Multi-Million Pound Health Technology Institute At Coventry University Reaches Landmark Stage, England

Main Category: Medical Students / Training
Article Date: 23 Nov 2008 - 1:00 PST

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

The official 'topping out' ceremony has taken place at the multi-million pound Health Design and Technology Institute (HDTI) at Coventry University, marking the latest stage in the construction of the Institute.

University Vice-Chancellor Professor Madeleine Atkins and HDTI Director Simon Fielden were joined by representatives of the appointed architects and contractors at the building. The Institute, which will be occupied from May 2009, aims to promote health and wellbeing through the support of innovative ideas and technologies that allow self-managing patients to live more independent lives.

HDTI is working to:

- support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in designing products and services to improve community healthcare;
- develop assistive technologies for the patient;
- provide professional development and training of community-based healthcare professionals, carers and self-managing patients to make full use of assistive technologies, products and services;
- develop new multi-disciplinary courses in design and healthcare.

Contractors Baggaley Construction began work on the three-storey building in January 2008. The building development is being funded by a £4.5million grant from regional development agency Advantage West Midlands. The operation of the Institute is supported by a £3.6million grant from the Higher Education Funding Council for England, to be followed by a further £10 million over the next ten years. Financial support has also been provided by the European Regional Development Fund.

Simon Fielden said the topping out ceremony represented another important milestone in the development of the Institute. "The new building presents a significant opportunity for the HDTI to continue to develop its partnership activity with business, the health and social care sector and, most importantly, patients," he said.

"The building will include offices for applied research, incubation space for SMEs, a mock-up area where companies will be able to test prototypes in their intended environment and a usability suite, where innovative ideas and concepts can be evaluated by users of these new technologies. While the work of the Institute will help to deliver products and services to the end user, it has also created - and will continue to create - jobs in the region. Our focus is on developing assistive technologies that allow patients to manage their condition themselves. The opening of the building will enable us to continue our distinctive work in areas such as building and vehicle adaptations, walking aids and wheelchairs, consumer health products and developments in healthcare technology."

Ian Baggaley, managing director of Baggaley Construction, said: "We are delighted with the progress at the Health and Design Technology Institute. We are working hard with our client to deliver an exceptional facility which will provide an innovative business environment for the development of products that will ultimately benefit the lives of so many people."

Health Design and Technology Institute