Eight Israeli mental health startups participated last week in the second Dangoor Health-Tech Academy delegation to the United Kingdom, expanding collaboration between Israeli innovators and the British healthcare system.
The initiative is led by the UK-Israel Tech Hub at the British Embassy in Israel with support from Dangoor Education. The latest delegation followed the success of the program’s first cohort, which focused on artificial intelligence-based healthcare solutions.
This year’s program placed a dedicated emphasis on technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions, reflecting the growing priority of mental healthcare within the United Kingdom.
The participating startups showcased a range of mental health technologies, including clinician-support platforms, biofeedback tools, neurostimulation devices and AI-driven care models designed to improve diagnosis, treatment and personalized support.
Mental health remains a major public health priority in the UK. According to government data, one in five adults in England is living with a common mental health condition. In response, the British government recently announced a 50 million-pound investment in mental health research aimed at accelerating innovation, strengthening services and improving outcomes nationwide.
Organizers said the academy reflects the UK’s commitment to advancing scalable mental health technologies through collaboration between innovators and healthcare institutions.
The three-day delegation included meetings with healthcare organizations, National Health Service trusts and investors across the UK, as well as a UK-Israel reception at the House of Lords.
Led by Ronit Applebaum, healthcare innovation sector lead at the UK-Israel Tech Hub, the academy offered participants an introduction to the UK healthcare ecosystem, including the structure of the NHS, the British regulatory landscape and opportunities for collaboration in mental healthcare.
British Ambassador to Israel Simon Walters said the initiative underscored the growing partnership between the two countries in healthcare innovation.
“This remarkable initiative highlights the growing cooperation between the United Kingdom and Israel in the vital field of mental health,” Walters said. “Both countries are global leaders in innovation and research, harnessing advanced technologies to improve wellbeing.”
He added that the Dangoor Health-Tech Academy reflected a shared vision that would “foster groundbreaking collaborations and accelerate the adoption of transformative healthcare technologies.”
Keren Shurkin, director of the UK-Israel Tech Hub, said the delegation proceeded despite challenges posed by the ongoing war in Israel.
“We are truly delighted that the delegation was able to proceed despite the challenging circumstances brought by the war,” Shurkin said. “By connecting innovators between our two countries, we are helping to deliver impactful solutions that support mental health and transform care for individuals and communities.”
The Dangoor Health-Tech Academy was established with support from Dangoor Education to strengthen ties between Israeli health technology companies and the UK healthcare ecosystem, particularly the NHS.
The UK-Israel Tech Hub, established in 2011, operates as a nonprofit initiative within the British Embassy in Israel. Founded by the UK government, the hub works to promote economic growth through technology partnerships between the UK and Israel.