Coventry University has taken a national lead in setting up its pioneering Health Design & Technology Institute (HDTI). This brand new facility brings the University’s research expertise in community-based therapy into direct contact with businesses.
The HDTI has attracted £4.5million of capital investment from the regional development agency Advantage West Midlands together with nearly £15million funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).
The HDTI provides an environment where consumers and patient needs across a broad spectrum are brought to the fore, and where innovation is a priority. The outcome is a creative approach to project work to develop new products and new systems of care provision.
The HDTI aims to link together:
• Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)
• Larger corporate businesses
• Healthcare Practitioners
• Patients and Users
…in the development of new assistive technology products and services for self-management of health and well-being.
The new institute draws upon the strong traditions of the University in industrial design and engineering, with significant support from the long-established Coventry School of Art & Design, Faculty of Engineering & Computing, and also the Faculty of Business, Environment and Society. A key priority for the Institute is to provide a venue which encourages collaborative healthcare research across the School/Faculty boundaries. The new Institute houses design studios, laboratories, workshops and test areas where researchers and clients can explore and evaluate new ideas.
The provision of healthcare is changing. People can now retain control over their own lives for longer. They want to choose how they receive nursing and social support, and they frequently prefer to remain at home for their treatment and long-term care.