Optimizing the impact of public policies in favour of research and innovation facilities in the field of medical technologies
CONTEXT:
Medical technologies are a key sector for the future in Europe by bringing solutions to reduce healthcare costs in a context of ageing population. With emergence of new and cross-sectorial technologies, it is one of the most innovative high-tech sector which faces a strong world competition requiring each time more innovation. But the sector is fragmented with a high number of products and SMEs; RDI infrastructures offers do not always meet effectively companies demands.

PARTNERSHIP:
The project brings together 9 partners from 8 EU countries (FR, IT, NL, D, FI, DK, HU, PL) with a mix of regional public authorities, innovation agencies and a cluster (all having delegation of competencies from their public authority) and an advisory partner. They are supported by strongly involved skilful stakeholders: managing authorities, centres of research, clusters, hospitals.

OBJECTIVE:
Improving public policies (structural funds and regional policies) in favour of RDI facilities to be more adapted to the specificities of the medtech domain.

APPROACH:
In phase 1, the project follows a progressive 3-steps approach starting from a state of the play in each partner’s region from which best practices will be cross-analysed to deliver recommendations in order to improve the policies addressed in partners’ regions.

MAIN ACTIVITIES/ OUTPUTS:
The project will lead to the implementation of 8 local action plans thanks various activities of exchange of experiences, among which self-assessment, benchmarking, interregional mapping and joint analysis, 1 interregional seminar, 3 study visits, 4 workshops, 4 dissemination events (2 at European level to fuel the EU reflection).

MAIN EXPECTED RESULTS:
Increase knowledge and skills among stakeholders and staff members (50). 20 best practices and 8 improved policies instruments (5 related to structural funds) to strengthen RDI ecosystems, develop new RDI business models and new RDI interregional projects at EU level in the medtech sector.