Avance partner Mikko Alkio has been appointed as chairman of the working group to prepare a growth strategy for research, development and innovation in the Finnish health sector. The strategy preparation is a joint effort by the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation Tekes and the Academy of Finland.
“The health sector is one of the fastest growing sectors in the world. Finland has enormous development opportunities in fields such as health technology, pharmaceutical research, personalized health and treatment of illnesses, as well as health sector service innovations,” Alkio says. “The vast scientific databases in Finland, newly enacted biobank legislation and sizeable information resources offer growing possibilities for the sector. Research, development and innovation activities in the health sector take place close to those who use the services. This also allows Finnish health care patients to benefit from relevant research results without delay”.
The preparation of a comprehensive life science strategy was one of the recommendations in Alkio’s earlier study on health technology and pharmaceutical research in Finland. In addition to the working group, an industry-based expert group will be appointed to assist in the drafting of the strategy, with a first draft set to be published in October 2013.
For more information, please see the joint press release by the Ministries, Tekes and the Academy of Finland.