Supporting health-tech innovation and SMEs: Key learnings

Webinar

21 October 2024

By Platform

On 15 October 2024, the Policy Learning Platform hosted a webinar on how to support health-tech innovation and SMEs. Take a look at the recording, presentations and key learnings.

The webinar explored inspirational good practices that support SMEs in the health-tech sector in their growth and product/service development.

Watch the recording, download the presentations and dive into the key learnings below.

Webinar recording

Webinar agenda

Navigate the agenda below to the topic of your interest.

The webinar has been designed and moderated by Mart Veliste and Luc Schmerber, Thematic Experts for a Smarter Europe.

00:01:02 Introduction by Mart Veliste, Thematic Expert for a Smarter Europe

00:09:47 Presentation by Irene Murillo Garcia on the technology voucher program in collaboration with Biogipuzkoa HRI (R&D Unit of Hospital Donostia)

00:22:00 Q&A: Was there a selection process for the technology centres, for example, that follow the Smart Specialisation Strategy of the region or some other policy document? Or were they selected based on their competencies?

00:23:50 Q&A: Your first recommendation is that technology centres must have the need to transfer the technology, can you elaborate on this?

00:26:46 Q&A: Another recommendation you gave was to try to find more mature SMEs or start-ups, so there is bigger potential to continue the collaboration. You mentioned you have two examples of results, could you elaborate on this?

00:28:47 Q&A: Where does the money for the vouchers come from?

00:29:28 Q&A: Six months does not sound like a lot of time. Is this time frame is enough to implement the project?

00:31:29 Presentation by Kathleen D'Hondt on the pathway towards creating successful regional ecosystem in health

00:46:35 Q&A: What does someone need to do or what characteristics does an organisation need to have to participate in the Vanguard initiative?

00:48:26 Q&A: Do you venture capital active in your eco-system or public funding organisations that directly invest in the companies?

00:50:55 Q&A: What is the public sector's responsibility in supporting the health-tech sector or SMEs?

00:54:27 Q&A: How do you manage to capture different bottlenecks?

00:58:20 Presentation by Alizée Joseph Rose and Fanny Boyaval on the HIPÂ project

01:05:45 Q&A: How do you select the companies that can showcase their products?

01:06:36 Q&A: Can you elaborate on the test box?

01:08:14 Q&A: It seems like the tools are final products, are you also involved in the product development phase?

01:10:00 Q&A: Have you already been working with social assistive robots?

Panel discussion

01:15:00 Q&A: Has there been one product that really stands out?

01:17:03 Q&A: Has something surprised you when working with the different vouchers and companies?

01:20:20 Q&A: What type of support is most needed by health-tech sectors and is it different from other sectors?

Key learnings

Below you can access the recording, key learnings and presentations.

For a sustained and growing ecosystem of health tech innovation it is necessary to focus on a) excellent basic research, b) solid tech transfer and c) sufficient funding for the different steps.
Health tech innovation can take years if not decades, thus spanning for longer than dedicated support instruments or a programming period. The public sector needs to be mindful of this and be flexible with the implementation timelines (more time is better) or expectations regarding (short-term) results. Especially rewarding is a situation where the regional ecosystem can provide continued support over a long period of time where a health startup continuously gets to grow within various incubation and acceleration programmes.
Researchers and businesses approach issues with different mentalities. Vouchers are a good tool for connecting SMEs with technology centres and to initiate long-term collaboration among actors that otherwise might find it tricky to start the conversation. However, it is paramount that the technology centre would have an actual need to transfer their technology and know-how.
Not all innovation related to ageing societies needs to be high-tech. SMEs also have an opportunity to find a market opportunity for everyday products that are adjusted to the needs of the elderly, e.g. kitchen utensils. Therefore, even regions with less established health tech research ecosystems can facilitate the creation of innovative products and services.
In any innovation process concerning health the end user needs to remain at the centre of developments. Also, the whole surrounding environment of carers, doctors and family of the end user should be taken into account to find adequate solutions to complex issues.