TriTech Institute celebrates five years of success – and big plans for the future
26 May 2026
There are exciting times ahead for Hywel Dda University Health Board’s TriTech Institute which celebrated five years of research and innovation in a special event at Canolfan Pentre Awel, Llanelli.
Representatives from Hywel Dda, industry and academic partners along with NHS Wales Performance and Improvement attended the event on Tuesday, 28 April to hear about the groundbreaking advances achieved by the institute over its first five years.
Speakers on the day included Professor Chris Hopkins, Consultant Clinical Scientist and Head of the TriTech Institute, Professor Phil Kloer, Hywel Dda’s Chief Executive and industry partners from Astra Zeneca, Whyze Health and Amgen.
Five years ago, when Professor Kloer was Medical Director at Hywel Dda, he was part of the team that supported the establishment of the Tritech Institute.
Reflecting on that time, he said: “I feel incredibly proud of what the Tritech Institute has gone on to achieve. I remember those early days well, we were right in the middle of the pandemic, and it simply wasn’t clear what this new institute might become. Establishing Tritech at that moment was a bold step.
“I’m so glad we took that calculated risk, because when you look at what has been achieved since, it’s remarkable. It’s a real credit to everyone involved, and to our industry and academic partners who trusted us and supported us from the very beginning.
“Tritech has played a major role in building our reputation as an University Health Board. It continues to push boundaries and innovate, and we know that healthcare organisations that are truly active in research and innovation deliver the highest quality care. That matters hugely to the communities we support.”
The Tritech Institute has delivered a strong return on investment, recovering its full cost base each year while generating £4.6m in external funding to support priority clinical innovation, evaluation, and service transformation.
Professor Chris Hopkins said: “The TriTech Institute was originally founded as a collaborative space to support MedTech research and development, but it has grown significantly over time. Today, it stands as a fully integrated, evidence‑led innovation service, working alongside partners to turn ideas into meaningful improvements for patients and services.”
“Collaborating with the life science sector and various Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across Wales and the UK, the team of clinical scientists, researchers, engineers, data scientists, nurses, pharmacists and doctors conduct translational research and real-world evaluations on healthcare innovations. They play a critical role in accelerating innovation into frontline care.”
Through flagship projects spanning cardiovascular disease prevention, asthma care, prostate cancer diagnostics, diabetes prevention, telehealth, AI-enabled digital pathways, and European Horizon programmes, Tritech has directly improved patient outcomes, accelerated diagnosis, reduced avoidable admissions and referrals, and released significant system capacity.
As well as celebrating success, the event was an opportunity for the Tritech team to launch their new business plan for the next five years.
Tritech’s next stage of growth is set out in the TriTech Institute Business Plan 2026–2031, which outlines the strategic, operational, and financial framework through which Hywel Dda will continue to advance innovation led transformation.
Dr Leighton Phillips, Director of Research, Innovation and Value at Hywel Dda said: ‘‘This milestone is a tribute to the people who have done the hard yards over the past five years. The clinicians, scientists, innovators, support staff, and partners who have worked side by side to turn ideas into practical change and impact”.
“TriTech’s success isn’t just about innovation for its own sake. It is about the many hours of collaboration, testing and perseverance that sit behind each project. What matters most is that this work is making a tangible difference, improving care, supporting prevention, and helping people across Southwest Wales to live healthier lives and experience better health outcomes. That is what continues to drive our ambition for the years ahead.
Along with launching its new strategy, Tritech has moved into Canolfan Pentre Awel, Llanelli, reinforcing Canolfan’s position as one of Wales’s leading hubs for healthcare innovation.
Prof Hopkins said: “The move to Canolfan Pentre Awel marks a truly significant milestone in the Tritech Institute’s journey. This landmark health, wellbeing, and life sciences development on the Llanelli coastline brings together healthcare, local authority services, business and innovation, education, research, leisure, and industry partners on a single, shared site.
“Pentre Awel is a powerful example of innovation led regeneration, creating a unique environment where health innovation can be designed, tested, and implemented side by side with clinical services and the communities we serve.
“Our purpose designed unit provides us with a permanent home to support research, evaluation, collaboration with industry, and the adoption of digital and preventative innovations at scale, ensuring that new ideas translate into real, lasting benefits for patients and services across Wales and beyond.”
ENDS