Digital transformation within Finnish care (healthcare and social welfare) is crucial in meeting the growing demands of an aging population and the increasing reliance on social welfare and healthcare technology. This transformation is propelled by the Innovation Value Chain (IVC), a strategic framework that guides digital innovations from ideation to practical application within the chosen domain. (Hansen & Birkinshaw 2007.)
Through the legislation, Universities of Applied Sciences play a pivotal role in this process, serving as orchestrators who foster collaboration among key stakeholders to overcome barriers and streamline innovation processes (Ammattikorkeakoululaki 14.11.2014/932). LAB University of Applied Science´s WellTech unit also provides unique testbed and simulation environments for care tech prototype testing, including, e.g., usability and accessibility studies (LABWellTech 2024).
Through innovative care technologies, Finland is setting benchmarks in preventive care and enhancing access to care services, especially in underserved regions. These technologies are vital in supporting Finland’s cost-effective care infrastructure, highlighting the significance of a well-orchestrated IVC in fostering impactful care innovations.
Digital services can efficiently use resources across organizational and regional boundaries, offering a cost-effective means for preventive local services. Mobile on-wheel health units combine digital and face-to-face services, which are likely cheaper than traditional clinics due to the lack of real estate investments. They could also focus resources on user-generated health data, improving staff and service accessibility.
Bridging gaps in the innovation value chain
The journey from a groundbreaking idea to its implementation in care settings is challenging but not insurmountable. Strategic agreements among stakeholders within the IVC are often absent, leading to inefficiencies and fragmented innovation processes. This scenario underscores the crucial role of an effective orchestrator, which UAS fulfills with distinction, to facilitate seamless transitions from conceptual frameworks to real-world applications.
A key hurdle is the lack of accessible pilot environments for testing and validating new care technologies. This limitation hampers innovation’s scalability, preventing their transition from controlled settings to everyday use in public care.
By addressing these issues, UAS can enhance its impact on regional innovation ecosystems, contribute significantly to economic growth, and improve the Finnish welfare society. LAB’s RDI efforts aim to identify the critical factors that need addressing within the IVC to maximize the potential of digital transformations in care. This mission promises substantial benefits for all stakeholders involved. LAB will make a related presentation in June 2024 at the ISPIM Innovation Conference, “Local Innovation Ecosystems for Global Impact,” held in Tallinn (ISPIM 2014).
Author
Niko Lankinen is a chief specialist in health and well-being service innovations at LAB University of Applied Sciences and is leading the international KnowledgeAnalytics project at LAB.
References
Ammattikorkeakoululaki 14.11.2014/932. Finlex. Cited 29 Apr 2024. Available at https://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/2014/20140932
geralt. 2014. Altmann, G. Ohjelmisto, internet. Pixabay. Cited 29 Apr 2024. Available at https://pixabay.com/fi/illustrations/ohjelmisto-internet-luoti-http-www-557602/
Hansen, M. & Birkinshaw, J. 2007. The Innovation Value Chain. Harvard Business Review. Cited 29 Apr 2024. Available at https://hbr.org/2007/06/the-innovation-value-chain
ISPIM. 2024. The Innovation Conference, Local Innovation Ecosystems for Global Impact. Cited 29 Apr 2024. Available at https://hbr.org/2007/06/the-innovation-value-chain
LABWellTech. 2024. An Innovation, Test, and Development Environment for Wellbeing Technology. Cited 29 Apr 2024. Available at https://www.labwelltech.fi/in-english/
