Cluster excellence in Life Sciences – internationalisation of SMEs

ended

The current changing healthcare paradigm envisions a patient-centred health ecosystem and bottom-up medical care where also patients take an active role. Only with the involvement and contribution of new technologies, we will be able to reinvent healthcare along that pathway. However, evidences show that the rate of health, technological and economic change and the urgency of global challenges continue to outpace Europe’s response and reforms in comparison to other countries and markets. SMEs as innovation engines in health worldwide, can tackle Europe’s innovation deficit, but are still faced with challenges that cannot be underestimated, and which are a hinder for translating innovation to products and services for commercial and clinical use. Clusters, networks and business and innovation support organisations can help their cluster participants to maximize opportunities linked to cross-sectoral and inter-regional cooperation and internationalisation, by expanding relationships and by enhancing public-private partnerships. Clusters can catalyse mutual learning and facilitate access to emerging markets. CELIS addresses these challenges by combining some of the world-class life science ecosystems in Europe, where cross-sectoral fertilisation has given rise to promising new technologies and products, resulting in new value chains. -Clinical useful biomarkers / companion diagnostic -High throughput -omics technologies and big-data -Micro- and nano-electronics - Digitalisation CELIS clusters set up a series of actions to exploit the SME innovation engine in these crucial fields, translate ideas into applications and reduce time to market. The project will offer SMEs access to emerging markets, leverage partnerships with companies, university hospitals and researchers from different sectors and regions and increase visibility for the innovation potential of participating SMEs at European level. Simultaneously, the project will prepare, train and coach cluster staff.