A novel polymerizable photoinitiator (HEMA-IPDI-2959) was synthesized through the reaction of Isophorone diisocyanate with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and Irgacure 2959. The molecular structure of HEMA-IPDI-2959 was characterized through 1H NMR, FT-IR, UV–vis and a high-resolution mass spectrum. The UV–vis spectrum and 1H NMR of the photolysis product of HEMA-IPDI-2959 suggest HEMA-IPDI-2959 to be a type I photoinitiator. Furthermore, HEMA-IPDI-2959 and Irgacure 2959 were also used to initiate the polymerization of 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate and Trimethylolpropane triacrylate. Results suggest that HEMA-IPDI-2959 has a higher reactivity with a lower migration rate relative to Irgacure 2959.