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Health&Care Network Kempen
Published on 16 October 2018
Belgium
Prov. Antwerpen
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
The Health and Care Network Kempen reinforces entrepreneurship and collaboration in the sector of Health & Care with the main goal to boost innovation in health. The Health & Care Network has one single point of contact (coordinator) for all stakeholders in the region who also operates as a link to regional and federal governments, to share with policy makers any obstacles and concerns thus giving input for policy improvement.
The goals of the Health & Care Network have been defined by over 60 stakeholders from the quadruple helix at 2 co-creation sessions between July and October 2016. One central question: ”What can we gain as a region by building a strong network?” Mission and vision of the HCN, the USP’s of the region and the expectations from stakeholders towards the HCN have been defined together and concrete goals have been written in a strategic plan that is annually updated.
The network works on 6 domains:
1. Testing and validation (living lab infrastructure)
2. Joint facilities and services
3. Upscale of innovations to the consumermarket
4. Innovative financing instruments
5. Collaboration between education and job market
6. Attractive region for innovation
The goals of the Health & Care Network have been defined by over 60 stakeholders from the quadruple helix at 2 co-creation sessions between July and October 2016. One central question: ”What can we gain as a region by building a strong network?” Mission and vision of the HCN, the USP’s of the region and the expectations from stakeholders towards the HCN have been defined together and concrete goals have been written in a strategic plan that is annually updated.
The network works on 6 domains:
1. Testing and validation (living lab infrastructure)
2. Joint facilities and services
3. Upscale of innovations to the consumermarket
4. Innovative financing instruments
5. Collaboration between education and job market
6. Attractive region for innovation
Expert opinion
The Health and Care Network Kempen is a network composed of quadruple helix stakeholders who have the mission to update the strategic plan and priority areas in health and care for the Antwerp region. The creation of quadruple helix networks in strategic regional sectors is increasingly relevant to create a shared vision, to identify potential weaknesses, and to discuss priority areas for devising action plans. The Health and Care Network Kempen presents a case to create such a network in the health and care industry.
Suggestions for potential Good Practice transfer:
-The creation of quadruple helix networks in strategic regional sectors can be applied across different European regions with different institutional contexts.
-As pointed in the Good Practice, a coordinator must ensure that quadruple helix networks meet regularly to identify potential weaknesses in the regional sectors and to discuss priority areas and action plans for addressing those weaknesses.
-New tools such as Social Network Analysis can be used to monitor the network over time and to identify the most relevant stakeholders to include in the network.
Suggestions for potential Good Practice transfer:
-The creation of quadruple helix networks in strategic regional sectors can be applied across different European regions with different institutional contexts.
-As pointed in the Good Practice, a coordinator must ensure that quadruple helix networks meet regularly to identify potential weaknesses in the regional sectors and to discuss priority areas and action plans for addressing those weaknesses.
-New tools such as Social Network Analysis can be used to monitor the network over time and to identify the most relevant stakeholders to include in the network.
Works at
Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform
Resources needed
Funding for 1 coordinator+operational costs from the Province of Antwerp till Jul 2019 (estimated at 120.000 euro. Remaining part financed by Thomas More University College. The 7 members of the Steering Group deliver services in kind f.i. building and maintaining the website, support at events
Evidence of success
Over 600 persons reached from the quadruple helix in matchmaking and information sessions, and network events. Health and Care Network Kempen brings visions and knowledge together. This resulted in at least 7 concrete regional collaboration projects with partners from care, business, education and public sector.
Potential for learning or transfer
The creation of the HCN shows that it is possible to set up a dedicated network in a very short period if you involve everybody from the very beginning to build a common vision and strategy and to set up task forces focusing on specific themes. This method is easily transferable to other regions.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Thomas More University College
Belgium
Prov. Antwerpen