The first Bosnian and Herzegovinian digital innovation hub from the field of medicine and biotechnologies recognised as a partner in the European Union
A delegation from the digital innovation hub Its4Health attended a three-day study trip to Rumania in the framework of the EU4DigitalSME project that is co-financed by the European Union and the Federal Republic of Germany (BMZ) and is implemented by GIZ. The purpose of the visit was strengthening the cooperation between Bosnian and Herzegovinian and EU digital innovation hubs.
The host of the visit was the European digital innovation hub Digital Innovation Zone (DIZ). Representatives of the hub Its4Health had an opportunity to present their work, establish cooperation in the field of medicine and biotechnology and hold meetings with leading IT companies.
During the conference of European digital innovation hubs that focused on innovative solutions for small and medium-sized companies, they presented their work and contribution in the field of medicine and biotechnologies.
The visit to the Rumanian city Iasi took place in the period between March 21 and 24, 2023 and representatives of the hub Its4Health included representatives of the Sarajevo School of Science and Technology (SSST), Institute Verlab and Institute for Standardisation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ISBIH).
Cooperation and exchange in the field of medicine and biotechnology
During the first day of the visit, a series of meetings were held with representatives of DIZ. They focused on the establishment of joint cooperation in the field of medicine and biotechnologies. Visits and presentations of work of several members of the European hub were organised for this purpose. At the Technical University Gheorghe Asachi, the work of eleven faculties that are actively involved in applied digitalisation at the level of the business community was presented. In addition to showing achievements in the field of technologies and solutions in modern medicine, members of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Grigore T. Popa also presented their two research and development centres: MAVIS – Centre for Technology and Technology Transfer, and CEMEX – Centre for Advanced Research and Development in Experimental Medicine.
In addition to discussions with hosts, representatives of the hub Its4Health had meetings with representatives of the company Romsoft, one of the leading IT companies in the field of digital solutions for the health sectors in the European Union, and representatives of the European Institute for Innovation and Technology. All meetings have shown that a partnership between Bosnian and EU hubs in the field of medicine and biotechnology certainly makes sense and makes it possible to exchange opinions and complement each other in different fields.
Its4Health – standardisation, training and support for start-ups
When it comes to Its4Health, the representatives from the EU demonstrated a great interest in the professionalism and services in the field of standardisation of measuring instruments in medicine, training of medical staff based on the application of state-of-art technology and integral support to start-ups focusing on health and biotechnology.
The second part of the visit to Rumania involved the participation in a conference for European digital innovation hubs entitled ”Innovative Solutions for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and Public Institutions from the Health and Processing Sector”. In addition to know-how about contemporary solutions, trends and support mechanisms for the digitalisation of the health sector, representatives of Its4Health also had an opportunity to hold business meetings with their counterparts and to actively contribute to the event by participating in panel sessions.
Prof. Nedim Čelebić DSc from the Sarajevo School of Science and Technology (SSST) was one of the panelists during a panel about the role of digital innovation hubs in national and international innovation ecosystems. ”It was truly a pleasure to be a panelist at such an international panel involving experienced experts for digitalisation and innovations from the European Commission and different research and development centres from Portugal, the Netherlands, Moldova, Greece and Rumania. Future partnerships in different segments of digitalisation of the health sector will certainly contribute a lot both in case of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Rumania.”
After this study visit, it is planned to also formalise the partnership between the Bosnian and Herzegovinian digital innovation hub and the Rumanian DIZ, and the interest of EU digital innovation hubs in what Its4Health can offer as a partner has already been confirmed by multiple inquiries in a visit to members of this Bosnian and Herzegovinian hub.
The establishment and support to development of services provided by DIHs is one of the key activities of the EU4DigitalSME project in order to contribute to the establishment of an ecosystem for digitalisation, automation and innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The value of the EU4DigitalSME project amounts to 6.1 million EUR, out of which the European Union provided 5 million EUR, and the Federal Republic of Germany provided 1.1 million EUR. The project lasts until 2024 and is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
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03/04/2023