Who we are - NIHR Innovation Observatory

A world leading Horizon Scanning Facility

The Innovation Observatory is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and hosted by Newcastle University. Established in 2017, we bring together expertise in research, data science and health innovation to identify and assess emerging healthcare innovations, helping health and care organisations prepare for the future.

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Meet the Team

Like all successful organisations the Innovation Observatory is built on the collective effort of a multidisciplinary team.

Our Mission & Values

We help the health and care ecosystem anticipate and prepare for the future.

Our Governance

Our governance arrangements ensure that priorities, resources and delivery are aligned to the needs of the health and care system while maintaining appropriate assurance and public accountability.

Preparing health and care for what's next

The NIHR Innovation Observatory identifies emerging innovations across the global healthcare landscape and transforms them into trusted intelligence that helps organisations anticipate change, make informed decisions and prepare for the future.

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What is Horizon Scanning?

Identifying today's emerging innovations to prepare for tomorrow's healthcare challenges

Our Technical Infrastructure

Building a connected, scalable infrastructure for the next generation of healthcare horizon scanning

Our Programmes

Our four horizon scanning programmes span from Priority, Reactive, Proactive, and Demand Signalling. Find out more about how they all work together.

Capacity Building

We are committed to building capability across the health and care system by developing skills, supporting careers and creating opportunities to learn, collaborate and grow.

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CPD and Short Courses

We develop and share cutting edge methods in horizon scanning, building capacity in the system across the public, voluntary and industry sectors.

Developing our People

We invest in people and support them in realising their full potential. Through nurturing and encouraging career development, we grow future national and international leaders.

Learning Opportunities

Connecting the wider community with opportunities to learn, collaborate and develop through fellowships, immersion events, placements and external programmes.

Engaging with a wide range of different audiences

We provide a gateway to collaboration, intelligence, and growth opportunities in healthcare and life sciences.

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Ecosystem Engagement

Connecting with stakeholders across health and care to share knowledge, build relationships and support the effective use of our work.

Public & Patient Involvement

Embedding lived experience into our work to ensure our approaches and outputs reflect the needs of patients and the public.

Resources

Live Dashboards

A world leading Horizon Scanning Facility

Meet the Team

Our Mission & Values

Our Governance

Preparing health and care for what's next

What is Horizon Scanning?

Our Technical Infrastructure

Our Programmes

Capacity Building

CPD and Short Courses

Developing our People

Learning Opportunities

Engaging with a wide range of different audiences

Ecosystem Engagement

Public & Patient Involvement

Rare Diseases Medicines

Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products

Repurposed Medicines Dashboard

A world leading Horizon Scanning Facility

How we work

Meet the Team

Our Mission & Values

Our Governance

Meet our team

In the Spotlight with Innovation Observatory’s Director, Professor Dawn Craig

In the Spotlight with Innovation Observatory’s Pauline Addis

In the Spotlight with Innovation Observatory’s Kieran McDonough

In the Spotlight with Innovation Observatory’s Cyril Onwuelazu Uteh

In the Spotlight with Innovation Observatory’s Ross Fairbairn

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