On October 9th, the I3-INSHAPE project actively participated in the European Week of Regions and Cities in Brussels, joining forces with other key health-related projects to highlight the importance of interregional collaboration and investment in improving citizen health. During the dedicated session titled “Interregional Innovation Investments to Boost Citizen Health and Well-being,”, Marc van der Zande, representing the I3-INSHAPE project shared his experiences alongside representatives of fellow projects, HealthChain and DIGIT-PRE, engaging with around 100 stakeholders from across Europe.
This event, hosted as part of the I3 program, emphasized creating a collaborative framework for innovation across European regions. I3-INSHAPE aimed to showcase how mature, SME-driven innovations can thrive when regions work together towards a shared goal. This session provided an opportunity to address common challenges and explore the strategies needed to create sustainable health value chains.
Moderated by Myriam Martin, HealthChain’s project coordinator, the session featured expert insights from several key stakeholders, including Marc van der Zande, I3-INSHAPE’s representative. He outlined I3-INSHAPE’s ongoing efforts to develop interregional cooperation focused on mature innovations and stressed the importance of a long-term approach to sustaining these collaborative initiatives.
Key Takeaways and Insights
The discussion identified several essential factors for successful interregional health collaborations:
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Knowledge Transfer & Capacity Building: I3-INSHAPE emphasized the need to facilitate knowledge transfer between regions to align strategies with cohesion policies and to build regional capacity effectively. The Regional Innovation Valleys were recognized as a promising model for achieving this.
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Efficient Funding Strategies: The session highlighted the importance of complementing regional funding mechanisms and involving Managing Authorities. The project representatives underscored how European Regional Funds (ERF) could play a pivotal role in supporting the internationalization of innovations.
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Sustaining Innovation: One of the key insights shared by Marc van der Zande was the need for new support mechanisms to maintain the momentum beyond the project’s lifecycle. By strengthening existing networks and creating robust support frameworks, regions can reinforce the sustainability of innovation systems developed under I3 initiatives.
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Cross-Border Value Chains: I3-INSHAPE called for increased collaboration between neighboring regions to foster cross-border value chains. The project advocated for clear strategies to identify added value and scale up interregional ecosystems, ultimately benefiting the entire European healthcare landscape.
Project-Specific Insights
I3-INSHAPE’s contribution to the discussion focused on the value of interregional collaboration in fostering SME-driven health innovations. The project’s representative, Marc van der Zande, highlighted the necessity of a long-term approach to sustaining these initiatives, ensuring that the interregional collaboration continues to support mature innovations even after the project’s official timeline ends.
In addition to I3-INSHAPE’s perspective, the session also featured insights from HealthChain and DIGIT-PRE:
- DIGIT-PRE emphasized the importance of hands-on support for SMEs and the need to address real challenges to ensure that the collaborative efforts extend beyond the project’s conclusion.
- HealthChain acknowledged the difficulties of coordinating efforts among its 36 partners and stressed the need for additional funding and support from policymakers to maintain the momentum and continue building on the established innovation systems.
Looking Ahead
The session underscored the critical role of interregional cooperation in fostering healthcare innovation and improving citizen health. I3-INSHAPE, alongside its partners, remains committed to building strong and sustainable interregional partnerships. By reinforcing collaboration and investing in long-term strategies, the project aims to drive lasting improvements in sports, vitality and well-being for citizens across Europe.
