NIA and Alzheimer’s Society partner to bolster dementia innovation

The NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA) and Alzheimer’s Society have launched a partnership to support promising dementia innovations and help them reach the NHS faster.

The partnership aims to help dementia innovations overcome barriers to NHS adoption, including evidence generation, implementation and scaling.

It will combine the NIA’s background in identifying and scaling health innovations in the NHS with Alzheimer’s Society’s experience of dementia and supporting the development of dementia solutions.

Mindy Simon, co-director of the NHS Innovation Accelerator, said: “This partnership reflects our ambition to ensure that the very best innovations are adopted by the NHS and reach patients faster.

“By working with Alzheimer’s Society, we can bring focused expertise and lived experience into the heart of our programme, ensuring solutions for dementia are not only effective, but truly person-centred.”

Despite a strong pipeline of technologies, from digital cognitive assessment tools to AI-supported diagnostics, many dementia innovations still struggle to scale through complex NHS pathways. The partnership is intended to help close that gap by aligning innovation support with real-world needs.

The collaboration comes as dementia continues to place growing pressure on people, families, and health services across the UK. Nearly a million people currently live with the condition and demand for support is rising, so the organisations’ aim is to back evidence-based solutions and improve outcomes for patients, carers, and the wider health system.

Alzheimer’s Society supports dementia innovation through its Launchpad and Accelerator programmes, which work with start-ups ranging from early-stage concepts to solutions ready to scale.

Earlier this year, it was announced that UCLPartners, who deliver the NIA, are providing specific support to innovators on Alzheimer’s Society Launchpad and Accelerator, including practical insight into how the NHS works, alongside mentoring to help them design and position their solutions for real-world implementation.

Arup Nath, commercial director at UCLPartners, said: “By combining Alzheimer’s Society’s deep understanding of dementia and lived experience with our experience supporting the adoption and spread of health innovation across the NHS, this partnership will help ensure that promising ideas are translated into real-world impact.”

Alzheimer’s Society is now in the second year of the Dementia Innovators Programme, delivered in partnership with the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme.

The programme supports NHS staff and healthcare professionals to develop early-stage ideas and innovations for people living with dementia, while connecting them to a national network of mentors, industry experts, and innovators.

Simon Lord, head of innovation at Alzheimer’s Society, added: “We’re committed to driving forward innovation in dementia. But for innovation to truly reach people at scale, we need to ensure there is effective implementation and bring the whole system with us.”