Ideas that improve lives
At Heriot-Watt University, our Global Research Institute in Health and Care Technologies, is driving a bold ten-year mission: within a decade, we aim to have three Heriot-Watt technologies in routine clinical care and twenty more advancing through clinical trials.
Our researchers, clinicians, and partners are accelerating new approaches to treatment, recovery, and prevention — from advanced photonics and AI-powered diagnostics to wearable devices that make monitoring and care more personal. Every idea shares a single purpose: to turn scientific breakthroughs into better lives for people everywhere.
Progress in motion: from patient insight to clinical impact
Our health innovation pathway is already delivering measurable progress — connecting lived experience, enterprise, and clinical research.
- 20 clinical trials underway
New technologies inspired by real-world need are already being tested in hospitals, care settings, and communities across the UK and beyond. - 16 health and care spinouts in our pipeline
More than 60 percent of our commercial innovation now focuses on health and care, translating academic excellence into life-changing solutions. - Patient and public involvement embedded at every stage
Through our PPIE framework and the Voice network, people with lived experience are shaping research design, trial priorities, and evaluation methods — ensuring innovations reflect those they’re made for.
Together, these milestones show that our mission is well underway: ideas are moving off the bench, through trials, and into practice.
Delivering innovation that changes care for everyone
Every partnership brings us closer to a healthcare system that’s equitable, effective, and ready for the future. With collaboration, we can accelerate:
- AI and data-driven healthcare that supports faster diagnosis and personalised treatment.
- Photonics and imaging systems that enable precision detection and minimally invasive care.
- Wearable and sensing technologies that keep patients connected to clinicians wherever they are.
- Rehabilitation and assistive innovations that enhance independence and quality of life.
- Sustainable materials and manufacturing that make medical devices safer and greener.
Designed for collaboration
Health innovation succeeds when diverse expertise comes together. We’re inviting partners from across sectors to join us in achieving our ten-year mission.
- Healthcare providers: Partner on clinical trials and pilot technologies in real-world settings.
- Investors and funders: Support scalable innovations that can transform patient outcomes.
- Policy leaders: Co-create pathways for adoption that embed equity and safety from day one.
- Industry partners: Collaborate on translational research, licensing, and spinout ventures.
- Communities and lived-experience networks: Continue guiding our research priorities to ensure every innovation serves real need.
Global Research Institute in Health and Care Technologies - Dubai
Discover how researchers at Heriot-Watt University’s Global Research Institute (GRI) in Health and Care Technologies (HCT) are driving global impact from our Dubai campus. From smart wearables for infant health monitoring to AI-powered early cancer detection, our team is developing real-world solutions to today’s biggest healthcare challenges.
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