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Thames Freeport: Health AI Mobilisation Centre

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What is the Health AI Mobilisation Centre? 

  

The Health AI Mobilisation Centre is a delivery initiative launching in 2025, designed to accelerate the deployment at scale of NHS-ready AI solutions across the healthcare system in Thurrock, Havering, and Barking & Dagenham. 

The initial phase of this work will be in primary care, deploying AI technologies in real NHS environments, supporting GP practices to adopt tools that make everyday care more efficient, effective, and inclusive. It will do this in two ways: 

  • Piloting innovative AI solutions within a live setting with GPs across Barking and Dagenham. 
  • Delivering wrap-around support and AI training to NHS staff to ensure the safe and informed use of AI tools. 

Delivered by Thames Freeport in partnership with L Marks, PUBLIC and MH&A, and working alongside Together First CIC, the initiative reflects Thames Freeport’s commitment to inclusive innovation, digital skills, and health system resilience across the region. 

Who are the 

Thames Freeport? 

  

As a designated Freeport zone, Thames Freeport spans the ports of Tilbury, DP World London Gateway, and Ford’s Dagenham plant areas, benefiting from targeted tax reliefs, streamlined customs, and new investment opportunities. The Freeport is expected to attract £4.5 billion in investment and create over 21,000 skilled jobs, positioning it as London’s most significant regeneration opportunity in a generation. 

Through the Health AI Mobilisation Centre, Thames Freeport and its partners invite solution providers to collaborate with local authorities, the NHS, and primary care networks to deliver measurable, real-world impact and help shape the future of inclusive, data-driven healthcare innovation. 

In addition to pilot deployments, the Centre will provide wrap-around support from technical integration and compliance guidance to workforce training and change management, ensuring your solution is safely, effectively, and sustainably embedded into real NHS workflows. 

Apply Here!

Why is this project important? 

  

The pressure on primary care has never been greater, rising demand, workforce shortages and administrative burden are making it harder for GP practices to deliver timely, high-quality care. Additionally, despite years of innovation funding, many NHS AI pilots have failed to scale because GP practices lack the capacity, governance, and technical support to embed new technologies safely and effectively. 

This project directly addresses that problem by creating a coordinated, scalable model that deploys AI solutions safely and sustainably across GP surgeries. The AI mobilisation centre is aligned with national policy shifts toward digitisation of primary care, interoperable data systems and AI-enabled workflows 

The project will also act as a regional anchor for digital health capability, supporting local GP practices to deploy AI solutions, and helping reduce long-standing inequalities in access to care. 

Find out more below or apply now through our innovation portal to get involved.

We’re seeking solution providers with NHS-proven or high-readiness AI solutions focused on: 

 

Data Management, Capture, and Structuring 

Solutions that improve how data is standardised, linked, and applied to decision-making. These solutions support predictive planning, such as demand forecasting or workforce allocation and enable GP practices to make better use of their data. 

 

Optimising Services   

Solutions that enhance operational efficiency across primary care, including task allocation, intelligent triage, rota and workforce optimisation, route planning, or patient follow-ups and care provision tracking. These solutions free up GP staff time on certain tasks to enable a focus on care provision. 

 

Transforming Patient Experience   

Solutions that enhance the patient experience of care provision. They enable more accessible and proactive care, such as virtual assistants for access and communication, self-management tools for long-term condition support, or translation and accessibility solutions for diverse communities. These solutions support how patients communicate with healthcare providers, access to care, and their perception of the overall care environment. 

Successful applicants will deploy and showcase their AI solutions in live primary care settings, working closely with NHS partners, local authorities, and the Thames Freeport innovation ecosystem to generate measurable outcomes and scalable impact. 

what we’re looking for

We are seeking AI tools that are mature (TRL 7–9), proven in practice, ready to integrate in primary care. We want partners who can demonstrate strong governance, data readiness, and real-world impact and can: 

 

  • Demonstrate AI-enabled or data-driven innovation suitable community-based healthcare delivery.
  • Integrate effectively with NHS systems and complement community pharmacy and GP services.
  • Meet baseline compliance standards, including DTAC, clinical safety, and information governance.
  • Commit to participating in the pilot deployment, which will run for up to two months (due to finish before 31 March 2026). Contributing evidence for evaluation and potential continuation beyond the pilot.

If your solution aligns with one or more of these use cases, we encourage you to apply through our online portal. 

Stage 1: Open Call & Scouting 

Applications open to solution providers across the UK and internationally. Submissions are reviewed for innovation, feasibility, scalability, and alignment with NHS and local priorities. 

Stage 2: Screening & Shortlisting 

Applications are assessed internally, with shortlisted candidates selected for review by programme partners. 

Stage 3: Selection 

Proposed solutions are evaluated for strategic fit, operational feasibility, and measurable impact. Final participants join the Health AI Mobilisation Centre for pilot deployment. 

Stage 4: Pilot Delivery 

Selected innovators deploy their technologies in collaboration with GP practices, Primary Care Networks, and NHS partners, supported by Thames Freeport, L Marks, PUBLIC, and MH&A. 

Apply Here!

Application Criteria

Following the application closing date, all eligible applications will be assessed against the following criteria. 
Applications will be evaluated across five key areas: 
1

Innovation

How original and transformative the solution is in addressing community health challenges, and how effectively it applies technology or new approaches to deliver impact.
2

Feasibility

The practicality of delivering, integrating, and operating the solution within the hub and wider community health setting in the necessary timescales.
3

Scalability

he potential for the solution to be expanded and adopted across wider NHS or community environments, demonstrating sustainability and measurable outcomes.
4

Value for Money

The ability of the solution to provide clear economic and social benefit relative to cost, demonstrating efficiency and long-term value.
5

Alignment with Needs and Suitability

How well the solution meets the defined Health AI Centre use cases and the specific health needs of underserved populations across the Thames Freeport region.

Please note: Applicants must meet relevant regulatory requirements and compliance standards, including DTAC, clinical safety (DCB0129/DCB0160), and information governance. 

Thames Freeport follows public procurement best practice to ensure a fair, transparent, and compliant process for all applicants. 

Applicants will be able to submit questions. Queries received through the programme channels will be reviewed regularly, and a shared Q&A log will be maintained to ensure transparent and up-to-date responses for all applicants. 

Successful applicants will work with the programme team to agree deliverables, measures of success, and how any changes will be managed. 

Apply Here!

*L Marks may contact you for additional details before your application is reviewed by the programme committee. 

TIMELINE

Here are the key dates of the programme (all dates are subject to change):

Applications open

4 December 2025

Applications Close

7 January 2026

Selection

w/c 12 January 2026

Programme Live

w/c 19th January 2026

Final review and showcase

w/c 25th March 2026

Why partner with Thames Freeport?

By joining the Health AI Mobilisation Centre, participants will pilot AI solutions that directly support NHS and local authority goals around digital transformation, efficiency, and inclusion. 

Participants will: 

  

  • Showcase and embed their AI solutions in live NHS environments. 
  • Access a federation of GP surgeries in East London and contribute to a reusable playbook for AI adoption, opening pathways to national rollout. 
  • Receive tailored mentorship from experts across digital health, governance, and innovation. 
  • Engage with Thames Freeport’s industry leaders and stakeholders. 
  • Generate real-world evidence and a strong business case for future NHS adoption. 
  • Align with evolving NHS tech policy, data governance standards and the move toward value-based digital health interventions. 

Successful pilots may also lead to commercial pathways, including the potential for multi-year contracts with GP practices after the pilot. 

This is a unique opportunity to demonstrate measurable value, build lasting partnerships, and accelerate the adoption of AI-driven healthcare innovation across the Thames Estuary region. 

APPLY HERE

Our mentors & partners

You’ll work alongside a multidisciplinary team spanning Thames Freeport partners, NHS and primary care providers, and leading innovation experts from across the health and technology sectors. 

Mentors and collaborators will include representatives from: 

  • A network of Primary Care and NHS Delivery Partners, including Together First CIC, local Primary Care Networks (PCNs), Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), and local authorities. 
  • Innovation and Delivery Experts from L Marks, PUBLIC, and MH&A, offering guidance across product validation, data governance, and NHS compliance. 
  • Public sector procurement advisors and experts in helpful digital solutions to scale across the UK public sector and healthcare market. 
  • Industry and Freeport Partners, providing insight into innovation, logistics, investment, and regional economic development. 

Together, they provide the expertise, networks, and support needed to help innovators navigate NHS pathways, demonstrate measurable value, and scale AI-driven healthcare solutions across the Thames Estuary region. 

Learn more

The AI Centre is delivered by Thames Freeport in partnership with L Marks, PUBLIC and MH&A combining deep expertise in innovation, health and care system transformation, and programme delivery. 

 

L Marks 

L Marks is the global leader in corporate innovation, trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations to identify, validate, and implement transformative solutions. Through its network spanning over 80 countries, L Marks discovers more than 10,000 startups and scaleups annually and has enabled over 480 to pilot with corporate partners, achieving an industry-leading deployment rate of 78%. With over a decade of experience delivering 110+ award-winning innovation programmes across Europe, North America, and Asia, L Marks brings its proven capability in designing and managing innovation programmes that deliver measurable impact. 

 

PUBLIC 

PUBLIC is committed to helping the public sector turn innovative ideas into practical solutions. PUBLIC’s mission has always been to help the public sector deliver outstanding, digitally-enabled services that create a better society for everyone. The company is committed to helping the public sector embed durable capabilities within government and public sector organisations itself to support transformation that has a positive, lasting impact on public services. 

Combining policy expertise with cutting-edge technology insight, PUBLIC supports public sector organisations (in health and care, security, transport, local government, defence and many others) to design, procure, and implement digital and AI solutions that meet real-world needs. 

 

MH&A 

MH&A is a management consultancy built for reinvention. We combine insight, imagination, and execution smarts to help public and private leaders deliver impact that holds, from complex health and social-care transformation to national innovation programmes. 

FAQs

Applying

Is my business right for the Health AI Centre?

Health AI Centre delivered by Thames Freeport in partnership with L Marks, PUBLIC and ,MH&A gives solution providers the opportunity to deploy proven technologies in a live community healthcare setting. We’re looking for solutions that make community healthcare more accessible, efficient, and data-driven. If your product can improve how frontline health services reach people, we encourage you to apply. 

What’s the deadline for applying?

Applications close 7 January 11:59 pm (GMT). 

Is there a minimum age?

You must be at least 18 years old to apply for the Health AI Centre 

I don’t live in the UK, can I apply?

Yes. We welcome international solution providers. Most collaboration will take place virtually, but company representatives must attend key in-person events in the UK. Please check visa requirements before applying. 
Participating

Is Thames Freeport: AI Centre different from other innovation programmes?

Yes. The AI Centre isn’t a long accelerator; it’s a Proof of Concept: You’ll: 

  • Deploy your solution in the Thames Freeport region. 
  • Collaborate with experts from healthcare, local government, and industry. 
  • Gather evidence and feedback to demonstrate measurable impact. 

What is the process?

The process has four stages. 

 

Stage 1: Open Call & Scouting 

Applications open to solution providers across the UK and internationally. Submissions are reviewed for innovation, feasibility, scalability, and alignment with NHS and local priorities. 

Stage 2: Screening & Shortlisting 

Applications are assessed internally, with shortlisted candidates selected for review by programme partners. 

Stage 3: Selection 

Proposed solutions are evaluated for strategic fit, operational feasibility, and measurable impact. Final participants join the Health AI Mobilisation Centre for pilot deployment. 

Stage 4: Pilot Delivery 

Selected innovators deploy their technologies in collaboration with GP practices, Primary Care Networks, and NHS partners, supported by Thames Freeport, L Marks, PUBLIC, and MH&A. 

Where does the Thames Freeport AI Centre take place?

The location is still being finalised. Planning and mentoring are mostly online, with in-person attendance required for key events. 

Where will the mentors come from?

Mentors come from: 

  • Healthcare partners – NHS, pharmacy, and local authority team 
  • L Marks’s innovation specialists 
  • PUBLIC Public sector innovation and procurement specialists 

  

What does day-to-day participation look like?

The programme is designed to help you develop your solution, starting with deciding on a specific use case, receiving essential guidance from your mentors, and demonstrating the value of your solution to Thames Freeport and the key partners that you will work with. Each participant’s experience on the programme will be unique; we tailor the programmes to meet your business’s specific needs. 

Do I need to give away equity to participate?

No, we do not ask for equity for participating in this programme. However, we may ask you to keep us notified about future funding. 

Will Thames Freeport invest in the companies that join the programme?

They may consider investment or partnership after the pilot, but it isn’t guaranteed.

Are you asking for exclusivity?

No. Future commercial deals may include limited exclusivity within the UK or the Thames Freeport area. All participants sign a mutual NDA to protect confidential information. 

Will I need to disclose confidential information about my business?

Only public information is needed at the application stage. Selected participants sign a Participation Agreement with an NDA before sharing sensitive details. 

Are you offering any travel support or assistance?

We will not be covering travel expenses to participate in programme-related activities. However, if you have a specific request, it can be raised at the start of the programme. 

Do I have to relocate to participate?

No, relocation isn’t required. Most programme activities take place virtually. You’ll only need to attend key in-person events in the UK, such as the Showcase and Evaluation Week. 

How many suppliers will be chosen for the lab?

We anticipate that between 3 applicants will be selected, although we reserve the right to select more or fewer depending on the quantity and quality of applications received. 

Who is L Marks? What is their role in the innovation programme?

L Marks is the global leader in corporate innovation, trusted by many of the world’s most well-respected brands and organisations to identify, validate, and implement transformative solutions. Through its global network spanning over 80 countries, L Marks discovers more than 10,000 startups and scaleups annually and has enabled over 480 to pilot with corporate partners, achieving an industry-leading deployment rate of 78%. Their alumni have collectively raised over $6.8 billion in venture funding. 

With over a decade of experience in delivering 110+ award-winning innovation programmes across Europe, North America, and Asia, L Marks is embedding new structures and technologies, driving an innovative culture, and ultimately fuelling sustainable growth. 

Who can I contact for questions regarding the programme or the application form?

Please submit your questions to tfphealth@lmarks.com and we will be happy to assist you.