Global leaders in digital health innovation meet in Kaunas

The 3rd IEEE-TEMS International Conference on Technology and Entrepreneurship 2023 will bring together digital innovation and entrepreneurship professionals from all over the world on 9–11 October in Kaunas, at KTU Santaka Valley.

Imagine a world where digital ecosystems seamlessly intertwine with the fabric of society, paving the way for a sustainable future. This is not a scene from a science fiction novel, but a reality that is being actively created by pioneers in the world of technology and entrepreneurship. Digital Ecosystems for a Sustainable Society is the theme of the approaching IEEE-TEMS Conference.

The benefits of health digitalisation are obvious

In the era of digitalisation, when most services can be accessed at the touch of a button, healthcare has not been left behind. Technological advances have led to the emergence of digital healthcare platforms that promise greater accessibility and convenience.

Instead, consultations can be provided in the comfort of their own homes, ensuring that vulnerable people have access to essential healthcare services. In addition, digital platforms allow remote monitoring of the patient, which is particularly important in the treatment of chronic diseases. These platforms provide continuous, real-time health data that allows early intervention, reducing hospital visits and improving overall health outcomes.

Challenges are evident, too

However, the increase in digital health services raises big questions about who bears the cost. While digital platforms are reducing the costs associated with physical infrastructure, new costs are emerging. These include the costs of software development, hosting, maintenance and cybersecurity measures.

Traditionally, healthcare costs have been financed by the state, private health insurance and individual out-of-pocket payments. The introduction of digital health platforms is forcing a rethink on this issue. It is therefore crucial to identify who pays for these new digital services. Should it be the patients who benefit directly from convenience and personalised care? Or should it be the healthcare providers, whose operations become more efficient and cost-effective after digital transformation? Perhaps the state should intervene to ensure equal opportunities for all, considering the public good that health represents?

Currently, payment models for health services vary around the world, often reflecting the broader financing of the health system in the countries concerned. In the United States, where private health insurance dominates, insurance companies have increasingly started to offer digital health services.

In contrast, in countries where healthcare is universal, such as the UK, the government bears the cost, making digital health services free at the point of use.

Despite the advantages of digital health platforms, concerns about equitable access remain. While these platforms can reduce physical barriers to healthcare, they can reinforce the existing digital divide. Not everyone has access to stable internet connections and the advanced devices needed to access digital health services.

In addition, certain groups, including older people and people with limited digital literacy, may find it difficult to navigate these platforms. It is therefore essential to address these challenges to avoid creating a two-tier healthcare system – one for the digitally literate and one for those left in the digital shadows.

Issues addressed by the sector leaders at a conference hosted by KTU

These and more are the issues that will be discussed by the leaders in the field at the 3rd IEEE-TEMS International Conference.

• Henry Chesbrough, who coined the term “open innovation”, is Director of Education at the Haas Garwood Center for Corporate Innovation in Berkeley. His research focuses on technology management and innovation strategy. He also teaches at the Esade Business School at Spain’s Ramon Llull University. He was an adjunct professor at Harvard Business School and previously served as product manager and vice-president of marketing for Quantum Corporation, a manufacturer of data storage devices and systems.
• David J. Teece is the Thomas W. Tusher Professor at the University of California, Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, Institute for Business Innovation. He is also the Faculty Director of the Tusher Initiative in Intellectual Capital Management at the School and has written more than thirty books, two hundred research articles and has been cited more than 180,000 times.
• Catherine Chronaki is the Secretary General of the HL7 Foundation in Brussels, working on several projects related to eHealth policy and standardisation.
• Guenter Koch is a German computer scientist, management consultant and project developer. He has founded several software companies and written about 100 publications.
• Jonatan Pinkse is Professor of Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Manchester Institute for Innovation Research (MIoIR), Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester. He is passionate about innovation and sustainability. He is a regular speaker on topics related to strategy and innovation for net zero and sustainability, business model innovation to avoid disruption, green transition management and digital platforms.
• Marc Schlichtner has 21 years of experience in innovation, portfolio management, project and regional management and sales.

Read more about the conference here – https://icte.ieee-tems.org/

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 952012