European LIfe Science Ecosystems

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ELISE addresses a societal challenge common to European regions: to promote better health for all. This covers the need to improve health and well-being outcomes and promote healthy and active ageing, but also to promote market growth, job creation, EU competiveness. It requires innovative approaches. Life science is a promising frontier technology, with potential to produce many healthcare applications and treatments. The Healthcare Life Science branch is a key sector for Europe. However, some constraints hinder Life Science potential. These largely concerning difficulties in market exploitation; demand for extensive human and technical resources; and bioethical constraints affecting protection of individuals’ rights and dignity. ELISE partners from 7 regions believe that the concrete application of the Ecosystem concept at regional and interregional level can help to address these constraints. An ecosystem groups business, researchers, clinicians and patients to translate discovery into clinical use for medical innovation in health service. Using interregional exchange and active stakeholder participation, ELISE partners improve regional ERDF policy instruments in this direction. 2 regions want to create an ecosystem, where it does not currently exist. 5 want to strengthen existing clusters, by turning them into ecosystems. All regions want to consider the feasibility of creating a European Ecosystem. Changes to policy instruments are detailed in 7 Regional Action Plans and are expected in terms of types and quality of projects funded, management structures and strategic focus moving towards regional and European ecosystems. ELISE leads to short, medium and long-term results. Participating regions should be able to better support the healthcare sector and the enterprises operating around it to use Life Science R&I results and to create places of work. In the long term, this should contribute to creating healthy, competitive and innovative European regions.

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