Study tour for collaboration, Toronto-Boston Oct 2012
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Kungliga tekniska högskolan - Centrum för teknik i medicin och hälsa |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 179 000 |
| Project duration | October 2012 - March 2013 |
| Status | Completed |
Purpose and goal
In October 2012, Centre for technology in medicine and health (CTMH) organized a study trip to Toronto and Boston as part of the project Medtech Sweden in 2020. The project was led by Swedish Medtech and CTMH and financed by VINNOVA. Its purpose was to meet role models and learn from examples of successful collaborations between health care, industry and academia. Hosts for the visits were Techna Institute in Toronto and CIMIT in Boston, both of which are world leading centers for triple helix cooperations with major advances in medical technology.
Results and expected effects
The network initialized during the meetings can facilitate fruitful collaboration for an improved innovation climate as well as favorable conditions for a sustainable healthcare in Sweden. Continued contact with American and Canadian colleagues offers opportunities to develop similar activities in Sweden to those in the internationally well-renowned centers. The expected impact is that ideas and reflections on best practice collaborative research/education-healthcare-industry is spread through the participants´ own diverse activities and networks.
Approach and implementation
The Swedish delegation comprised representatives from VINNOVA, university hospitals (Akademiska, Karolinska and Sahlgrenska), counties (Stockholm and Uppsala), The Administrative Board of Stockholm, universities (Chalmers, KI, KTH), SP Technical Research Institute and Swedish Medtech. The agenda of the trip was formed by representatives from our hosts (Techna Institute in Toronto and CIMIT in Boston) and featured visits to, and presentations by, outstanding researchers, health professionals, and representatives from industry, interest groups and trade associations.