Region’s leading health awards return for 20th anniversary

Businesses and organisations working in health and care are being encouraged to enter the 20th Bright Ideas in Health Awards, a milestone celebration of innovation across the North East and North Cumbria.

Organised by Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria (HI NENC), the awards celebrate the people, teams and partnerships developing new ideas, technologies and ways of working that improve patient care, healthcare services and health outcomes.

Since launching in 2003, the Bright Ideas in Health Awards have recognised NHS, social care, industry and academic partners whose ideas have improved patient care, service delivery and system efficiency.

This year’s awards will recognise innovation across 14 categories:

• Collaborative Improvement Award, sponsored by Boost

• Innovative Device Award

• Outstanding Industry Collaboration

• Patient Safety Impact Award

• Innovation Champion Award

• Digital and AI Innovation in Healthcare

• Innovation for Preventative Healthcare Award

• Reducing Healthcare Inequalities Award

• Excellence in NHS Workforce Development Award

• Reducing Economic Inactivity Award

• Innovation Adoption and Spread Award

• Mental Health Transformation Award

• Sustainability, Efficiency and Productivity Award

• Innovative Women’s Health Award

Dr Nicola Hutchinson, Chief Executive for HI NENC, said: “Industry plays a vital role in helping the NHS to tackle challenges, improve services and bring new ideas into practice.

“As we mark the 20th Bright Ideas in Health Awards, we want to celebrate the businesses, entrepreneurs and partners across the North East and North Cumbria who are developing innovations that can make a real difference to patients and the wider health and care system.

“I would encourage any business or organisation with a bright idea, whether big or small, to enter BIHA20 and help showcase the strength of regional innovation.”

Entries close at 11:59pm on Friday, 27 November 2026.

Finalists will be announced in early 2027, with winners revealed at the awards ceremony on Thursday, 18 March 2027 at the Hilton Newcastle Tyne Bridge.

To submit a bright idea, visit:

https://brightideasinhealth.org.uk/?utm_source=toolkit&utm_medium=industry&utm_campaign=BIHA_20