The challenge

The Wales Institute for Digital Information was established to drive transformational change in digital information technology use within the Welsh health and social care sector.

To ensure its long-term sustainability and effectiveness, the institute’s directors recognised the need to explore options for becoming a commercially viable standalone institute. Achieving this goal required securing core funding, supported by a robust business case aligned with HM Treasury standards.

Urban Foresight was commissioned to assess the institute’s commercial potential and develop a Commercial Case that could inform future investment decisions.

Why it’s important

As digital innovation becomes an essential driver of efficiency and service improvement in health and social care, institutions like the Wales Institute for Digital Information play a crucial role in bridging the gap between academia and real-world application.

Ensuring the institute’s sustainability through a strong commercial foundation would enable it to continue fostering digital transformation across the sector, supporting national and international collaborations, and driving policy-aligned innovation in Wales.

Our approach

We began by conducting an in-depth assessment of of the Wales Institute for Digital Information’s organisational structure and its three-pillar proposition through desk research and stakeholder engagement. Our approach included:

• Benchmarking against best practice from other intermediate institutions.
• Evaluating potential funding streams and revenue models.
• Engaging key delivery and target market stakeholders to identify needs and opportunities.
• Analysing the policy and funding landscape, including reviewing key policies such as the Innovation Strategy for Wales.
• Advocating for greater funding support for institutions like WIDI with Welsh Government innovation officers.

Our analysis identified insights into the institute’s past performance and highlighted the need to refine its value proposition to enhance its commercial viability.

The outcome

Our work resulted in a clear and actionable Commercial Case that:

• Provided an evidence base for future business case development.
• Recommended simplifying the institute’s value proposition to focus on two key service streams: teaching and open innovation.
• Identified commercial pathways that align with successful innovation models.
• Outlined a viable operating model to enhance the institutes  role as a facilitator of digital innovation between academia and the health and care sector.

How Urban Foresight can help you

Urban Foresight has extensive experience in supporting the commercialisation of innovation-led institutions. Our expertise in business case development, market assessment, and strategic positioning helps organisations like the Wales Institute for Digital Information secure investment and build sustainable, impactful models for growth.

If you are exploring similar opportunities, we can provide the insight and strategy needed to turn vision into reality. Contact us at hello@urbanforesight.com to learn more.