Technology has the power to transform lives and communities. Greater Manchester is a beacon of digital innovation and a region that is heavily focused on investing in technology to improve the lives of its local citizens, businesses and services.
Cisco is excited to be at the forefront of this revolution in Greater Manchester, collaborating with startups and SMEs to develop groundbreaking products and services that address the critical challenges facing this region. Our strategic partnership with GM One, which sits under Cisco’s UK Country Digital Acceleration Programme, provides the ideal platform to nurture these innovations, driving significant social value and economic growth.
Earlier this year we announced the next step of the GM One partnership with the launch of Cisco and GMCA’s GM LINK Programme (Leading Innovation, Nurturing Knowledge). The three 10-week programmes help to equip local startups and SMEs with the skills, knowledge and key contacts to be able to leverage the GM One Network in their journey to create and deliver social impact for the region.
The first of three GM LINK programmes launched in April of this year and focused on attracting and retaining talent in critical health and social care services. Successful organisations include:
- CareFriends – a digital platform that incentivises the current workforce to become a large-scale recruitment force. Helping to attract top-tier, ready-to-work recruits to the sector and build a repository of potential candidates.
- Howz – uses a machine learning and non-intrusive remote monitoring solution to help provide insight into patient wellbeing for care providers
- Proxximos – a state-of-the-art IoT contact tracing solution to combat the harmful and costly spread of communicable disease in hospitals & care homes
- Cyberliver – an AI-driven digital medicine and self-care platform to help revolutionise alcohol treatment services
- InHouse Health – a digital platform that enables healthcare teams to measure, analyse and transform the state of health and wellbeing in organisations and prevent future occupational health issues
Each of the five successful companies have now received a grant to support solution development and have started their 10-week programme, collaborating with our expert mentors and working diligently to elevate their solutions to new heights. The programme will conclude with a highly anticipated demonstration day on 4th September 2024, providing an opportunity for participants to showcase their transformative solutions to industry experts and partners within the Cisco eco-system.
For our second programme, we’re seeking innovative start-ups and SMEs developing groundbreaking solutions to address two critical challenges facing Greater Manchester:
- Mental Health: An estimated 1 in 6 UK adults have experienced a ‘common mental health disorder’, with the average wait time for first treatment in the North West currently estimated at 26.1 days. We’re looking for initiatives that will revolutionize mental health care this could include reducing wait times, improving access to support, and enhancing the quality of life for those struggling.
- Energy Efficiency and Decarbonization: Greater Manchester is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2038, in order to do so the region will need to reduce current annual emissions by more than half. A crucial part of this is improving energy efficiency and decarbonising public sector buildings which is why we’re inviting ideas and innovations from local start-ups and SMEs to help meet these ambitious targets. Whether that be innovations to help decrease carbon emissions, boost energy efficiency or monitor energy usage.
Apply to the GM Link Programme today and help us create a healthier and sustainable world, inspired by innovation and using technology as a force for good.
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