningful impact towards a healthier, greener, and more inclusive future for all.
“With over 300 companies in health and health tech choosing to base themselves in our city, it’s clear that Leeds is already a major force in powering Yorkshire’s health tech revolution. Our £2 billion Leeds Innovation Arc, which includes some of the most significant public, private and third sector assets in the North, coupled with the exciting delivery of key projects within the West Yorkshire Investment Zone, provides a powerful platform for growth alongside the unwavering commitment of our anchor institutions, businesses and communities.”
Maybe it’s a cluster of Yorkshire-grown med tech firms competing globally. Maybe it’s a region where the NHS and innovation sector work hand-in-hand. Or maybe it’s simply a place known for making collaboration work – and making health outcomes better in the process.
In reality, it’s probably all of the above.
With vision, leadership and the right kind of backing, Yorkshire isn’t just a hopeful contender on the international stage. It’s a serious player.
So the real question now? Who’s ready to back it?
