| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Welcome to our July newsletter, where you'll find funding opportunities, events and more.
In this issue, our blog reflects on conversations from the recent HPN Midlands 2026 conference and how for innovators developing XR solutions for mental health, the opportunity lies in demonstrating how their innovation can help solve the NHS’s biggest challenges.
Our company spotlight is on ExR, who use immersive technology to transform healthcare education. Their platform supports thousands of learners across more than half of NHS Trusts in England to improve the lives of patients, carers, and healthcare professionals.
As always, if you have any comments or suggestions for future newsletters you can get in touch with the team at hin.mindset@nhs.net.
If you'd like to connect with 300 like-minded professionals, share learnings and discuss the issues affecting the mental health and XR landscape, please consider joining the XR for Mental Health closed LinkedIn group. | | | | | | | | | | | | We're delighted to announce our 2026 UK-wide Mindset roadshow series where innovators, mental health professionals, people with lived experience and others will share how they are using immersive technology to transform mental health services, support people to improve their wellbeing and develop solutions that work.
You can catch us in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Leeds, Belfast and Exeter. More details of the events and how to get your free tickets below.
We're looking forward to connecting with people across the country at these roadshows - bringing organisations together, supporting their growth, easing pressure on the NHS and ultimately helping to improve outcomes for patients and the public.
2026 Mindset-XR Innovation in Mental Health Roadshow - London and South East Thursday 10 September Central London
Confirmed speakers so far are Professor Nick Peres, (Director of Innovation, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust; Director of Health Innovation, Falmouth University), and Professor Sylvia Xueni Pan, (Professor of Virtual Reality and Computing, Goldsmiths, University of London).
Find out more and book your free ticket
2026 Mindset-XR Innovation in Mental Health Roadshow - Scotland
Thursday 1 October Edinburgh
Find out more and book your free ticket
2026 Mindset-XR Innovation in Mental Health Roadshow - WalesThursday 8 October Cardiff
Find out more and book your free ticket
2026 Mindset-XR Innovation in Mental Health Roadshow - North of EnglandWednesday 14 October Leeds
Find out more and book your free ticket
2026 Mindset-XR Innovation in Mental Health Roadshow - Northern Ireland Tuesday 20 October Belfast
Find out more and book your free ticket
2026 Mindset-XR Innovation in Mental Health Roadshow - South West England Tuesday 3 November Exeter
Find out more and book your free ticket | | | | | | | | | | | |
One year on from the NHS’s 10-Year Health Plan, conversations across the health and care sector have shifted to focus on how systems can turn national ambitions into practical, local solutions - creating great opportunities for innovators.
In this blog, Ayobola Chike-Michael and Clare Leahy from the Mindset-XR Innovator Support team at the Health Innovation Network South London, reflect on conversations at the recent HPN Midlands conference and how innovators can help solve some of the pressing challenges faced by the NHS. | | | | | | | | | | | | This month our company spotlight is on ExR, who use immersive technology to transform healthcare education, and significantly expand access to high-quality training at scale.
ExR founder and CEO, Nick Culley, shares insights about the company and how their collaboration with more than 35 NHS trusts, universities and charities is helping to make healthcare training more accessible, engaging and effective for learners at every stage of their careers.
| | | | | | | | Navigating ethics approval: principles, processes and practical application Thursday 30 July, 12pm - 1pm, online.
Ethics approval is a crucial step in delivering safe and effective research, but it can often feel complex to navigate.
This webinar, led by Sean O’Connor PhD, Cluster Innovation Lead for Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland (HIRANI), will provide clear, practical guidance to help you understand the process.
The session will cover key principles, outline approval pathways, and share tips to support successful applications.
Whether you’re new to ethics approval or looking to build confidence, this webinar will help ensure your processes are robust and compliant. Find out more and register.
Exploring XR for Mental Health - Talking Therapies Wednesday 9 September, 9am - 10:30am
Join NHS leaders, clinicians and innovators for a free webinar exploring emerging XR-enabled approaches to mental health care. You'll hear from three innovators supported through Innovate UK's Mindset-XR programme, alongside NHS England and mental health leaders, as they share insights into the opportunities, challenges and real-world applications of XR in health and care.
Find out more and register for your free place.
This is the first in a special series of four webinars exploring XR in mental health which are taking place during the Autumn. | | | | | | | | Health Innovation Network South London (HIN) Investment Update
The HIN Investment Update brings together the latest news, market insights and expert perspectives for investors, founders and healthcare leaders navigating the evolving healthtech landscape.
July's edition includes an interview with Eka Ventures and insights from our latest HIN Investor Panel roundtable, where angel investors, venture capital firms and public funds explored the opportunities and challenges of investing in prevention at scale.
Find out more and sign up here: Health Innovation Network South London. | | | | | | | |
Future research and innovation funding opportunities from UKRI
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has established a new future funding opportunities page on their website in response to feedback from the research community.
The dedicated page, found in the 'Apply for funding' section of their website, provides a longer-term view of upcoming funding opportunities, giving researchers and innovators more time to see what's coming up and start preparing their applications with greater confidence.
Next Wave - Breakthrough Wave 1
The aim of this Innovate UK competition is to support early stage innovation in the intersection of high growth potential Createch and the Industrial Strategy Frontier industries.
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £10 million funding with the aim of developing innovations beyond proof of concept, de-risking future investment and supporting long term sector growth.
| | | | | | | | | | | | We hope you have enjoyed this Newsletter. Please feel free to forward on to any contacts you have who you think will find it useful.
If you have received this Newsletter from a colleague and would like to be added to our direct mailing list, please contact us and we will make sure you receive the next issue in August. | | | | | | | | Copyright (C) 2026 Health Innovation Network. All rights reserved.
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