Royal College of Music joins pioneering medical technologies project
Wednesday 25 April 2018
The Royal College of Music is collaborating on a project to translate new medical technologies into working clinical solutions, which has just received £5m government funding.
The investment from Research England’s Connecting Capability Fund will support the MedTech SuperConnector (MTSC), an ambitious programme which challenges early career researchers to turn their discoveries into new diagnostic tools, medical devices and digital healthcare solutions. Imperial College is collaborating with seven partner institutions for the project, including the Royal College of Music and the institutions’ joint Centre for Performance Science.
Researchers at the RCM will be providing pitch and presentation training for early career researchers on the programme, aiming to equip them with the entrepreneurial and business skills necessary to successfully commercialise any medical technology-related research they are working on. The RCM is also contributing to the design and delivery of the training programme and evaluating its overall impact.
Professor Aaron Williamon, Head of the Centre for Performance Science (CPS), said: ‘The MedTech SuperConnector will help forge a MedTech centre of excellence in London. The CPS will develop innovative, interdisciplinary performance training for early career researchers. CPS researchers – particularly those working in the fields of performance technology, arts in health and performers’ health and wellbeing – will receive support to develop their ideas and explore potential for commercial exploitation.’
The Connecting Capability Fund supports universities in working together with businesses and other partners to commercialise research and share good practice and capacity. The MTSC will position the UK as a leader in MedTech development whilst creating a new standard for the acceleration of medical technologies to market.
