- What is the approximate stakeholder breakdown of your ecosystem?
The Kuopio Health open innovation ecosystem is a thriving international community dedicated to improving health and well-being through collaborative innovation.
While our approach is built on three pillars – insight, collaboration, and contribution – the heart of the Kuopio Health ecosystem is the multidisciplinary joint venture itself, Kuopio Health Co-op. Kuopio Health Co-op. combines entrepreneurs, innovators, business leaders, and educational, medical and governmental experts who have a thirst for solving the world’s vital health problems.
Since its establishment in 2019, the Kuopio Health Co-op. has been the coordinator and facilitator of the ecosystem. Currently, we have 42 members coming from various health, well-being and nutrition sectors. University of Eastern Finland, Savonia University of Applied Sciences, City of Kuopio, Kuopio University Hospital, VTT Technical Research Center of Finland, Finnish Biobanks – FINBB and the wellbeing services county of North Savo are the big public sector members representing top-level research and clinical expertise in Finland.
Our members range from startups to big enterprises representing various industrial sectors such as pharma development, CRO, ICT and health data solutions, med-tech, MDR, nutrition, and even venture funding. Kuopio Health Co-op. is a constantly growing ecosystem and new members are joining steadily.
- Who are the top 3 champions from your Ecosystem?
It is very hard to pick only three, but here we mention a few champions who are coming from different health areas.
ESiOR Ltd provides expertise, research, consultation, and tools for better healthcare decisions. Currently they are breaking new ground in data science applications, narration, interactive modeling, and web-based tools. In 2024, ESiOR has presented multiple new innovations; use of real-world data (RWD) based machine learning model to predict Alzheimer’s disease risk – cost-effectiveness evaluation, returning genetic information to sample donors with high hereditary breast and ovarian cancer risk – cost-effectiveness evaluation and secure processing environments (SPEs) required by the European health data space (EHDS), including SPESiOR – comparison.
Gesund Partners is a strategy consultancy set out to solve well-being challenges. The company is a future-oriented co-design, strategy and digital innovation consultancy. They have been deeply involved in a project put together by Kuopio Health and partly funded by Sitra that aims to plan an ecosystem structure for the prevention of memory disorders that complies with the principles of a fair data economy and is based on impacts. The company’s task is to model the roles, responsibilities, governance model and goals set for benefits gained so that impact investing can be utilized in financing early and preventive measures.
VEIL.AI has revolutionized the quality and usability of anonymized and synthetic health data. Their unique VEIL Anonymization Engine (VAE) technology helps healthcare actors to utilize sensitive data in ways that were not possible before. They help to utilize sensitive health data for research, innovation and development to support new discoveries, patient treatment and better decision making in healthcare.
Medikro Oy develops, manufactures, and markets medical systems for asthma and COPD diagnostics and treatment. The devices are primarily used in the diagnosis and treatment path of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Lately, Medikro has established significant partnerships with international actors such as Trudell Medical International (TMI) and Medikro continuously works to advance respiratory care worldwide.
- What EU funding/collaboration are you involved with, or you would like to be part of?
Since its launch in 2019, Kuopio Health as an innovation ecosystem cooperative has used EU ERDF funding to develop our organization and services.
As an example of our on-going EU projects, we are a partner in HealthHub Finland, which is one of the 151 European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs). These hubs assist SMEs and public administrations in addressing digital challenges under the Digital Europe program. The role of Kuopio Health in the HealthHub Finland EDIH is to provide access to local expertise. Under this project, we have been able to directly support SMEs in their product development, by realizing advanced AI integrations to their products and services. This has been done by using the strong expertise in AI R&D available at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF).
While our ecosystem is strong and actively expanding, the resources for the ecosystem-level daily operation are more limited than we would like them to be. We believe that applying modern digital solutions and AI to ecosystem-level activities – collaboration, networking, innovation, visibility – would bring great benefits because of productivity and impact. That is why we would be eager to join any EU funding and collaboration that exploits or develops these technologies to be used in daily operations in an active health ecosystem.
- What are the key priorities and themes for your ecosystem?
Our priorities are; promoting the digitization of health care and the ability to innovate, improving the accessibility and harmonization of health data, increasing the visibility and availability of research infrastructure and creating new commercial solutions and cooperation opportunities.
The goal is to develop and implement innovative digital solutions that improve healthcare efficiency and individual care. Also, we strive to harmonize and improve the availability and use of health data. In addition, we want to improve the visibility and availability of research infrastructure to enhance scientific activity and promote the commercialization of research results. We also want to identify and support the discovery of new development targets and create opportunities for new innovations and cooperation between different actors.
- What is your primary strength as an ecosystem?
As an ecosystem we are very strong in the gene, cell and nano therapy development, medical imaging, development of novel digital and AI solutions for the health sector, neurosciences, metabolic diseases, the effectiveness of the health sector, musculoskeletal diseases, cardiovascular diseases, multidisciplinary cancer research, drug discovery and delivery technologies.
As a joint venture with the public and private sector, our Co-op. can offer a strong platform to support, the development of our members. We are committed to promoting multidisciplinary collaboration and openness. Our job is to bring people together. Kuopio Health is founded on unique competence, passion and collaboration – this is a competitive advantage that we want to display in all our activities.
- Which are the main hospitals in your ecosystem and which are the most active in your ecosystems?
Kuopio University Hospital (KUH) provides comprehensive specialized healthcare services for the residents of the well-being services county of North Savo. It has more than 5000 healthcare professionals and great facilities for clinical research. The hospital offers high-quality treatment in all medical specialties, conducts internationally recognized research and trains tomorrow’s top experts. Kuopio University Hospital’s Microsurgery Center, established in 2017, is a meeting place for students of the latest surgical technologies, researchers and businesses. It enables the development of sophisticated surgical technical skills and innovation in the field through close interaction with clinical professionals.
