New Westminster – A Memorandum of Understanding for an Innovation Partnership between the City of the New Westminster’s Economic Health Care Cluster (IDEA Centre), Health Tech Innovation Foundation (HTIF), and Pacific Health Innovation eXchange (PHIX) has been signed. The MOU acknowledges the partnership between all three parties to promote effective collaboration on innovation in health care technology and practices.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with HTIF and PHIX to collaboratively advance innovation in the health care sector,” said Mayor Jonathan X. Coté. “We are committed to establishing a major centre for excellence in the advancement of health care in New Westminster around Royal Columbian Hospital.”

HTIF, PHIX and the New Westminster’s IDEA Centre will collaborate closely with Fraser and Vancouver Coastal Health Authorities, Surrey Memorial, Vancouver General, UBC and Royal Columbian Hospitals, clinicians, post-secondary institutions, all levels of government, private industry, researchers, thought leaders, philanthropists and investors in order to meet the following common health care goals:

• Improved health outcomes for citizens;
• Implementation of rapid solutions for the growing health care crisis;
• Attraction and retention of highly-talented and skilled health care innovators; and
• Expansion of our health care economy and a global leadership role in technology innovations.

"This partnership with IDEA and PHIX is a marvelous opportunity to leverage our resources and networks to benefit patients and families,” said Dr. Peter Payne, President & CEO of Innovation Boulevard’s Health Tech Innovation Foundation. “Health innovations that are developed with public participation have a better chance of meeting the needs of citizens.”

“Bringing more innovation into our health care system will improve patient outcomes, reduce health care costs and create commercial opportunities for British Columbia,” said Louise Turner, Chief Operating Offier at PHIX. “PHIX is delighted to be collaborating with the IDEA Centre and HTIF to build a stronger health ecosystem.”

The Innovation Partnership MOU was signed on March 2, 2017 at the Leadership Dinner, held as part of New Westminster’s Innovation Week, and was overseen by Dan Ruimy, MP, Chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology.

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Contacts:

Mark Allison
Sustainability and Strategic Initiatives Manager, City of New Westminster
604-527-4653 or

Dr. Peter Payne
President & CEO of Innovation Boulevard, HTIF

Louise Turner
Chief Operating Officer, PHIX

www.phix.ca