Plug and Play Joins West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator to Propel New Technologies

By Anushka Malhotra

1 minute 30 seconds

Tech

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Quick Read: Plug and Play, a renowned Silicon Valley venture capital fund, partners with the West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator (WMHTIA) to drive the development and scaling of cutting-edge technologies. This collaboration, backed by a significant £14 million injection, aims to revolutionize the healthcare tech landscape, expecting to draw over £80 million in private investment in the coming years.

The West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator (WMHTIA) is set to see a significant boost with the inclusion of Plug and Play, a venture capital fund from Silicon Valley, aimed at developing and scaling up novel technologies.

With a track record of backing 30 unicorns including Dropbox, PayPal, and Trulioo, Plug and Play, announced during Birmingham Tech Week its keen interest in collaborating with UK talent.

This collaboration follows a substantial £14 million investment from the West Midlands Combined Authorities’ Innovation Accelerator, part of an Innovate UK funded program. Forecasts suggest this accelerator will draw over £80 million in private investment within the next three years, highlighting its potential impact on the regional economy, as noted by Professor Rachel O’Reilly, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Birmingham.

Focused on overcoming the challenges in introducing new medical and healthcare technologies into the UK market, this project aims to unite various key players, including universities, hospitals, industry partners, and government-funded ‘Catapults’ for manufacturing innovation. This collective effort seeks to guide companies through crucial commercialization stages and overcome associated hurdles.

Kieran Borrett, director of Plug and Play UK, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating,

“We are proud to bring Plug and Play Health to the UK and be selected as one of the delivery organizations of the WMHTIA. Plug and Play has been investing, accelerating, and supporting startups for over 30 years. We are excited to nurture a new generation of transformative companies through our extensive global healthcare ecosystem.”

Heading the project, Professor Liam Grover from the University of Birmingham’s Healthcare Technologies Institute, highlighted the significance of their approach in navigating regulatory complexities and funding challenges. He emphasized the objective of guiding companies to identify healthcare needs, collaborate with appropriate partners, and ensure market success.

The WMHTIA encompasses various delivery organizations, including the University of Warwick, Aston University, Birmingham City University, and several others, united in driving the region’s health tech innovations forward.

This is an adaptation of an article published by The Business Desk. To read the full article, visit their site.

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Aurrigo’s Autonomous Airport Tech Gets Green Light for Global Deployment

Coventry-based Aurrigo International has received formal approval for its autonomous ground handling technologies to be rolled out across over 60 airports globally, following a successful trial at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

The breakthrough comes through its partnership with Aviation Solutions, a division of the Royal Schiphol Group, announced in April 2024. After testing Aurrigo’s Auto-DollyTug® and Auto-Sim® systems at Schiphol, the technology has now been validated for broader commercial deployment.

Royal Schiphol Group—operator of Schiphol, Rotterdam The Hague, and Lelystad Airports—holds stakes in a host of global hubs including Eindhoven, Brisbane, Hobart International, and JFK Terminal 4, and has collaboration agreements with Beijing Capital International Airport and Seoul Incheon. This global footprint now opens the door for Aurrigo’s smart airside innovations to be adopted worldwide.

Photo Credit: Aurrigo

Marcel Stroop, Director of Go-to-Market at Aviation Solutions said:

“Aurrigo is a true front-runner in autonomous ground handling. We work to deliver solutions we can guarantee 100%, and Aurrigo is now part of that movement—bringing proven innovations from Schiphol to airports around the world.”

The successful trial featured Aurrigo’s Auto-DollyTug®, a next-generation electric and autonomous vehicle for transporting luggage and cargo, and Auto-Sim®, a simulation platform that enables airports to plan, model and optimise autonomous operations in advance of real-world deployment.

With validation in hand, the next phase will focus on commercialising Aurrigo’s technology through Aviation Solutions’ extensive global network.

David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo said:

“This endorsement confirms the demand for our smart airside solutions. It also strengthens our go-to-market strategy by working with a trusted, incentivised partner who connects us with well-informed, progressive aviation customers.”

Aurrigo’s innovations are part of a growing trend toward automation in aviation, helping airports reduce costs, improve operational efficiency, and support sustainability goals.

By Anushka Malhotra

8 Apr