Digital Life takes part in trade mission to Canada: 'High Tech in a context of Health'
08-07-2019
From June 18. to 25. assistant professor Somaya Ben Allouch of the Digital Life Centre went on a trade mission to Canada, along with other interested researchers, entrepreneurs and managers from the Life Sciences & Health sector. Where an earlier mission especially focused on the rehabilitation, this time there was also attention for themes such as 'smart aging', robot technology, sensoring, serious gaming, artificial intelligence (AI) and eHealth.
Near Toronto (Canada) there are several leading institutions, hospitals and enterprises in the field of rehabilitation. There are many innovative concepts and products. Dutch and Canadian medtech have much to offer to each other. The way Canada deals with rehabilitation is very inspiring for the Dutch health sector. The medical technology in Canada and North America are based on a similar level as in Netherlands.
Also Canada is struggling with reining in health care costs. Aging and increase in people with chronic conditions makes it difficult to maintain affordable, accessible and high quality care. The need for innovation is high. Within ten to twenty years we rely on new technology in healthcare and in the living environment of the person with a chronic condition to tackle these challenges.
For the Dutch trade mission it was therefore very interesting to be in Canada. The challenges are greater because of the huge geographic distances. Therefore Canada has more experience with solutions for remote care. We can learn a lot from the mistakes that they already have made. In addition, there are many similarities in the vision of the care in North America and the Netherlands. Think of terms such as 'healthy aging' and 'smart aging'. We both seek ways in which people can grow old independently and stay in control of their own life.
In turn, Canada can learn a lot from us since our way of public & private collaboration is unique in the world. We emphasize the impact of technology on society, and therefore look beyond the technique itself. And that is important in times of digitalization and internationalization.
In addition to the researchers this trade mission was also of great importance for the companies that joined: the search of international cooperation is very important in medical technology. To develop a product and market it successfully can cost more than a decade. Together with (inter)national partners you have more chance to succeed.