Seven staff from the SBRI team were at the NICON22 conference held at La Mon hotel in October 2022. This was the first time for the SBRI programme to be showcased at the event. Both the information stand in the exhibition hall and the “wicked witch” themed Café Conversation were well attended, generating plenty of interest in the SBRI programme and discussion about potential projects.
The SBRI programme theme for the event was “Solving the Public Sector’s Wicked Problems” and delegates from a wide range of organisations came to us with plenty of ideas about their wicked problems – from recruiting staff to logistics and data analytics.
SBRIs provide the public sector with innovative solutions to problems that will drive improvement and allow suppliers to develop products and services working collaboratively with the public-sector, enabling them to develop new skills, expertise and markets. Launched in Northern Ireland in 2009, the programme supports diverse projects across the public sector.
The Northern Ireland Annual Conference and Exhibition 2022 provided a unique opportunity for colleagues and partners from across the health and care system, as well as the voluntary and community sector to come together, share ideas, reflect, network and learn.
At this year’s conference, entitled ‘Recognition | Ambition | Mobilisation’, delegates heard from a wide range of local leaders, international speakers and frontline staff across some 50 sessions.
Recordings of all livestreamed sessions from the conference can now be viewed on the NHS Confederation website.