GENERAL INFO

Early-Stage Innovation Hub

For early-stage innovation hubs, the priority is to establish credibility, build networks, and create the first structured support programs for startups and healthcare innovators. At this level, hubs are usually newly formed, with limited staff and resources, but strong ambition. Their main challenge is to attract both startups and external stakeholders (hospitals, MedTech companies, investors) while proving their own value in the ecosystem. The focus should be on ecosystem mapping, pilot activities, and partnerships, rather than large-scale programs. The hub’s early wins will define its long-term positioning and reputation.

Key Milestones at This Stage

Rather than narrowing down to a single identity or sector focus (e.g., MedTech, digital health, biotech), which can be unsustainable over time, innovation programs should remain flexible and adaptive. Building cross-sectoral capacity allows hubs to adjust to emerging trends, diversify opportunities, and avoid dependence on one niche area.

 

Best Practice from the Field

Early-stage innovation hubs have successfully established credibility by focusing on small, well-structured pilot programs and building strong networks with startups, hospitals, and industry partners. By remaining flexible across sectors and aligning initial activities with real ecosystem needs—such as mentorship programs, workshops, and pitching events—these hubs demonstrated early value, attracted partners, and created a foundation for sustainable growth.

Pitfalls to Avoid

Avoid relying only on public grants by developing hybrid funding models, such as corporate sponsorships or paid services. Start with small, realistic pilot programs to deliver value without overpromising resources to startups.

 

Enabling environment for Digital Health Innovation

Offer educational sessions on MDR, CE marking, and EHDS so all ecosystem actors share the same baseline knowledge.

 

Offer educational sessions on MDR, CE marking, and EHDS so all ecosystem actors share the same baseline knowledge.

Create “neutral zones” such as living labs where vendors, hospitals, and startups can experiment with interoperability, or mapping of hospital infrastructures to connect startups with environments already equipped for pilot implementation.

 

Share international good practices like DiGA to inspire local policymakers and partners.

Organize multi-stakeholder workshops where patients, clinicians, and innovators can openly exchange views.

 

Treat every barrier as a chance to connect needs with innovators and attract support from EU initiatives.

Host multi-stakeholder roundtables where startups, hospitals, payers, and regulators all discuss pilot results.

Create a list of active funding schemes (EU calls, national grants, regional programs) relevant to digital health pilots. Share this list with startups during meetings or publish it on your hospital website.

 

Organize multi-stakeholder roundtables every 6 months. Invite hospitals, startups, payers, and patient groups to discuss ongoing pilots and align priorities.

 

Act as connectors, guiding applicants toward funding opportunities and helping build consortia for EU proposals.

 

Instead of a simple membership model, the hub can participate directly in projects, gain national recognition to access public funding, or implement a success-fee model where fees are tied to the outcomes or adoption of supported digital health solutions.

 

Collect short case studies (1 page) from pilots and share them with local partners.

 

Scouting & Recruitment of Startups

You are a new innovation hub launching your first programs or open calls.

You need to:

✓ Define your mission and target groups

✓ Set up governance and scouting mechanisms

✓ Align with regional healthcare needs

 

Act as connectors, guiding applicants toward funding opportunities and helping build consortia for EU proposals.

 

Encourage innovators to design with systemic challenges in mind, not just isolated problems.

Are startups designing solutions that tackle specific problems while remaining aligned with broader systemic challenges?

Have we provided training on national health system priorities and financing flows?

Do our calls for innovation reflect pressing reform needs (e.g., reducing waiting times, improving chronic care)?

Are pilots designed with multi-stakeholder input (patients, clinicians, payers, policymakers)?

Do we help innovators map their solution onto a system-level pathway (clinical, financial, regulatory)?

 

Add sustainability criteria into startup selection and mentoring. This could mean asking: Does the solution save resources? Does it lower emissions? Does it reduce costs? Startups that can answer “yes” to all three questions will be stronger candidates for EU support and international scaling.

 

Gather short case studies from local pilots (2–3 paragraphs each).

Medical validation

Start a simple database of local stakeholders. For each entry, note the name, role (clinician, patient, payer, etc.), and interest in digital health.

 

Create a simple Excel sheet with columns: Name, Role, Organization, Interest in Digital Health, Contact Info. Share it with startups and hospitals so everyone uses the same basic stakeholder map.

 

Run short networking events (60–90 minutes) where 3 startups pitch to hospital managers and clinicians, followed by Q&A. Organize it as a round table where all interested parties are present. Keep it informal, focus on learning, and ensure everyone leaves with at least one new contact.