Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 January 2014
339. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress that has been made in the promised establishment of a national health innovation hub following the achievements of the Cork demonstrator project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4187/14]
View answerThe Action Plan for Jobs 2013 included a commitment to establish a world renowned Health Innovation Hub (HIH) to drive collaboration between the health system and commercial enterprises leading to the development and commercialisation of new healthcare technologies, products, and services, emerging from within the health system and/or enterprise. In order to drive this initiative, a National Project Team (NPT) was established which consists of a multidisciplinary team spanning my Department and the Department of Health, as well as executives from the HSE, Enterprise Ireland, IDA and Science Foundation Ireland, and chaired by Dave Shanahan (formerly Head of Global Life Sciences, IDA Ireland and now the Head of Strategic Health initiatives at Abbvie - he is also is one of the six industry partners appointed by Government to assist with the implementation and monitoring of the Disruptive Reforms).
As a precursor to the establishment of a National HIH, a Demonstrator project was established, based in University College Cork, in order to test the Hub model on a small scale and at a regional level. The Demonstrator project initially brought together six innovative Irish healthcare companies with the health service. The companies were selected on the basis of their potential to deliver efficiencies into the health system and their fit with the broader reform of the health system, as well as the economic impact in terms of company growth including export potential. A self-assessment by the Cork Demonstrator project at the end of 2013 found that there is a demand from SMEs for enhanced clinical engagement with the healthcare system to support their development efforts whether in manufacturing, digital technologies or services. It also concluded that the initiative demonstrated how aligning clinical delivery, academia and the business community can yield a new wave of innovation in health related commerce. Following this positive feedback it was decided to issue a second call for projects to participate in the pilot. This call was announced on 16th December 2013 seeking applications from companies or individuals whose products and innovations have the potential to positively impact the healthcare sector in Ireland.
Significant work has been undertaken to date by the NPT overseeing the Demonstrator project and considering options around the establishment, governance and scope of a National Hub. This work will continue apace in 2014 and next steps to be taken in the establishment of the National HIH will be identified in the Action Plan for Jobs 2014.
