This position paper was prepared for The Danish ICT Ambassador Taskforce (DICTAT) by Chief Advisor Henrik Hochreuter and Director Finn Kensing, Center for IT Innovation, University of Copenhagen – in cooperation with New Insight A/S.
Download the full position paper here!
Summary
With the aim to be well prepared for future European research programs and new EU initiatives in the Health ICT area, the Danish network DICTAT has taken the initiative to draw a picture of the Danish research landscape and its strongholds on Health ICT.
Health science is the largest research field in Denmark and ranks among the best in the world. Regarding Health ICT Danish, research is at the forefront and among many other competencies has special strongholds within the areas of self-care and patient empowerment (such as mobile Health), and in the areas of medical image analysis and biotechnology. In general there is a strong focus on innovation-engaged research, research both motivated and driven by innovation. This includes innovation-enabling strongholds in using methods such as user driven innovation, participatory design, co-creation and human-computer interaction. Denmark has evolved to become an excellent laboratory for research, development and innovation of Health ICT solutions. In parallel, there is tradition for close cooperation between research groups, public and private companies, healthcare institutions and regional and governmental authorities. Today Danish ICT companies and researchers are involved in numerous common projects related to Health ICT.
From a Danish Health ICT standpoint, priority targets for FP8 and ERA could be to promote self-care and empowerment, Medical Image Analysis and Biotechnology as focus areas concerning Health ICT – and in addition to advance innovation-engaged research with a high degree of user involvement.
In future EU programs, the whole chain of innovation – from basic research to the technical and organisational implementation of a new innovation – should be taken into account. In addition there should be room for bottom-up science-driven Health ICT research to ensure a fertile ground for future applied or innovation-engaged research.
Research recommendations
1. Recommendations to prioritized areas for research in Health ICT in future EU research programmes
Danish research is at the forefront and can contribute considerably to research, development and innovation at the European level in following areas:
- Self-care and patient empowerment
- Medical Image Analysis
- Biotechnology
- Dedicated efforts should be made to promote Danish interest in these areas in FP8 and ERA
- Dedicated efforts should be made to promote methods like user-driven innovation; participatory design and co-creation involving patients and clinicians
2. Recommendations to future EU research programmes
- Funding shall include the entire chain of innovation, from basic research to the creation and implementation of innovative products and services
- Funding for basic research in the tension between health and ICT, for instance in the changing roles of patients and clinicians
- There has to be room for small-scale “bottom-up” Health ICT research and partnerships based on the FET open concept
3. Recommendations to Danish research programmes
- Continue to include and enlarge Health ICT as a future dedicated research theme with prioritized research challenges
- Future calls should include demonstration of value for patients and healthcare professionals and a business case as areas of awareness in coming Health ICT research applications
4. Establishing the case for a Danish Health ICT research application at EU level
- Raise awareness and facilitate cooperation between research and industry
- Develop “show cases” for possible research projects, industry’s role and the market potential. Demonstrate how the road from research to market can be shortened during the projects lifetime.
- Facilitate dialogue among relevant stakeholders dedicated to selected Health ICT research areas
Policy recommendations
1. How can we best harvest the Health ICT growth potential
- Continue and enlarge the support for research, development and innovation in Health ICT
- Continue and enlarge a dedicated policy push towards self-care and patient empowerment
2. Improving the market situation
- Provide more support for commercialisation of research in Health ICT
Examine the possible role of systemic “imperfections” and barriers in the health sector that must be addressed in order to widen the market (e.g. un-conducive reimbursement and incentive systems).
See a map of Danish Health ICT Research Landscape Key Actors here!
See a map of Danish Health ICT Research Competences and Interests here!
DICTAT - Danish ICT Ambassador Taskforce 