Digital Health Unplugged host Jordan Sollof is joined by the co-directors of the NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA) to discuss how the NHS can attract more innovators from underrepresented groups.
The NIA provides “wrap-around” support and acts as a bridge between innovators and the NHS.
Yet during the programme’s 10-year history, there have only been two black innovators and around eight Asian innovators out of more than 100 fellows.
In 2019, after revising its promotional language and approach, the NIA included 40% female innovators in that year’s cohort, but in the last two years, the figure has fallen to 18% female innovators.
Mindy Simon and Jack Porter discuss how the NIA is encouraging and targeting applications from female innovators, black innovators and others from underrepresented backgrounds.
This includes refining how they communicate about the programme to ensure that the wording attracts a more diverse pool of applicants.
Also in this episode, Porter highlights success stories from NIA fellows, including Nervecentre, which has won more UK electronic patient record contracts than any competitor since 2023, and TORTUS, which has recently been trialled in a London-wide NHS study, which found that its AI scribe technology had “transformative benefits” for patients and staff.
Porter also reflects on Rewired 2025, where the NIA launched its largest new cohort of fellows, with plans for an even bigger number when the accelerator launches again at Rewired 2026.
Guests:
Mindy Simon, co-director of the NHS Innovation Accelerator
Jack Porter, co-director of the NHS Innovation Accelerator
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