Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CONNECTINGHEALTH (CONNECTing the dots withIN diGItal HEALTH Innovation Ecosystems)
Reporting period: 2022-06-15 to 2023-06-14
The COVID-19 pandemic changed the world and healthcare, demonstrating the potential of new solutions and the ability of health and care systems to quickly adopt these new solutions and new ways of working locally, regionally, nationally and globally. Moreover, the European countries (EU, UK and others) face stiff global competition to develop and adopt new domestic health technologies. Collaboration, innovation, and investment that leverages the strengths of our entire continent is needed.
With this in consideration, CONNECTINGHEALTH - CONNECTing the dots withIN diGItal HEALTH Innovation Ecosystems'' has come to fruition. CONNECTINGHEALTH is a two-year preparatory action for setting up joint programme among the actors of the digital health ecosystems in Europe and beyond. The overall aim of the project is to foster interconnected, inclusive innovation ecosystems across Europe and maximising the value of innovation in one of the sectors that provides the future opportunities for growth and increased competitiveness and innovativeness, namely the digital health.
CONNECTINGHEALTH is being implemented by a small and agile core group, which consists of ECHAlliance as a European partner and three organisations that are leaders of the digital health ecosystems in their regions: Scotland, Western Hungary and Southern Ostrobothnia. To reach its goals, CONNECTINGHEALTH has conducted the mapping of the digital health ecosystems in Europe, their initiatives, projects, resources and stakeholders, developed future scenarios for the digital health sector in Europe 2030 and identified the preferable future that will be the base for the multi-year action plan, co-designed together with the stakeholders and ecosystems engaged in the project through the futures and investigative workshops.
CONNECTINGHEALTH will result with the multi-year action plan and the number of immediately exploitable results (i.e. reports and papers) will be disseminated widely to key stakeholders in the field.
With this in consideration, CONNECTINGHEALTH - CONNECTing the dots withIN diGItal HEALTH Innovation Ecosystems'' has come to fruition. CONNECTINGHEALTH is a two-year preparatory action for setting up joint programme among the actors of the digital health ecosystems in Europe and beyond. The overall aim of the project is to foster interconnected, inclusive innovation ecosystems across Europe and maximising the value of innovation in one of the sectors that provides the future opportunities for growth and increased competitiveness and innovativeness, namely the digital health.
CONNECTINGHEALTH is being implemented by a small and agile core group, which consists of ECHAlliance as a European partner and three organisations that are leaders of the digital health ecosystems in their regions: Scotland, Western Hungary and Southern Ostrobothnia. To reach its goals, CONNECTINGHEALTH has conducted the mapping of the digital health ecosystems in Europe, their initiatives, projects, resources and stakeholders, developed future scenarios for the digital health sector in Europe 2030 and identified the preferable future that will be the base for the multi-year action plan, co-designed together with the stakeholders and ecosystems engaged in the project through the futures and investigative workshops.
CONNECTINGHEALTH will result with the multi-year action plan and the number of immediately exploitable results (i.e. reports and papers) will be disseminated widely to key stakeholders in the field.
During the first year of the project a multitude of activities have been conducted successfully.
The consortium produced two papers which aimed to contribute to the body of knowledge in the area of digital health and the future of digital health. The first paper highlighted the lessons learned from other domains of health (including public, urban, environmental, occupational and mental health)- achieving the goal of providing a concise and practical overview that informs about the variety of opportunities and areas that provide chances for growth. The recommendations in this paper aimed to help policymakers, and both public and private stakeholders to better understand and benefit from the opportunities presented by digital health in the future. The second paper highlighted the lessons learned from the three focus areas of digital health (consisting of the Health for Wealth Agenda in Scotland, traditional to digital health industry, and supporting health and social care stakeholders in promoting and adopting the digitalisation and new technologies in health and social care services). This paper provided an overview on how important digital health technology is to the health care system and to the economy. It highlights key opportunities, good practices and barriers faced in adopting digitization across Europe. It sets the stage to initiate discussion, connect and to build programmes and policies on the lessons learnt across the European health innovation ecosystem.
Moreover, the consortium authored four reports. These reports, partnered with a forthcoming multi-year action plan, will steer the second year's efforts. The first report, a Data Management Plan, guided data handling for privacy and FAIR principles. The second, a Project Impact Plan, outlined effective communication strategies for sustained results. The third report, on the three digital health focus areas, advocated for proactive health approaches across Europe's ecosystem. The fourth report projected digital health scenarios for 2030, derived from workshops aligning with the EU agenda.
Interactive workshops, a centerpiece of the project, initiated the cross-sectoral dialogues and brought practical outcomes. These workshops catalyzed digital health innovation and creative thinking on technologies, trends, and user needs. Additionally, a comprehensive map of EU and global digital health stakeholders was compiled, unveiling ecosystems, initiatives, partners, and networks. This mapping task was achieved through research, interviews, and exploratory workshops.
In summary, the project's initial year brought fruitful outcomes: insightful papers on digital health, strategic reports, impactful workshops, and an extensive stakeholder map. These accomplishments form a strong foundation for advancing digital health innovation and shaping its future.
The consortium produced two papers which aimed to contribute to the body of knowledge in the area of digital health and the future of digital health. The first paper highlighted the lessons learned from other domains of health (including public, urban, environmental, occupational and mental health)- achieving the goal of providing a concise and practical overview that informs about the variety of opportunities and areas that provide chances for growth. The recommendations in this paper aimed to help policymakers, and both public and private stakeholders to better understand and benefit from the opportunities presented by digital health in the future. The second paper highlighted the lessons learned from the three focus areas of digital health (consisting of the Health for Wealth Agenda in Scotland, traditional to digital health industry, and supporting health and social care stakeholders in promoting and adopting the digitalisation and new technologies in health and social care services). This paper provided an overview on how important digital health technology is to the health care system and to the economy. It highlights key opportunities, good practices and barriers faced in adopting digitization across Europe. It sets the stage to initiate discussion, connect and to build programmes and policies on the lessons learnt across the European health innovation ecosystem.
Moreover, the consortium authored four reports. These reports, partnered with a forthcoming multi-year action plan, will steer the second year's efforts. The first report, a Data Management Plan, guided data handling for privacy and FAIR principles. The second, a Project Impact Plan, outlined effective communication strategies for sustained results. The third report, on the three digital health focus areas, advocated for proactive health approaches across Europe's ecosystem. The fourth report projected digital health scenarios for 2030, derived from workshops aligning with the EU agenda.
Interactive workshops, a centerpiece of the project, initiated the cross-sectoral dialogues and brought practical outcomes. These workshops catalyzed digital health innovation and creative thinking on technologies, trends, and user needs. Additionally, a comprehensive map of EU and global digital health stakeholders was compiled, unveiling ecosystems, initiatives, partners, and networks. This mapping task was achieved through research, interviews, and exploratory workshops.
In summary, the project's initial year brought fruitful outcomes: insightful papers on digital health, strategic reports, impactful workshops, and an extensive stakeholder map. These accomplishments form a strong foundation for advancing digital health innovation and shaping its future.
The main result of the project will be the multi-year action plan, which will be available at the end of the project. So far in the stage of the project, two papers and four reports have been successfully produced on topics relating to digital health themes, a map of key digital health stakeholders in the EU and beyond has been developed, and 10 workshops looking at the future of digital health have been conducted. Results reflecting the entirety of the project will materialise in the second year of the project when the project comes to an end.
The expected impacts of the project are as follows:
1: Interconnected, inclusive and more efficient digital health innovation ecosystems across Europe.
The project has opened the dialogue with the wide range of stakeholders on the vision for the development of the digital health sector in Europe and their role in boosting growth, competitiveness and innovativeness of the digital health companies and organisations. The stakeholders from all realms of the quadruple helix have been involved. The map of ecosystems provided insights on the strengths of the existing ecosystems and the connections within and between them
2: Improved competitiveness and innovativeness of digital health sector.
The project has been able to explore the opportunities for growth, competitiveness and innovativeness of the digital health sector. This work will continue in the second year.
3: Improved health drives improved wealth.
This impact is linked to work that will start in the second year.
The expected impacts of the project are as follows:
1: Interconnected, inclusive and more efficient digital health innovation ecosystems across Europe.
The project has opened the dialogue with the wide range of stakeholders on the vision for the development of the digital health sector in Europe and their role in boosting growth, competitiveness and innovativeness of the digital health companies and organisations. The stakeholders from all realms of the quadruple helix have been involved. The map of ecosystems provided insights on the strengths of the existing ecosystems and the connections within and between them
2: Improved competitiveness and innovativeness of digital health sector.
The project has been able to explore the opportunities for growth, competitiveness and innovativeness of the digital health sector. This work will continue in the second year.
3: Improved health drives improved wealth.
This impact is linked to work that will start in the second year.