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Our 2025/26 Impact Report showcases how we’re turning innovation into impact – improving patient outcomes, accelerating healthtech innovation, driving economic growth and making care more accessible across Yorkshire and the Humber. 

We want our region to flourish, and we work closely with our NHS, industry and academic partners to make that happen. From supporting hospital trusts to pilot new technologies to funding economic evaluations that demonstrate their value, we’re helping innovations move from ideas into real-world impact for patients, communities and the wider economy. 

Our work spans a number of priorities, from delivering the three shifts and driving economic growth, to tackling health inequalities and advancing equality, diversity and inclusion. We’re also supporting the adoption of digital and AI solutions. 

Delivering the three shifts and improving health outcomes 

We support the government’s three shifts for healthcare by helping to accelerate the adoption and spread of innovative solutions that can improve patient outcomes and increase NHS capacity. Examples include: 

• 10 trusts nationally now piloting AI prostate cancer test Lucida PI after we helped secure £2.25m 

• £9m secured to expand services for people living with sickle cell disease in a national programme led by us, enabling more people to benefit from life-changing treatment. 

Driving economic growth  

Driving economic growth, nationally and locally, is a core part of our role. This year: 

• As part of the national Health Innovation Network, we have helped leverage £1.5bn of investment into the national health and care innovation ecosystem.
• In West Yorkshire, more than £5.5 million additional private investment and 22 full-time roles were created through Launchpad funding, with our support. 

Supporting innovators to make an impact 

Our report demonstrates how we support innovators every step of the way, helping them take solutions from idea and innovation through to adoption and impact in the NHS. In the past year: 

• Over 500 healthtech firms supported with over 7,000 hours of tailored expertise, helping them to bring their transformational innovations into the NHS 

• 30 Propel innovators now ready to either access or scale-up in the NHS 

Richard Stubbs, CEO of Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, said: 

“Over the last 12 months, we’ve worked closely with our NHS, industry and academic partners to turn innovation into real-world impact – improving health, creating opportunities and supporting the prosperity of our region 

“From championing gender equality in innovator support through our Springboard programme and improving access to care for people living with sickle cell disease, to growing the region’s healthtech sector through programmes such as Propel Healthtech, we’re making a difference across Yorkshire and the Humber and contributing to economic growth. 

“Together with our partners, we’re helping to find, test and implement new solutions that can deliver better outcomes for our population and support a more sustainable health and care system. 

“We’re proud of what we’ve achieved together, but we know there is more to do. None of this progress would be possible without the commitment and hard work of our staff and partners. I’d like to thank everyone who has contributed over the past year, and I look forward to continuing to work together to improve health, create opportunity and accelerate growth across our region.” 

Read the full report and find out more about how we’re helping innovations move from ideas into real-world impact for patients, the health system and the region’s economy.