HSBI Takes Part in a European Innovation Project for Tomorrow’s Healthcare

HSBI is a partner in a new European innovation project that aims at speeding up on the development and market launch of innovative healthcare solutions. The project “THRIVE – Transforming Healthcare Research into Validated Solutions through Alliance-Knowledge and Innovation Communities Cooperation” was selected for funding under the European Union’s European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Higher Education Initiative. 138 project applications were submitted and a maximum of 35 projects were approved. The project is funded with two million euros over a term of 24 months. THRIVE brings together 14 partners from nine European countries, including ten universities from the EduCare 5.0 European University Alliance, health and technology companies and also healthcare organisations. Together, they aim at translating research findings in the healthcare sector more quickly into workable and socially effective innovations.

HSBI plays a central role in this. Building on experiences from the previous project “DigiCare Innovation”, it brings in an expertise in health economics, innovation management and entrepreneurship. The following faculties and institutions are involved: Faculty of Health, Bielefeld School of Business, Faculty of Engineering and Mathematics, the Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE), CareTech OWL and HSBI Transfer. ‌Furthermore, the university will play a key role in establishing new European structures for the assessment and validation of health innovations. “Through this project, we strengthen the combination of research, teaching and innovation in the health sector.  The project enables us developing new ways of translating research findings into clinical practice more quickly and sustainably together with our European partners,” says HSBI President Prof. Dr. Ingeborg Schramm-Wölk.

‌A pan-European innovation ecosystem for healthcare solutions

The project focuses on developing a pan-European innovation ecosystem for healthcare solutions, e.g. in digital aftercare or AI-supported decision support. “To this end, new validation infrastructures are being established which will allow for assessing innovative technologies, digital applications and business models before they are put into practice. The assessment regards their clinical feasibility, economic viability, regulatory requirements and implementation capacity,” explains Dr. Sandra Jansen, project leader of the DigiCare Innovation Project. Another major focus is on fostering entrepreneurial skills. In the coming years, students, researchers and staff of the partner universities are to be qualified for health entrepreneurship through innovative further training. Amongst other things, plans include micro-credentials, international boot camps and a pan-European fellowship programme.

Furthermore, THRIVE plays an important role in the strategic development of the EduCare 5.0 European University Alliance. The project helps consolidate the collaboration between the alliance and the European innovation communities „EIT Health“ and „28Digital“ and build long-term structures for innovation and technology transfer. “THRIVE vividly demonstrates the potential of a collaboration between European universities. Together with our partners in the EduCare 5.0 European University Alliance, we develop innovative solutions together that no country would be able to handle on their own. The project strengthens the knowledge and innovation transfer as well as the European Higher Education Area and our students’, researchers’ and staff’s ability to act,” Judith Peltz, Vice President International Affairs, summarises.

HSBI brings expertise in health innovation, health economics and entrepreneurship

HSBI plays a central role in this. Building on its experiences as the coordinator of the European DigiCare Innovation project, HSBI brings its expertise in health innovation, health economics and entrepreneurship. DigiCare Innovation has already developed innovative test environments for digital health solutions and established initial structures to promote knowledge transfer between research, teaching and practice within the EduCare 5.0 European University Alliance. The innovation environments that have already been established include a virtual reality application designed to promote mental health, a living lab for digital cancer care and the KogniHome. This was developed in collaboration with HSBI: a smart research home in which digital assistance systems and AI applications are developed and tested under realistic conditions to support a healthy and independent everyday life.

With THRIVE, this preparatory work is being taken to the next level: Rather than testing technological solutions alone, health innovations are to be systematically assessed in future in terms of their clinical feasibility, economic viability, regulatory requirements and successful implementation. Thus, the KogniHome apartment could be used in future as a testing environment for ideas and products from European start-ups. Prof. Dr. Natalie Bartholomäus, Vice President Transfer and Societal Impact at HSBI: “Through THRIVE, we are strengthening the transfer of scientific findings into tangible solutions to societal challenges. In the healthcare sector in particular, it is crucial that innovative ideas do not remain in the research stage, but find their way into clinical practice and reach patients. Together with our European partners, we create structures that provide long-term support for this transfer, strengthening our universities’ innovative power.” For HSBI, the successful acquisition of this funding underlines its growing international visibility in the field of health innovation and the university’s active role in shaping digital and sustainable healthcare in Europe. (Text: S. Jansen/vku)