HealthHub Finland EDIH proposal submitted

European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) are part of the EU’s new Digital Europe Programme. They function as service points that boost digital investments and the digitalisation of SMEs. By providing access to technical expertise and experimentation as well as the possibility to ’test before invest’,
EDIHs help companies improve their processes, products, or services using digital technologies. They also provide innovation services, such as financing advice, training, and skills development that are needed for a successful digital transformation. Finland has previously designated 7 EDIH candidates,
which were given the permission to proceed to the related EC funding call ”Initial Network of European Digital Innovation Hubs”, with due date 22 February 2022.

One of the Finnish EDIH candidates is HealtHub Finland. It is focused on leading the digital transformation of healthcare through data-driven innovation. HealtHub Finland has the aim of facilitating new and emerging data-driven solutions created by SMEs in Finland and Europe that shape the future of healthcare domain in Europe and beyond. To do this, the proposal offers multidisciplinary co-creation opportunities for European companies and public healthcare providers that create digital solutions in the fields of health care, pharmaceutical development, medical imaging, diagnostics, and genetics.

HealtHub Finland partners come from 5 regions in Finland with their own expertise and services, but they also collaborate more widely with local and regional innovation ecosystem partners to provide seamless and full-scale services to customers, both SMEs and public sector organizations. Kuopio has a strong role in the HealtHub Finland EDIH proposal. Kuopio Health as the head of the local innovation ecosystem is the full beneficiary partner in the proposal. However, the main part of the actual service to the EDIH customers using Kuopio’s service portfolio is provided by DigiCenter North Savo and Kuopio Living Lab. These services are subcontracted from Savonia University of Applied Sciences and University of Eastern Finland.

If the proposal will be successful in the evaluation and leads to a funding agreement, HealthHub Finland EDIH will start its operations already during 2022, or in 2023 at latest.

Text: Kimmo Solehmainen, Development Manager, Kuopio Health