Key Takeaways
- Four companies selected for CPI’s 5G Innovation Programme will receive support to enhance healthcare solutions.
- Real-world trials of selected innovations will take place in North East England healthcare settings.
- The initiative is backed by £2.3m from the North East Combined Authority and a further £5.6m from the government.
Selected Companies and Support
CPI has chosen four companies—FloKi, Aire Innovate, Walk With Path, and Dynamic Metrics Limited—to participate in its 5G Innovation Programme. This initiative aims to leverage high-bandwidth connectivity, including 5G and LoRaWAN, to tackle pressing health and social care challenges. Each selected company will receive tailored assistance from CPI, which includes access to test-bed facilities at NETPark in Sedgefield, technical and regulatory support, and up to £50,000 in business assistance to accelerate deployment.
Real-World Trials and Impact
Two of the innovations will undergo trials in actual healthcare environments, such as hospitals and care homes in the north east of England. These trials will serve as a platform for demonstrating their impact and scalability to NHS and social care stakeholders. Steven Bagshaw, CPI’s strategic engagement lead, emphasized the programme’s goal of showcasing how 5G can enhance patient flow, hospital discharge processes, and care coordination.
Funding and Strategic Significance
The initiative is funded by the North East Combined Authority (NECA), part of a broader £2.3m investment in 5G innovation within the region. Additionally, the government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has contributed £5.6m through the 5G Innovation Regions Programme. Phil Witcherley, NECA’s director of economic growth and regeneration, highlighted that this programme positions the North East as a leader in 5G and healthcare technology, promoting regional innovation and enhancing patient outcomes.
Selection Process and Innovation Focus
The selection of participants followed a competitive process where businesses specializing in 5G technologies submitted proposals aimed at improving patient flow and discharge services. The £1m project seeks to explore the potential of 5G technologies in accelerating healthcare service delivery in the north east. During a showcase event on April 28, 2025, nine shortlisted companies demonstrated how their innovations could address key areas, including patient communication, asset tracking, patient flow modelling, remote monitoring, and secure data-sharing.
Through these efforts, the 5G Innovation Programme aims to revolutionize health and social care delivery, ultimately resulting in a more connected and efficient healthcare system in the region.
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