Sheffield Hallam secures £900k funding for new wellbeing accelerator

Sheffield Hallam University has secured £900k of government funding for a new University Enterprise Zone.

The Wellbeing Accelerator at the AWRC is one of 20 University Enterprise Zones (UEZs), launched with a £20m investment delivered by Research England, part of UK Research and Innovation.

The funding will be used to create a Wellbeing Accelerator at the University’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC) on the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park.

The centre will provide incubator space, specialist facilities, laboratories, and a clinical research facility supporting start-ups, SMEs, funders and agencies in the region.

Professor Roger Eccleston, deputy vice-chancellor (academic) at Sheffield Hallam University, commented: “From ground-breaking research to extensive and pioneering partnerships and training programmes, Sheffield Hallam University is a national leader in creating innovative solutions that enable healthier lives.

“Health innovation is a key regional priority and co-locating research and innovation alongside education, health, leisure and business will help to contribute to economic growth and the quality of life in and beyond the region.

“The Wellbeing Accelerator will make a significant contribution to the innovation and business ecosystem at the heart of the Sheffield City Region’s Global Innovation Corridor.”

Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis MBE MP, added: “Our region is home to thousands of innovative and progressive businesses, and the economic strength of the area is dependent on their success.

“By supporting businesses, Sheffield Hallam’s AWRC, backed by government funding, is driving economic growth and building on our region’s reputation as a leading centre for innovation.”