Workshop to promote innovation in regional health care took place in Valmiera

The Workshop on Health Development Projects took place in Valmiera at the Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences on 5 April 2024 with the aim to promote the development and implementation of interdisciplinary research and innovation projects in the regions.

Vidzeme region is home to a number of nationally important healthcare institutions providing primary, secondary, and tertiary care, as well as high-quality and accessible rehabilitation services. By fostering the development of innovative and modern healthcare and rehabilitation services in Vidzeme, it is also possible to contribute to the growth of smart specialisation in the region and beyond.

With this aim, the Vidzeme Planning Region (VPR), the Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences/European University (E³UDRES²), and EIT Health RIS Hub in Latvia jointly organised the Workshop on Health Development Projects. Participants had the opportunity to learn about the opportunities offered by EIT Health and to get to know the activities of Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences and Vidzeme Planning Region.

'Wishing to address current issues, we first reached out to hospitals and clinics to ask them about the most pressing challenges at all levels of care. We received a confirmation that these require interdisciplinary collaboration and patient involvement. For healthcare institutions in particular, the adoption of digital and innovative solutions is limited by legislation. However, we hope that by joining forces and making creative use of funding sources for research, innovation, and digitisation, we will be able to drive the field forward within our respective capabilities, and together make a significant impact,' shares Linda Lancere, digital rehabilitation researcher at the Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences.

Networking with the healthcare institutions during the workshop

Developing high added-value healthcare services requires that innovative approaches are adopted, which also calls for an evidence-based and patient-centred approach. This is why different stakeholders were invited to participate - Latvian digital health start-ups and researchers from interdisciplinary fields like IT, machine learning, medicine, and others. 

The first part of the event was an exchange-style networking in which the healthcare institutions that were participating in the workshop had the opportunity to get to know potential partners. The workshop was attended by representatives from companies that included Meditec, Longenesis, Doctowell, Assistentis, Bdetect, Visma, Medon, Fungo, BirgerMind, 2nd HealthTech, as well as researchers from Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU), the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology of Riga Technical University (RTU), Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, and Daugavpils University. The teams of potential partners formed together with Vidzeme Hospital, National Rehabilitation Centre "Vaivari", Rehabilitation Centre "Līgatne", and Strenči Psychoneurological Hospital during the networking part. Then they worked on formulating collaborative ideas, identifying existing and essential resources and competences, and involved participants from among the developers.

'The workshop resulted in many new opportunities for collaboration and some great ideas. For example, an innovative solution could be implemented through the prism of collaboration between applied research and IT companies," says Lancere.

The event took place within the framework of the Vidzeme Entrepreneurship Centre project "Entrepreneurship Support Measures in Vidzeme Planning Region", co-financed by Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway through EEA grants. 

In cooperation with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology's Health Knowledge and Innovation Community (EIT Health) RIS Hub in Latvia, located at RSU, and with Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences /European University (E³UDRES²).