HHII to drive health innovation

A West Yorkshire initiative is set to accelerate health and wellbeing product development.

The Huddersfield Health Innovation Incubator (HHII) has been launched to support early-stage and growing enterprises in the health and wellbeing sector. 

Delivered through a partnership between Kirklees Council, the University of Huddersfield and the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre (3M BIC), HHII forms part of the West Yorkshire Health Innovation and Digital Tech Investment Zone.

Open to all with an interest in health and wellbeing innovation, HHII provides fully funded membership granting access to expert networks, events and collaboration opportunities. 

Members can apply for tailored support including hands-on product development, workshops, mentoring, workspace, and funding. 

Officials say the incubator caters to pre-start-ups, early-stage businesses and growing SMEs, connecting them with partners such as the NHS, University of Huddersfield and Business Kirklees.

They add that by building on previous successes of the Huddersfield Health Innovation Partnership and Thrive programmes, HHII will aim to unite regional support for health innovation, providing early-stage and growing businesses with the tools, expertise and connections to scale, while feeding into wider regional and national growth initiatives.

Tracy Brabin, mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “Bringing together our world-class universities, dedicated NHS partners and innovative businesses, the new Health Innovation Incubator is our Investment Zone in action and how we're growing our local economy.

“By nurturing innovation right here in Huddersfield, we’re creating skilled local jobs and developing life-changing medical technologies.

“This is how we’ll tackle health inequalities and cement West Yorkshire's reputation as a global leader in healthtech.”

Councillor Graham Turner, cabinet member for finance and regeneration at Kirklees Council, added:“Huddersfield is fast becoming a powerhouse in the North of England for innovation, health and digital tech and product development.

“With cutting-edge facilities, high quality business sites and premises, expert support and a collaborative ecosystem – backed by over £1 billion of investment coming into the district – there’s never been a better time to start a health and wellbeing business right here in Kirklees.

“Having successfully secured Investment Zone funding to deliver the Huddersfield Health Innovation Incubator (HHII), and by partnering with the University of Huddersfield and 3M BIC, we are proud to offer tailored support to the health, wellbeing and digital tech industries, and especially our local businesses who choose to create, innovate and grow within these sectors.

“The HHII creates the optimal environment for our start-up businesses to create, learn, connect, grow and thrive. 

“We are proud to lead the way in health innovation and are committed to driving that forward for many years to come.”

HHII operates across three Huddersfield sites – The Glass Box, 3M BIC and the upcoming Health Business Innovation Centre (HBIC) – offering co-working, commercial offices, lab space and a dedicated Maker Space.

The HBIC, opening in early 2026, will feature state-of-the-art offices, labs and event spaces to further accelerate innovation.

Professor Tim Thornton, deputy vice-chancellor at the University of Huddersfield, added: “This new Incubator is directly addressing a longstanding gap in our region for dedicated start-up to scale-up support in the health and wellbeing sector by helping early-stage innovators access the resources they need to succeed to develop new products and services.

“By nurturing these ideas from concept to market, we’re not only supporting entrepreneurs and innovators but also strengthening the region’s capacity to deliver impactful, user-centred health and wellbeing solutions.”

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