Health3-2-1 business mission to UK
During the Interreg Health3-2-1 business mission to UK, Estonian healthtech companies Kodality, Thorgate, HeBa, Muun Health, Ravimikarp, Aurlide ltd., adamant Health gained insights from investors, NHS experts, innovation organisations and hospitals on how to approach one of the world’s most complex healthcare markets.
Several lessons stood out:
🔹 A strong clinical solution is the entry point – not the end goal.
Shamik J Parekh from Havilland Health highlighted that companies with the clearest scaling narrative are often the ones best positioned for international growth. The NHS can provide valuable clinical validation and evidence, but companies need to think about multiple markets from the beginning.
🔹 Understanding the healthcare system is as important as the technology itself. Liam Cahill from Together Digital emphasised that successful NHS adoption requires much more than a good product. Companies need a clear strategy, regulatory readiness, compliance processes and a strong understanding of procurement pathways.
🔹 Regulatory approval does not automatically create market access.
Isaac Díaz Carpio highlighted an important distinction: approval gives companies the right to sell and market their product, but it does not guarantee buyers. Healthtech companies need to understand who pays, what evidence decision-makers require and how their solution creates measurable value.
The visit to UCLPartners demonstrated how innovations can move from validation to adoption. Their approach focuses on testing solutions in real clinical environments and supporting companies in scaling technologies that demonstrate impact.
At University College London Hospitals (UCLH Private Healthcare), we explored how hospitals are building dedicated innovation pathways – from early evaluation and procurement guidance to connecting startups with clinical environments and funding opportunities.
The mission also included Cambridge Tech Week, where healthtech discussions highlighted a wider global challenge: the world does not lack innovative ideas. The bigger question is how to successfully implement and scale them into healthcare systems.
💬 Mariann Uudmäe, Project Manager at Tehnopol commented “The biggest value of this mission was seeing the UK healthtech ecosystem from different perspectives – from regulation and healthcare systems to hospitals and entrepreneurship”.
“Despite different healthcare systems, Estonia and the UK share a common challenge: helping strong technologies move from pilots into everyday care. Healthtech companies need to demonstrate value and ensure their solutions fit existing care pathways,” added Loora Salurand, HealthTech Project Manager at Tehnopol.
