The Greater Manchester Wearables and remote monitoring Innovation Cluster (GM-WIC) will bring together public sector organisations, leading universities and global commercial partners in a ‘triple helix’ model to transform how wearable and remote monitoring technologies are researched, developed, and deployed
GM-WIC will be led by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), in partnership with The University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University and the NIHR Manchester Health Determinants Research Collaboration hosted by Manchester City Council
It will reduce the barriers currently experienced by companies and innovators looking to develop new wearable and remote monitoring technologies by bringing together the best minds across Greater Manchester, as well as the region’s long-established integrated health and care system, into one place, enabling a smoother process for technologies to be developed from concept to market
Mark Cubbon, Chief Executive of MFT, said:
“Wearable and remote monitoring technologies are pivotal to the future of healthcare, and key to the ambitions in NHS 10 Year Plan
“It is vital that we collaborate closely with leaders at the cutting-edge of this technology, including academia and the life sciences industry sector. This new initiative is designed to remove barriers and encourage investment, bringing the latest innovations and lasting impact
“Wearable tech can give people greater choice and control over their health and care, and it’s exciting that Greater Manchester is at the centre of this new phase of digital innovation.”
The Cluster has received £5.5m in funding from the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF), with a further £5.6m of investment coming from commercial partners
The LIPF is a flagship UK government programme – delivered through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) – investing up to £500 million to strengthen regional innovation economies across the country with the purpose of decentralising innovation and empowering regions like Greater Manchester to drive growth in their area
The programme aims to build lasting innovation clusters, attract sustained private investment and create the kind of deep, collaborative relationships between businesses, universities and local leadership that drive long-term regional prosperity
Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester Portfolio Lead for Economy, Business and Inclusive Growth, said:
“Through this significant investment in five pioneering projects we will translate world-class research and innovation into new jobs and opportunities that benefit Greater Manchester’s businesses and residents
“By focusing on advanced materials and manufacturing, health innovation and AI, we are building on the strengths that already set our city region apart and creating the conditions for more businesses to innovate, scale and succeed here. This is the kind of investment and collaboration that helps us deliver long-term, inclusive growth, strengthening our economy and ensuring the benefits of innovation are felt right across Greater Manchester.”
MFT has already made great leaps in moving more care from hospitals to community care, using the power of digital data, through its Hospital at Home programme which uses a range of wearable and remote monitoring technologies to allow patients to recover in the comfort of their own home with technology providing the acute level care and monitoring that patients expect in a hospital
The global wearable medical device market size was valued at $103bn in 2025 and is projected to grow to $505bn by 2034, with this partnership ensuring Greater Manchester will continue to play a leading role in this growth, bringing sustained economic benefit to the region
Dr Katherine Boylan, Deputy Managing Director for Research and Innovation and GM-WIC Project Lead hailed the impact of this technology and the potential of the cluster:
“Wearable and remote monitoring technology has the potential to revolutionise healthcare and I am very excited by this new partnership
“In Greater Manchester we have a proud tradition of clinical and academic expertise, and one of the largest and thriving research and innovation ecosystems in the country. This will allow us to take these new concepts and test them with our patients to see how this technology can make a difference, and how it can be improved
“By removing barriers and attracting investment, this innovation can be accelerated so that new ideas are robustly evaluated and improved upon, putting Greater Manchester at the forefront of a new age of wearable technology in healthcare.”
