AN initiative to make the most of technological advances made in the region's hospitals has been launched by RTC North.

RTC, of Sunderland, has launched the Intellectual Property (IP) Hub, to provide the resources and expertise to identify, protect, manage and exploit the IP that NHS bodies own and generate.

The hub is being established by RTC in partnership with the region's NHS trusts and the Northern Regional Executive of the NHS.

It will be managed by RTC North's commercialisation manager, Richard Hoare.

He said: "In the NHS, innovation can occur not only through formal research and development programmes, but also in the delivery of patient care.

"It could be a novel treatment, a device, a new drug, data, software or new management system.

"Effective management of intellectual property has become a major issue for NHS trusts, as the valuable contribution it can make to patient care and income generation is being recognised."

RTC North is the UK's leading technology transfer company