TRANSFER OF INNOVATION DEMANDS FROM CLINICS TO SMEs

The transfer of innovation-related information from field providers of care (social, health, etc.) who are closest to the real users, to those who can use that information in order to innovate products and technologies is rather difficult in general. In this Good practice knowledge for innovation was available in clinics and their medical, scientific and technical employees. The problem was to encourage and extract the knowledge out of people´s mind. SMEs were highly interested to get access and to be involved in the innovation transfer process as they have certain advantages and flexibility in developing labtypes, prototypes and SME solutions for bottom-up innovation approach. The practice being transferred to HoCare project made analysis of key players as well as evaluation of clinics concerning their potential and motivation for inventions and innovations. For those identified and interested, several regional innovation workshops with (A) healthcare providers, B) SMEs, C) R&D, D) healthcare insurance companies, healthcare decision makers and political groups were organized to gather innovative ideas or requests based on the needs from the clinics. Consequently, a pilot generation of new products, processes and services was initiated by cooperation of clinics and participating SMEs as well as transnational matching plan of clinical innovations with SMEs. The practice is great example of how to initiate and develop new innovations also in home care based on similar approach.