EM3 region leads innovation to provide critical supplies for the NHS in the fight against COVID-19

Businesses, universities and organisations across the region have demonstrated their strength of innovation as they provide life-saving equipment to the NHS during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BAE Systems, Airbus and McLaren have been working as part of the Ventilator Challenge UK to deliver additional ventilator capacity following a call from government.

The Ventilator Challenge consortium consists of significant UK industrial, technology and engineering businesses from across the aerospace, automotive and medical sectors. Companies in the consortium have now received formal orders from the Government for in excess of 15,000 units for the Penlon Prima ES02 device, a substantial number of which will be produced at McLaren’s Woking HQ.

McLaren has also been working with the University of Southampton to develop new PPE equipment to protect the frontline NHS Staff in the fight against COVID 19.

The prototype system features a fabric hood which covers the wearer’s head, integrated with a plastic visor to protect their face and a small portable unit delivers clean air through a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter to the wearer from a battery powered fan pack mounted on a belt.

A number of other companies in the region are also working to provide the relevant testing needed to diagnose those with COVID-19 quickly. Thomas Fisher Scientific has developed a new diagnostic kit to enable clinical and public health laboratories to quickly evaluate up to 94 patient specimens in under 2 hours.