Strong start: During January Oslo Mectech-members recieved NOK 21,5 million in grants to early phase innovation projects. That is more than total grants received in 2011.
- We got on to a very good start of the new year. But we have to remember that this is a result of long term efforts and cooperation between our members and Oslo Medtech, and a priority of the health care sector at The Regional Development Fund in the Oslo region. Going forward, I believe we have established a strong foundation, and hopefully the medtech sector will continue to reap the rewards from this work, says Oslo Medtech CEO Kathrine Myhre.
- I would also like to thank The Regional Development Fund, which has been very supportive and constructive, says Myhre.
Accelerate innovation
- A total of five consortiums received between NOK 1,6 million and NOK 7,3 million in support to their early phase development projects. Novelda, a research based privately held, R&D driven fabless semiconductor company, received the biggest grant to develop a safety radar to be used in homebased care. The County of Bærum and SINTEF, the largest independent research organization in Scandinavia, were awarded NOK 7 million to their project “Technology and services: Be able to live your life in your own home as long as possible”.
We can trace back four of these five projects to a special “Wish I had…” seminar arranged by Oslo Medtech in November 2010. At this seminar, most of these projects found their consortium partners.
The fifth project has grown out of a “I wish I had-process” at Østfold Hospital and a Breakfast meeting in Oslo Medtech May 2011. Oslo Medtech has led the concept and pilot phase and been a member of the project group. One of the most important lessons to draw from this process, is that developing innovation projects and consortiums of innovation partners takes time. Oslo Medtech`s role is to help hospitals and local authorities address their needs for new Medtech and eHealth products, services and solutions, put the groundwork in to help build the consortiums, and then the consortiums can seek the appropriate financing.
Oslo Medtech`s main ambitions is to accelerate the innovation process and to create and promote innovation within the industry.
- We continuously strive to support and help building a vibrant, strong and competitive industry, says Kathrine Myhre.
