Project description
(1) Insufficient commercial exploitation of ideas and inventions from health care practitioners and/or research organisations. Main issues are frequent lack of: (a) proper proof-of-concept; (b) experienced teams; (c) clear definition and understanding of the market opportunity and exit possibility. Public-Private financing is not available if these basics are missing. This together with (d) “scarce early financing for highly innovative ideas” blocks the further development of innovations and growth of start-up companies.
(2) Procurement practices and facilitation of SME access to health care market. Opportunities to promote regional economic development, reduce healthcare expenditures and improve public health service by enhanced access of SMEs are not exploited efficiently.
(3) Cultural differences and competencies between target groups BSHR HealthPort has two main target groups; a) the innovative SMEs as major technology and service providers and b) the health care providers as major purchasers. Due to the different cultures of the target groups it is essential to strengthen competencies within innovation for both groups.
Objectives:
(1) Promote business development via matchmaking to facilitate SME access to the health care market by SMEs to join (a) R&D projects; (b) pre-commercial procurement; (c) engagement in procurement.
(2) Implement an idea competition for health care practitioners to create new SMEs or enable SME growth through linkage to financing and business development.
(3) Enhance innovation competencies for health care providers and SME managers in e.g. business skills and health care innovation specifics; licensing and knowledge transfer; financing and verification of new ideas; marketing, sales and procurement
(4) Integrate a BSR Health Economy Innovation Agenda in order to improve healthcare, reduce healthcare expenditures and enhance positive impact on regional economic development.
In addition the project will: (a) collect best practise on regional differences in how public procurement can spur innovations; (b) design a course book on innovation training in the health care sector for business development organisations; (c) spread best practise on how to implement SME products and services in the health care sector; (d) further develop cross-border and cross-sectoral services and health care business support between BSR clusters and networks.