Health-TIES consortium aims to accelerate innovation in healthcare

On Thursday 7 October, Europe's top regions in healthcare technology will launch the Health-TIES consortium that aims to accelerate innovation in healthcare. The consortium is backed by a three-year grant from the European Commission and is set up to strengthen the research potential of European regions through research-driven clusters of universities, research centres, enterprises and regional authorities. The consortium consists of Medical Delta (the Netherlands), Life Science Zurich (Switzerland), Oxford & Thames Valley (United Kingdom), BioCat (Catalonia) and the mentoring region észak-Alföld (Hungary).

Challenges
The great health challenges of the 21st century - such as an ageing population and the sustainability of the healthcare system - call for a collaborative approach and major innovations. These often arise from regional clusters of investors, research universities and technology companies willing to try novel approaches. The Health-TIES consortium combines Europe's top regions in biosciences, medical technology and health entrepreneurship: Medical Delta, Life Science Zurich, Oxford & Thames Valley, Biocat, and the mentoring region észak-Alföld in Hungary. Together, these regions will work to create a blueprint for the creation of a successful cluster in healthcare technologies.

From science to market
Health-TIES aims to accelerate the Healthcare Technology Innovation Cycle. The clusters in the partner regions combine clinical science with engineering and computer science, businesses and industries, regional authorities and well-established bioscience parks. To map what is needed to speed up the transfer of idea to product - or science to market - the partners will analyse regional R&D needs, capacities and policies of the participating clusters. The results of these analyses will be implemented in the practices of the participating clusters. Health-TIES will also stimulate joint science, education and infrastructure. There will be a vibrant exchange of staff and students in the consortium. Entrepreneurial training will be included in joint education programmes. Health-TIES will thus create a platform where all stakeholders meet and exchange ideas.

Four major disease areas
Technology plays a growing role in tackling healthcare challenges. Health-TIES will focus on four major disease areas: cardiovascular diseases, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and infectious diseases. Recent scientific and technological breakthroughs in molecular technology, imaging, as well as drug design, development and delivery have opened up exciting new opportunities. The consortium applies these technologies to the four disease areas.

The consortium will actively involve end-users (medical doctors and patient advocacy groups) in the development of new technologies. Best practices will be shared within the consortium and with other EU regions.