A major new event showcasing the latest cutting-edge research and innovation across the region’s health and social care sector will launch this autumn.
Bringing together researchers, clinicians, industry partners, patients and communities from across the North West Coast, the inaugural North West Coast Research and Innovation Showcase 2026 will take place on 25 November 2026 at The Spine, Liverpool.
It marks an exciting new chapter for one of the region’s longest-running celebrations of research excellence, formerly the North West Coast Research and Innovation Awards, which has now been expanded after more than a decade of recognising outstanding achievements.
Running from 3.00pm to 8.00pm, the new showcase format will feature an engaging programme of presentations, interactive exhibits, networking opportunities and discussions focused on improving health outcomes and reducing health inequalities.
Providing a unique opportunity to not just celebrate shortlisted pioneering ideas for the prestigious awards ceremony, it will also provide the audience with a chance to explore, discover and interrogate some of the latest technologies being used to change how individuals access local health services.
Spearheading the event will be two organisations, funded to bridge the gap between innovative research and using it to change the delivery of services by NHS and Local Authorities, namely the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration North West Coast (ARC NWC) and Health Innovation North West Coast.
The awards element of the festival will continue to recognise excellence across a range of categories, including Innovation in Workforce Culture, Patient Safety and Care Improvement, Research Capacity Building, Research Student of the Year, Sustainability, Tackling Health Inequalities and The Ruth Young Award for Public Involvement in Research Implementation.
Award entries are now open and close at 5pm on 16 September 2026.
We look forward to welcoming your entries and celebrating the impact of research and innovation across the North West Coast.