Bridging the gap between research, business and education with a new hub
With the support of 15 partners, we have launched a new regional innovation hub in Austria to bridge the gap between research, business, and education, so that healthcare innovation may flourish.
The new hub can be found in the third district of Vienna and connects the EIT Health Partner network with local talent, to bring innovative health solutions to market faster. The Austrian life science sector is sizeable as it has 1,000 biotech, pharmaceutical, and medical device companies in operation and a revenue of over €25.1BN. Furthermore, its success is also supported by 24,000 life science employees, working at 17 universities, 13 universities of applied science, and 25 non-university research institutes.
EIT Health Austria will build on this success and drive healthcare innovation in the region. The aim is to connect Austrian businesses, research institutions, and universities, to provide programmes giving innovators the skills, mentorship, and financial access needed to develop market-ready products.
“The healthcare industry in Austria has many strengths, including a well-developed healthcare system, a competitive market with several big players, and particularly strong SMEs. It also has an extensive talent pool and well-functioning life science clusters. Plus, the ambition and political strategy needed to drive innovation in areas where our healthcare systems can be improved. We look forward to leveraging this powerhouse for greater impact as part of the wider EIT Health network,” – said Dr. Dirk Holste, Managing Director ad interim, EIT Health Austria.
The establishment of the new hub has been supported by 15 highly engaged Austrian Partners, EIT, and key institutions at a regional level. These include the Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy, the Austrian Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, and the Vienna Business Agency. Moreover, local financial support enables the implementation of the innovation lab project, Health.Gateway.Austria, with the goal to boost synergies between Austrian and European stakeholders. This will be supported by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency FFG for the next six years.
“Launching a regional innovation hub in Austria is a vital step in furthering our work to create resilient healthcare systems in Europe. The combination of EU and local funding means we can drive healthcare innovation sustainably, and for the long term in this region. The Austrian hub will contribute to pan-European solutions to the significant healthcare challenges we face across Europe,” – said Lisa Shaw-Marotto, Chair of the Supervisory Board, EIT Health.