New forum for cooperation in the health and well-being sector
(20.7.09)
The Strategic Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation in the health and well-being sector launched its operations in spring 2009 under the name T&H SHOK and has since gathered together companies, universities and research institutes in the sector to plan R&D measures.
“Our work has great significance for cooperation and interaction in the sector. Promising initiatives and plans have already emerged,” says Saara Hassinen, Managing Director of Finnish Bioindustries, who is charge of the preparatory work.
“A multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach help in setting long-term goals and improve the accuracy of the research targets. Resources are always limited, but we are now better equipped than ever to avoid overlap and benefit from synergies.”
The foremost aim of the Strategic Centre is to promote human health and well-being and to boost Finnish business activity in the sector.
The limited company that runs the operations of the Strategic Centre, T&H SHOK Oy, was founded in May 2009. The founding partners are a number of players in the Finnish health and well-being sector, 16 enterprises and 13 other organisations. The company is to start its operations in September 2009, with Saara Hassinen as Managing Director.
Research that is important for the entire economy
T&H SHOK will develop products, services and operating methods that can help prevent and treat conditions such as obesity and related illnesses, neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases, cancers, and microbial infections and inflammation. A further aim is to maintain and improve people’s functional capacity.
“There is a great deal of core expertise available in these fields in Finland, noted even in international scientific comparisons. Finnish expertise in areas such as diagnostics, imaging, calculation, exercise and nutrition and ICT is also of a high standard.”
The planning of research programmes is already in full swing. The first three programmes – Brain health and functional capacity, Smart monitoring of the health and well-being of individuals, and Obesity and related health challenges – will be launched at the beginning of 2010. There are also two development focus areas that cut across the themes of the programmes, namely Individualised service structure changes and Data and calculation.
“The widespread diseases that we have selected for study – various neurodegenerative conditions and metabolic syndrome – account for more than half of Finland’s health-care expenditure, so the outcomes of our work will contribute to reducing health-care expenditure,” Hassinen says, outlining the social and economic importance of research conducted within the Strategic Centre.
“The Strategic Centre will also contribute to efforts to creating a situation where the health services can gradually make a transition from treating illnesses to maintaining health.”
A solid platform already exists
There are a number of extensive programmes in progress in the health and well-being sector, launched by ministries, the Academy of Finland and Tekes. It is important to work together with these, Hassinen says.
There are also seven of the Academy of Finland’s Centres of Excellence in research operating in the same sector as the Strategic Centre. The infrastructure for calculation and research and the growing bio-bank operations in Finland are working closely with the Strategic Centre.
“All this creates a solid platform that provides good conditions for research and development.”
Areas where Hassinen hopes for more investment than hitherto include basic research related to service provision and the social welfare and health care system. “This would contribute to attaining the Strategic Centre’s aims.”
What does T&H SHOK have to offer universities, research institutes and researchers?
“A forum for close cooperation with the business sector, a fast track for the commercialisation of inventions and potential for long-term research funding.”
The research programmes are made up of ‘work packages’, that are prepared further in cooperation between companies and researchers. The Strategic Centre will not be arranging open calls for applications, but may gather ideas for implementation through calls for outline proposals. Those who wish to be involved in programme planning are encouraged to contact the programme managers.
Text: Paula Böhling
Photos: Juha Rahkonen
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