The medtech sector in Ireland received a significant boost today with the official opening of the Health Innovation Hub.
The Hub – hosted by University College Cork in partnership with Cork Institute of Technology, the National University of Ireland Galway and Trinity College Dublin, and supported by the Dept of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation through Enterprise Ireland, and the Dept of Health through the HSE – will work on projects to drive collaboration between the health service and enterprise, leading to the development of new healthcare technologies, products, and services.
The launch of Health Innovation Hub Ireland coincides with two calls for proposals. The first is an open call is for innovation into healthcare from companies, or out of healthcare from individuals or teams with good concepts or ideas with no particular theme and all applications impacting health will be considered.
The second call is to focus on projects for improving care for older persons in the healthcare system, with particular emphasis on Internet of Things devices, parient-centred care, and supporting the Smart Ageing Initiative.
Attending the Hub’s launch, Minister for Health Simon Harris said: “This project is important because it will foster a unique partnership between the health service and the enterprise sector, with the aim of improving patient outcomes. The innovative ideas will not only come from enterprise – I am pleased to say they will also emerge from within the health service, and I want to encourage people working in healthcare to take part and make proposals.
“Health Innovation Hub Ireland has huge potential for improving healthcare and outcomes for patients, as well as for Ireland’s health tech sector.”
Outlining the benefits to enterprise of this initiative, Julie Sinnamon, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, said: “The life sciences sector accounts for a significant level of Irelands export revenue and the Health Innovation Hub is an opportunity to further build on our strong international reputation for excellence and innovation in healthcare and ICT.
“New and emerging enterprises will benefit from the initiative through direct collaboration and co-ordination with health sector stakeholders on opportunities within the marketplace. Enterprise Ireland is delighted to support the initiative, which will ultimately go towards improving our own health service and further elevate Ireland’s status as a global leader in healthcare solutions.”
Welcoming Health Innovation Hub Ireland, Richard Corbridge, CIO of the HSE said: “The Health Innovation Hub is a fantastic asset to health care in Ireland. Providing a centre where people can come to foster and build on ideas that could revolutionise our health care system will not only encourage businesses already in this area but will inspire others, within the system and outside of it.
“The Health Innovation Hub along with the strong relationships that are being developed with other organisations will support innovation and disruption in healthcare. Ultimately this will aid the progression in the creation of a digital fabric and improve the patient experience of healthcare as a whole.”
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