From Membership to UK Finalists
ARU collaboration with Arise Members recognised by Medilink Midlands.
Anglia Ruskin University’s Arise Innovation Hub is proud to announce the shortlisting of its members for the prestigious Medilink Midlands Business Awards 2025. These nominations underscore the impactful collaborations between academia and business, driving innovation and excellence in healthcare technology. This case study highlights the achievements of Aerial Icon, Medily AI, MSD Advisory Services Ltd and Japeto AI, showcasing their contributions to the healthcare sector and their promising future.
The Outstanding Achievement award recognizes businesses that have had a significant impact on their company and market, showing potential for continued growth; and Arise member Japeto AI have been nominated. They have already been awarded an Innovate UK Smart Grant to create better and safer AI chat tools for healthcare and charities in 2023.1 A UK-based software development agency specializing in AI solutions, they created Japeto Chat, an innovative, ethical, and reliable AI Assistant platform. Japeto Chat offers custom pre-scripted responses or optional generative AI trained on reference material, with robust clinical safety, DTAC, and GDPR compliance. Japeto received funding and business support as part of the Arise ABOVE programme. You can read more about Japeto in our case study.
The award for Partnership Between Academia and Business recognises companies that demonstrate how collaboration enhances service delivery or creates new ways of delivering healthcare. Aerial Icon, an Arise member, has been nominated for this award owing to its groundbreaking partnership with ARU. Together, they are developing AI-driven video generation for VR therapy, combining business development, industry application, psychological research, AI model development, and clinical research integrity.
This partnership assessed the feasibility of AI in replacing traditional 360° aerial filming, reducing costs and operator risks while improving the scalability and accessibility of VR therapy treatments. Addressing the growing need for on-demand, immersive, cost-effective, and digital therapies., Aerial Icon’s collaboration with ARU aims to enhance patient care by improving accessibility, affordability, and effectiveness of VR therapy. Supported by Arise, Aerial Icon pivoted from real estate and advertising to healthcare innovation, winning funding from Innovate UK for a feasibility study last summer.
ARU student entrepreneur’s Medily AI has been shortlisted for two awards. The Partnership Between Academia and Business award and the Start-Up category. Medily AI, founded by Talha, a medical student from ARU, is transforming clinical decision-making with Medily AI Pro, an intelligent AI decision-support system designed for healthcare professionals. Integrating advanced AI algorithms, Medily AI streamlines patient data collection, provides guideline-based insights, and enhances clinician workflows. Medily AI collaborated with ARU’s Medical School to evaluate and validate their AI platform. ARU’s faculty provided academic rigor and insights, while Medily AI focused on technical development and deployment in clinical settings. This partnership addresses the critical need for efficient clinical decision support and medical training tools, overcoming the limitations of current systems that lack real-time adaptability. The Start-Up category recognises newly established companies showing a promising future. Talha has already won first prize of £20,000 in an inaugural Ignite competition at The Shard in London.2
MSD Technology Solutions Ltd is another nominee in the Start-Up category. Their product, Medhaya, is an AI-powered clinical workflow assistant designed for NHS primary care. Medhaya automates patient interactions, triage, documentation, and scheduling, reducing administrative burdens. Operating on a SaaS-based licensing model, Medhaya offers cost-effective scalability for GP practices while driving higher digital adoption through conversational AI for improved patient accessibility. Ernest Romanovskii is a recent graduate from ARU London. He previously worked as an engagement officer at ARU London and is now part of the team at MSD Advisory.
Arise Innovation Hub is pleased to support knowledge-intensive start-ups that contribute to the knowledge economy. Aligning with the UK government's Invest 20353 industrial strategy, Arise is a driving force for digital infrastructure, life sciences, and technology. These nominations at the Medilink Midlands Business Awards 2025 highlight the collaborative efforts between ARU and its innovative businesses, fostering growth, creating high-quality jobs, and ensuring the UK remains competitive in the global market.
Beverley Vaughan, Arise Innovation Hub Director says:
“I would like to add my personal congratulations to all our shortlisted businesses and look forward to the announcements on 15th May. It is testament to hard work and determination that they have reached this point ”