MedTech Incubator Welcomes 7th Birmingham-Born Startup

By Anushka Malhotra

1 minute 26 seconds

Tech

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Quick Read: Birmingham Biotech joins Unit 9 at Birmingham Research Park, becoming the seventh Birmingham-born company to benefit from the University of Birmingham Enterprise’s MedTech incubator.

Birmingham Biotech, a global manufacturer and supplier of innovative medical diagnostic equipment and devices, has become the seventh Birmingham-born company to enter the University of Birmingham Enterprise’s MedTech incubator, Unit 9. With operations spanning Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the UK, Birmingham Biotech is now part of the thriving ecosystem at Birmingham Research Park, which has been nurturing high-growth companies since 1986.

Unit 9, established in 2022, is designed to support emerging companies within Birmingham’s vibrant medical technology scene. It complements the city's existing infrastructure for translational work, providing short-term incubation and a comprehensive business support programme, including an equipment-sharing agreement with the University of Birmingham.

Photo Credit: University of Birmingham

Angie Reynolds, Chief Operating Officer at University of Birmingham Enterprise, highlighted the significance of the addition:

“We created Unit 9 to complement the existing infrastructure for translational work in the city, and Birmingham Biotech is a perfect fit for the incubator, which has already benefited six other Birmingham-born companies.”

The incubator is a collaborative effort between the University of Birmingham Enterprise, the GBSLEP Growth Hub, and the West Midlands Combined Authority, aiming to foster innovation, creativity, and growth in the city. Located at Birmingham Research Park, Unit 9 offers a range of landing spaces, including the BioHub Birmingham, which provides facilities for cell culture and microbiology work to its tenants.

Michael Hsu, Managing Director of Birmingham Biotech, expressed enthusiasm about the new space:

“The Unit 9 incubator is the perfect lab space for us. It’s the right size, low cost, and in a good location. With easy access to the University campus, research departments, and hospitals, it will facilitate current and future collaborative research activities. We will also benefit from business support from University of Birmingham Enterprise and other facilities at the BioHub Birmingham.”

The Midlands health and life sciences sector is home to the UK’s largest cluster of medical technology businesses, excelling in diagnostics, devices, digital, and data. The region also boasts world-leading research institutes and the clinical infrastructure necessary for large-scale trials, making it an ideal location for Birmingham Biotech's continued growth and innovation.

Read the Press Release here.

What's new

West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator Unlocks Nearly £50M in Private Investment

The West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator (WMHTIA), led by the University of Birmingham, has generated an impressive £49.4 million in private co-investment within its first two years, significantly surpassing its original £14.5 million public funding allocation.

Funded through the Innovation Accelerator programme, coordinated by Innovate UK, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and UK Research and Innovation, WMHTIA has become a leading force in advancing health technology innovation across the region.

The majority of the private investment—£36.3 million—was directly committed by investors to enterprises supported by the Accelerator. This achievement represents a threefold return on the initial public investment, demonstrating the strong investor confidence in the region’s health tech sector.

Powering Health Innovation Through Collaboration

The WMHTIA brings together 21 partners from academia, industry, and the NHS to help healthtech companies develop, validate, and commercialise cutting-edge medical technologies. So far, companies supported through the programme have also secured an additional £10 million in national public grants from agencies including NIHR, Eureka, and Innovate UK.

Including both public and private contributions, the total investment leveraged by WMHTIA now stands at £67.3 million.

Professor Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor, University of Birmingham:

We’re proud to support startups through the riskiest stages of innovation so more life-saving technologies reach patients. This exceptional investment proves what’s possible when academia, the NHS, and industry work together to drive economic growth and better health outcomes.

In March 2025, the Innovation Accelerator programme was extended with a further £30 million, including £4 million for the WMHTIA to continue supporting the region’s innovators in 2025/26.

Backing the Future of Health Tech

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands:

The West Midlands is leading medical tech innovation—from faster diagnoses to shorter hospital stays. Healthtech isn’t just improving lives; it’s creating secure, high-value jobs that drive inclusive growth.

Dean Cook, Executive Director of Place and Global, Innovate UK:

This programme shows how place-based innovation can unlock greater business investment in R&D. By connecting the region’s strengths, we’re creating high-value jobs and building globally significant innovation capability.

The WMHTIA continues to strengthen the region’s reputation as a national hub for health technology, with far-reaching benefits for patient care, job creation, and regional economic development.

By Anushka Malhotra

24 Jun