EIT Health

GE Healthcare, as a leading provider of medical imaging, monitoring, biomanufacturing, and cell and gene therapy technologies, enables precision health in diagnostics, therapeutics and monitoring through intelligent devices, data analytics, applications and services. With over 100 years of experience in the healthcare industry and more than 50,000 employees globally, the company helps improve outcomes more efficiently for patients, healthcare providers, researchers and life sciences companies around the world.

With over 240-year-old tradition, Semmelweis University (SU) is one of Europe’s leading centres for research and innovation in biomedical sciences and related fields. Based on the R&D index the SU is one of the country’s best Elite Research-Universities employing more than 1100 staff scientists in 140 active research teams. As the largest independent health care provider in Hungary, SU is providing excellent capacities for high quality testing and for the implementation of research results. SU is an international specialized public university with five faculties: Dentistry, Health and Public Services, Health Sciences, Medicine, Pharmacy. Study programs range from undergraduate to doctorate level and are offered in three languages at five faculties. The SU Innovation Centre was established in 2013 as a central university department in charge of R&D administration and support. It deals with technology transfer, third party funding, fundraising, knowledge management and entrepreneurship.

Synlab Italia is a national network of laboratories, blood collection points and diagnostic centres to provide a comprehensive service to patients throughout Italy. The network has grown gradually adopting a strategy of regional, respected and reliable laboratories’ acquisition, in which Synlab implements its organizational model in order to standardize performance all over the country and ensure quality and excellence. This unique diagnostic network introduces a new “integrated” approach to medical innovation, prevention and healthcare in Italy, an approach in line with the quality standards of excellence in Europe. Synlab is now the most important "Integrated Diagnostics" group in Italy, and the chosen partner of many patients, specialists and “service” customers for diagnostic services.

MUL is among the largest state-owned medical Universities in Poland. It has reached a leading position in the following research areas: immunology, molecular biology, genetics of homeostasis disorders, oncology, hypertension and endocrinology. Within the last two years, young researchers from MUL were considered leaders in areas such as cardiology, oncology, immunology and dermatology.

University of Coimbra (UC) is a reference in higher education and R&D in Portugal, due to the quality of the courses taught at its eight colleges and to the advances achieved in pure and applied research in various scientific domains and on technology related areas. The offer in technological research makes UC an undeniable reference in R&D in Portugal, which highlights the excellence of work developed by the R&D units of UC, namely in the fields of life sciences. UC offers advanced entrepreneurship education trainings programs in different areas that bind to technology, where it was considered by EC as one of the 20 most inspiring cases in Europe. UC stands out also on technology transfer being involved in the promotion of several successful initiatives, like IPN Incubator, TECBis- Business accelerator unit, Biocant, and in the creation of more than 200 technological spin-offs, the majority of them healthcare related businessess. UC U-Multirank scored “very good” (the maximum classification) on Research, Technology Transfer and Internationalisation.

The North Lisbon Hospital Centre was created on 1 March 2008, by Decree-Law Nr. 23/2008, on 8 February 2008, from the amalgamation of Santa Maria Hospital and Pulido Valente Hospital. These are two important University Schools are worth being mentioned in the Portuguese National Health Service. The North Lisbon Hospital Centre has considerable abilities in human resources, applied technologies and accumulated know-how, along with the support it gives to populations from its area of direct influence. It offers a differentiated reference in multiple clinical areas, both regionally and nationwide, including in Portuguese-speaking African countries (the PALOP).

The Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC) is the biggest Portuguese hospital having a comprehensive research, teaching and patient-centred care approach. Our mission is to deliver high-quality clinical care in a context of pre and postgraduate training with a strong focus on research, scientific knowledge and innovation. The hospital offers comprehensive care across all the leading medical and surgical specialties. CHUC´s excellence centres ensure high standard healthcare services. (e.g. between 1992 and 2014 CHUC performed 1,114 liver transplants). It is the medical institution in Portugal with more accredited reference centres. Key healthcare figures : 1,848 acute beds 7,289 professionals 896,239 medical consultations 41,533 surgical patients 61,816 inpatients 282,919 emergency cases 146 ongoing clinical trials 1,408 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals (SCI) (2012-2014)

The Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN) is a non-profit private organization, which promotes innovation and the transfer of technology, establishing the interface between the scientific and technological environment and the production sector. Created in 1991 through an initiative of the University of Coimbra, IPN has currently a team of almost 100 permanent staff to support start-ups and researchers in these activities. With a self-sustained business model that gives the flexibility and capacity to accompany business sector needs, IPN operates in three complementary areas: Highly specialized training, Research and technological development, and Incubation and acceleration of technology-based enterprises. In terms of applied research and technological development, IPN’s technological infrastructure includes a set of six laboratories in diversified technological areas which, along with its established connections with higher education institutions, R&TD organizations and both national and international companies, place IPN in a privileged position for jointly conducting R&TD activities with enterprises. As for the incubation and acceleration of technology-based enterprises, IPN assists start-ups with technical guidance in the establishment and early stages of business development, tutorial follow-up for developing business plans, support for attracting investment and securing funding, intellectual property and legal assistance (e.g. technology transfer contracts and the registration of patents or brands), access to and contact with various national and international research centres, knowledge institutions and sources of funding.

Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine NIOM is a highly specialized scientific research unit dealing with the issues of, broadly understood, occupational health care as well as issues related to public and environmental health. The quality of research conducted in the Institute is confirmed by the obtained and systematically extended accreditations for specific examinations and calibrations. Currently, laboratories of NIOM have accreditations of the Polish Centre for Accreditation and they also meet the requirements of Good Manufacturing Practice – GMP as well as of Good Laboratory Practice – GLP. The objective of NIOM’s activity is to provide the best possible practical systemic solutions that improve conditions of life and work. NIOM carries out a range of activities the aim of which is to prevent or alleviate the risks of occupational or environmental diseases. NIOM takes a leading role in postgraduate training of medical professionals, particularly of physicians in occupational medicine. NIOM has won the Crystal Brussels Prize for the best Polish research institute in the 6 UE Framework Programme and received the WHO prize for the studies on health promotion. Since 1975 the Institute has been WHO Collaborating Center in Occupational and Environmental Health. Several international seminars, training courses and conferences were jointly organized, and the Institute participated in the implementation of a number of research projects e.g. coordinated by the WHO Regional Office for Europe, International Agency for Research on Cancer etc.

IRCCS S.D.N. SpA is an Italian leading provider of medical imaging and laboratory diagnostic services with five centres located in Napoli, in the South of Italy. One of the primary purposes of S.D.N. is the integration between Diagnostic Imaging and Molecular Diagnostics applied in four research areas: oncology, cardiology, neurology, nutritional doisorders and endocrine metabolic diseases. The Institute has also the capability to perform all diagnostic imaging procedures (PET, SPECT, TC, MR, Ultrasound optical imaging, bone densitometry) in small animal models.

The Federico II University (UNINA) was founded in 1224. More than 80,000 undergraduate students and several hundred post doctorates attend UNINA. The buildings of the University are located in the historical centre of the city (the humanity disciplines), in the Flegrean area (Polytechnic and Economy) and the large Medical School campus, which includes the University Polyclinic. UNINA has developed into four Schools: (Agricultural and Veterinary Medicine, Human and Social Science, Medicine Polytechnic and basic science) and 26 departments with the following teaching areas: Agriculture, Architecture, Economics, Pharmacy, Law, Engineering, Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Medicine, Biotechnological Sciences, Mathematics, Physics and Natural Sciences, Political Sciences, Sociology, Humanities. UNINA's international connections lie in developing research projects (only for FP6 and FP7 more than 200) and higher education activities. UNINA is a reference point for business activity in Italy and abroad.

E-Group is an SME established in 1993, having CEE regional reach with existing client base and international experience in Asia and the US as well. E-Group has a strong product portfolio and expertise in: - user identification, authentication, ID management, tokenization, integrity protection, digital signature, encryption and privacy aspects of data access; - designing and operating mission critical systems (transactional clearing and settlement, payment systems, data collection and distribution) for the financial sector, the national energy grid and energy market operators and the Government. - smart mobile communication technology for integrated video/voice/chat/file based conversation with integrated speech2text, text2speech, language processing, semantic interpretation and intelligent dialog management capabilities and other applied Artificial Intelligence solutions (in cooperation with leading global AI platform partners).

GLINTT has become a major contributor for innovation in assisted living technologies and intelligent systems in healthcare, with a major projection in Portugal and Spain but increasingly worldwide. In fact, Glintt, or Global Intelligent Technologies, is a multi-national technology services, consulting and outsourcing group. It is one of the biggest Portuguese IT companies, listed in the NYSE Euronext Lisbon, under the symbol GLINTT. As of 2015, the company reported revenues of €69,5 M, with over 900 employees, directly operating in Portugal, Spain, Angola and Brazil and serving additional clients across more than eight countries.

Bio Check Up is an Italian SME based in Naples (Italy) with long-lasting experience in radiological evaluations. BCU provides professional consulting, assistance and research in healthcare, with the aim of supporting clinical decision-making processes.

Łukasiewicz Research Network – PORT (Polish Centre for Technology Development) is an institute focused on development of new technologies by conducting research for the benefit of and in cooperation with industry. Łukasiewicz – PORT means high-class specialists using an infrastructure of the most advanced research and development laboratories in our country. The centre’s activities focus on biotechnology (including biobanking) and materials engineering, allowing to carry out both scientific research, as well as pilot studies for the industry in a comprehensive manner.

The Medical University of Gdańsk (MUG) is a modern academic center widely acclaimed both nationally and internationally. University is characterized by high scientific and development potential, which consists of experience, reputable research teams, increasing number of prestigious international publications and grants, as well as a wide range and quality of conducted research confirmed by high categorization of units. The MUG is the only medical university in the country – that has been selected to the elite group of the top 10 best Polish universities awarded in the prestigious Excellence Initiative – Research University competition. Moreover, it is the best medical university in Poland according to the latest edition ot the Perspektywy educational foundation ranking. The MUG educates more than 6000 students, doctoral students and postgraduate students. Among them, there are 935 foreign students, which is over 15 percent of all students. The University educates in all medical professions, based on a modern teaching and clinical infrastructure. - The Medical University of Gdańsk successfully implements a policy stimulating the growth of innovation based on the results of scientific research and development works carried out at the University through the transfer of knowledge to industry and strengthening cooperation with the socio-economic environment at national and international level – said Katarzyna Waligóra-Borek, Ph.D., Acting Director of Technology Transfer Office of the MUG - Intensification of the commercialization of research results is one of the goals of our University's development strategy until 2025, as well as the tasks that we will implement as part of the program “Excellence Initiative – Research University”. The well-established partnership will allow us to use our mutual potential more effectively.

Polpharma is a leader of the Polish pharmaceutical market and one of the leading drug manufacturers in the region of Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Thanks to dynamic development, foreign expansion and capital investments, Polpharma is a strong, international pharmaceutical group, employing over 7,500 employees and offering high quality drugs, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and innovative solutions for patients and business partners from around the world. With a wide portfolio of around 750 products, the company supports patients in the treatment and prevention of the most common diseases. About 400 million packages of drugs which help people in 35 countries leave Polpharma Group factories every year. In turn, APIs go to over 60 countries, including the advanced markets of the United States, Japan and Korea. Polpharma's priority is quality, safety and innovation in all areas of its operation. Partnership with science and constant investments in new products and advanced technologies allow the company to provide patients with a broad access to innovative healthcare solutions.

Patient Innovation Association was established in 2017 as a non-profit organisation, with headquarters located in Lisbon, Portugal. Its main activity consist of an international, multilingual, non-profit platform and social network for patients, caregivers and collaborators of any disease and geography, to promote the sharing of health innovations developed by them to cope with a limitation related with the medical condition that they face. The Patient Innovation platform has currently over 100 thousand users worldwide and 1500 solutions published and medically approved, from more than 2500 submissions from more than 80 countries. Thus, Patient Innovation provides high value know-how about patients and their real needs and challenges, as well as direct contact with patient associations and other healthcare stakeholders. Patient Innovation’s goals are to promote innovation and entrepreneurship by citizens, empower patients and informal caregivers, and to increase value-based healthcare with innovations that are designed by patients targeting their needs. Patient Innovation is already developing ’Patient Innovation Bootcamp: Boosting Patient Entrepreneurship’, supported by EIT Health and in collaboration with a consortium formed by several EIT Health’s partners - CBS, University of Copenhagen, IESE, Biocat, Glintt and NOVA University Lisbon.

NOVA University Lisbon has a strong commitment to health sciences that encompasses all its nine organic units - ranging from molecular biology to the health of populations. Three of NOVA’s schools are directly committed to health: NOVA Medical School, the Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the National School of Public Health, while two others are dedicated to molecular biology and life materials as well as biomedical engineering, by so contributing to life sciences: the school of biotechnology and engineering (Faculty of Science and Technology) and the school of molecular biology (Institute of Chemical and Biological Technology António Xavier). Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, the school of management (Nova School of Business and Economics), the school of data (NOVA Information Management School) and the Law School, do collaborate to research in health sciences, namely covering social dimensions and interactions of health. We may rightly state that NOVA covers the entire health spectrum - from molecule to patient's bedside - linking fundamental biology, technology and health care to ultimately improve the health of populations. NOVAhealth platform mission is to create health value through scientific production, the dissemination of knowledge and the implementation of innovative solutions, useful for the health of populations. To fulfil this mission, we promote research collaborations between NOVA's academic units, as well as establish partnerships with industry and society, focused on research missions, with the identified purpose of responding to concrete problems. NOVAhealth is organized into ten research groups, where members of all NOVA organic units collaborate as well as other external members: Ageing, Nutrition, Value Improvement for Health and Care, Climate Change Impact on Public Health, Integrated Care, Migration and Health, Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, Health Systems and Policies and Tropical Health.

The University of Lisbon (ULisboa) is the largest and most prestigious University in Portugal (ARWU), bringing together areas of knowledge such as science, technology, art studies, humanities, including a broad and multidisciplinary cluster of research units. It has almost 50 000 students (4000 are in doctoral programmes), about 470 programmes and 3720 academic staff and researchers across 18 faculties and institutes, as well as 76 research units. ULisboa reaches about 1/3 of the competitive funding for research within Portuguese higher education institutions. It holds a reputed participation in H2020, within all areas of research. ULisboa is committed to promote the learning mobility of young people. Entrepreneurship as a success key for university education and research has been put into practice through the creation of innovation and entrepreneurship courses involving enterprises. Recently, incubation structures within ULisboa have successfully promoted 95 start-ups.