12. Mai 2025 A new strategic collaboration

A Gateway to the UK Healthcare Ecosystem

The Nordic Virtual Office initiative aims to establish a streamlined access point for local enterprises looking to engage with the UK healthcare and research landscape. By partnering with the NIHR, participating companies will benefit from coordinated introductions to relevant clinicians, researchers, and research infrastructures across the UK.

This support is particularly valuable for companies seeking to generate clinical evidence, validate innovations, and gain critical feedback to further develop products and services. The initiative also offers long-term strategic value: for businesses considering UK market entry, the relationships and insights developed through the virtual office may prove especially beneficial.

Strengthening Cross-Border Collaboration

The establishment of the Nordic Virtual Office marks a significant step toward deeper cross-border collaboration between Northern Europe and the UK. This initiative builds on previous efforts within the HALRIC EU program and brings together regional organisations with a shared goal of accelerating innovation and international growth in health and life sciences.

About the NIHR

The NIHR is the UK’s largest public funder of health and care research. Funded by the Department of Health and Social Care, the NIHR supports, enables, and delivers high-quality research that improves people’s health and wellbeing, strengthens the NHS, and promotes economic growth.

The NIHR funds a wide range of studies, from clinical trials and public health research to social care and health technology assessments. It also provides the essential infrastructure needed to conduct research within real-world NHS settings. The NIHR plays a critical role in translating scientific discoveries into practice, ensuring that evidence-based innovations reach healthcare providers, policymakers, and ultimately, the public.

How will the virtual office work

The involved cluster organisations will promote the initiative throughout their networks, offering monthly group sessions hosted by the NIHR. These sessions will introduce the services and opportunities available through the Virtual Office and provide an overview of how companies can benefit.

Interested companies will be invited to one-on-one advisory meetings with NIHR representatives. These personalised consultations offer the chance to explore specific needs, discuss ongoing projects, and identify potential pathways for collaboration and access to the UK healthcare system. All consultations are free of charge and coordinated by the Nordic partner organisations together with the NIHR.

How to Get Involved

Companies interested in engaging with the NIHR through the Nordic Virtual Office can pre-book one-to-one advisory slots during the monthly recurring meetings. These sessions provide companies the opportunity to present their ambitions, discuss development plans, and explore potential collaborations with NIHR experts.

To learn more and book a meeting, please contact your local representative:

Life Science Nord

Life Science Nord (LSN) is the regional industry network in the federal states of Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein and comprises over 600 companies from the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical technology and digital health as well as clinics and research institutions. Over 300 of these players are actively involved in our association, Life Science Nord e.V., and use a wide range of services for networking, advice, and support.

Contact person: Sarah Niemann. niemann@lifesciencenord.de

Medicon Village

Medicon Village is the largest science park in Scandinavia focusing on life science. It brings together over 180 organizations and 2,800 people working across biotech, medtech, diagnostics, and digital health. As part of the dynamic Medicon Valley region, Medicon Village fosters close collaboration between academia, industry, and healthcare. The park offers state-of-the-art labs, offices, and shared facilities, creating an ecosystem that supports both early-stage startups and established companies. With a strong focus on health innovation, Medicon Village serves as a catalyst for research, business development, and cross-sector partnerships.

Contact person: Francesco Bez. francesco.bez@mediconvillage.se

Medicon Valley Alliance

Medicon Valley Alliance (MVA) is the cluster organization for the life science ecosystem of the cross-border Medicon Valley region. The region includes Southern Sweden and Eastern Denmark, with strong universities, hospitals, companies, and public stakeholders. Home to over 330 members across all three sectors (private, public and academic), MVA serves as the region’s facilitator, catalyst, and advocate. MVA drives collaboration, knowledge-sharing and business development through strategic projects, flagship events, thematic networks, and advocacy.

Contact person: Stephan Bouman. stb@mva.org

Life Science Cluster

The Life Science Cluster (TLSC) is a national cluster for Norway's life science industry, connecting actors across health, marine and agriculture. TLSC foster collaboration between companies, investors, academia, and the public sector to accelerate innovation and strengthen industrial growth. With more than 120 members, TLSC drives strategic projects, builds bridges between research and industry, and promotes life science as a key pillar for Norway’s future economy. Through events like the annual Norwegian Life Science Investor Partnering Day, TLSC strengthen Norway's life science ecosystem and connects it with international markets
Contact person:

Hanne Mette Dyrlie Kristensen. hannemette@tlsc.no