Government fuels NHS innovation to unlock billions in growth
Date: 21 November 2025
The government has unveiled vital updates to the Intellectual property (IP) guidance for the NHS in England – the first such update in 23 years – to turbocharge innovation, speed up patient access to new technologies and unlock economic growth.
The NHS is still relying on guidance set up in 2002, which was not designed for cutting edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). This means outdated processes have slowed down getting groundbreaking innovations to the front line, often being held up in complex local and legal negotiations.
Webinars
A series of webinars are planned which are designed to help the system gain a deeper understanding of the guidance and its objectives, as well as to provide opportunities for Q&A.
Webinar for organisations providing or commissioning NHS services
- Tuesday 25 November, 14:00–15:00: Register here
- Tuesday 2 December, 11:00–12:00: Register here
- Thursday 11 December, 13:00–14:00: Register here
Webinar for IP, tech transfer, and research and development staff
- Wednesday 3 December, 13:00–14:00: Register here
Webinar for innovators
- Friday 5 December, 12:30–13:30: Register here
View the publication here: Intellectual property (IP) guidance for the NHS in England – GOV.UK
A video explainer here: We asked Dr Zubir Ahmed MP – why is new intellectual property guidance for the NHS such a game changer?
Formal Evaluation
DHSC has commissioned a formal evaluation to baseline IP management practices in the NHS and capture understanding and application of the new IP guidance in the system. If you are an organisation providing or commissioning NHS services, please register your interest to take part in the survey here: IP Guidance Evaluation: Interested Participants